Thailands' Buddhist Establishment Criticized Jamutakan Amulets

The idea of wearing protective talismans that may convey supposed magical powers of protection are not exactly a new idea. Although I am sure many Christians will disagree with my use of the term magical that is exactly what the Saint Christopher medals are. It is also the same basic idea behind the Mormon temple garments which are often a figure of confusion and fun.

In Thailand however, rather large amulets conferring psychic protection upon the bearer. It may not be properly Buddhist but the vendors selling the pieces of jewelry that look like something straight out of Saturday Night Fever are doing a brisk business. The Jatukam amulets which are about the size of a silver dollar can fetch about $30,000 dollars US in the hands of a collector.

Unsurprisingly, with anything that involves money, people have started to steal the amulets or started to counterfeit the more legitimate versions of the amulets. While the amulets have never been an official part of the doctrine of any Buddhist sect many Thais carry them around especially as they currently face times that are politically unstable in their own country. The price of the amulets is determined partly by the materials that they are made from and partly by the circumstance under which they were made. The amulets depict a man sitting in a meditative pose on the center. Exactly who the figure is supposed to represent is debatable. Theories run from a possible figure in Hindu folklore to ancient king of Southeast Asia.

Unlike many people who wear religious jewelry in the West, those who carry the Jatukam amulets and Thailand are often discreet about it rather than display them openly. The more fervent believers in their power may carry up to a dozen on their person at any given time. Anyone from a street vendor to a high powered corporate executive may carry one.

For the person who may want to purchase one of these relatively new curiosity coming from the orient, an Ebay search can find the item. The traditional Buddhist establishment in Thailand frowns on the practice, however, and the head of the largest temple stopped providing materials to make the amulets, even though it allows many monasteries in the country to bring in tax free revenue.

Most people however wear them for the same reason people would wear rabbit foots or other good luck charms. They're simply hedging their bets when it comes to good fortune. It might be a less serious form of Pascal's wager, but it never hurts to hedge your bets when it comes to good luck.

Sources:

http://www.globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=2711&cid=6&sid=83

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/10/asia/AS-FEA-GEN-Thailand-Magical-Amulets.php