There is one kind of ‘Krueang Rang’ (Magic amulet) in Thai Saiyasart, which stands out in particular for its eye catching shape. I am speaking of course, of the Bpalad Khig (alternatively spelled as ‘Palad Khik’). Bpalad Khig is an Animistic Phallic amulet, carved in the form of a penis. Bpalad Khig are made in all sizes, ranging from miniature ones the size of your little finger, right up to ones which are higher than a human. Bpalad Khig are extremely popular with Thai people, worn as amulets tied to a cord around their waist. The belief in the Lingam, or ‘Lingk’ (Thai pronunciation) phallic energy, is derived from the Brahman influence which has been inflected on Thai Theravada Buddhism since both belief systems came to Siam more than one or two thousand years ago. It is believed that the Lingam energy is the source of all life forms in the Universe. This is the root of the act of reverence (Bucha/Poojah) to the Shiva Lingam , which honors Shiva as the Lord of the World. Brahmanism is a living part of Thai Buddhist ceremonial practice, and the revering of Deities from the Brahman Hinduistic Pantheon is commonplace. The Buddha in fact, did not deny the existence of these Deities and merely explained that even Deities are not exempt from Karma and must surrender to impermanence and some day extinguish and accept cessation.

For this reason, such Deities can offer us no permanent refuge, or escape from the endless cycle of rebirth that is Paticcasamuphada. Despite this, it is arguable that such Deities can perhaps offer us help in finding solutions to some of our worldly problems, if not at least to gain some peace of mind, or even hope for the future. The act of making offerings and praying to Deities is as popular now as it was a thousand years ago, which indicates that people seem to believe that it brings results. It is sure that those who have true faith and see the positive things, looking away from the negative thought processes, and believe and revere their Deities, following the precepts given, will see noticeable rewards and benefits/blessings arise from their efforts. Amulets are not meant to relieve us of our duty in working to rear our families or to get out of having to do ones job, rather hey are there to remind us and help us in keeping up our morale and effort to live the correct way and to make merits, and honor the amulet in the way it should be done, by taking on our daily tasks and chores and fulfilling all that is required of us with full heartedness. Then the amulet will bring us the luck and fortune, happiness and health which we asked it for. In India, not only is the Shiva Lingam worshiped, bit there exists also a cult which reveres the female sex organ, which is called the ‘Yoni’. The same thought is applied as that used too revere the Shiva Lingam, that is to say, that all created things must spring out of the Yoni instead of the Lingam.

The practice of ‘Bucha Siwalingk’ (praying to Shiva Lingam phallic Deity) entered Siam with the influence of the Khom race, whose language and alphabet the Thais absorbed and adapted into their own personalized fashion. Some have said that the integration of Pre-Buddhist beliefs and traditions into the Thai Theravada Buddhist practice of the common Folk is not in contradiction to the practice of Buddhism and presents no obstacles.

In fact it is believed that since Buddhism sprang out of the roots of Brahman Cosmology, and that the people of Siam adopted Pre-Buddhist Brahman traditions and incorporated them, that this is even a benefit to the preservation of ancient knowledge, and of Thai history and tradition. Most of these ceremonies do not come into any kind of dispute with Buddhist thought, such as the ceremony of Bucha B

Carved Bone Palad Khig amulet - Luang Phu Hluea Chalidto, Wat Tham Mai Nuea (Uttaradit)

n the Isan country, Bpalad Khig is sometimes also called ‘Bak Ben’, or ‘Khun Phet’. Bpalad Khig has been used by Isan people to ward off dark magic, for example in a case about 2548, the Folk of Roi Et were afraid of ‘Phii Mae Hmaay’ ( a female ghost who hunts men), so they erected a massive totem pole in the shape of a penis, with the initials (S and Y) of the man they believed to be the target of the ghost. They placed the giant Bpalad Khig in front of the mans house. Over the years, many rumors and legends of Bpalad Khig performing miracles of Kong Grapan Klaew Klaad magic and other protective spells, the popularity and demand for such talismanic charms increased, to the point where locals would flock to the various Gaeji Ajarn around the country who made these amulets. The Bpalad Khig was here to stay. When the Gaeji Ajarn would make Bpalad Khig, they would have learned and researched the correct creation methods and ritual process to empower the amulets, in addition choosing auspicious and magical kinds of trees for the wood used to carve them out of. They would then inscribe sacred Khom Agkhara and make incantations of Kata to increase the magical charge and the strength of faith the devotee would have in such an amulet. The Bpalad Khig began to be used as a portable amulet through being carved from wood which was from the Cassiafistula Linn variety of tree, which has medicinal or healing properties. Ancient Folk would then use this when traveling cross country; If they had to drink water from a stream, or other natural source which may have bacteria or dangerous amoebas, they would take the Bpalad Khig and use it to stir the water before drinking it, to remove any danger of illness. Bpalad Khig is not only applied for preventing dangers and illness, but is seen to possess all other kinds of magical properties, such as Metta Mahaniyom (preference and popularity, friendliness and love, compassion,receiving generosity and mercy), Choke Laap (luck and fortune), good salesmanship, Love charm, and the like.

Palad Paya Mai Ngiw Dam - Por Tan Khiaw, Wat Huay Ngo (Pattani)

The word Bpalad, means ‘vice’ (as in ‘vice President, vice Mayor, etc). This has caused the Bpalad Khig to make some people t exclaim jokingly “why don’t you call it ‘Vice Mayor Khig’?. In fact, the word ‘Bpalad’ is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Bprasawa’, which translates as “he who stands by the side of’. This was adapted into the Thai language as Sanskrit and Buddhism entered and flourished in Siam. This is why in Thailand, an assistant to the Mayor (Nay Ampher), is called ‘Bpalad Ampher’. But the real reason this word (Bpalad) is used for the Shiva Lingam amulet, is that it is worn as a companion to remain by the side of the wearer (’he who stands by the side of’). Devotees of the Bpalad Khig tend to wear it outside of their clothes, around the neck, waist or sometimes hanging inside the trousers against their loins. The word Bpalad Khig (”ปลัดขิก” -low sound) was originally pronounced ‘Bpalad Kig’ (”ปลัดคิก” - rising sound) in ancient times.
Many ancient Thai masters and amulet makers were inclined to making Bpalad Khig amulets, which were extremely popular with the Folk. Some had Khom Agkhara lettering, such as “U A Ma’ or ‘Om’, which are psalms to Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Some Ajarn would inscribe Sanskrit Agkhara instead, in Brahman tradition. Some of the most famous Gaeji Ajarn master monks who made Bpalad Khig amulets were; Hlwong Por Hluea, (Wat saw Changoke), and Hlwong Phu Ee (Wat Sattahib). Even though todays age of technology has brought many things to distract us from magic, the Bpalad Khig is still an extremely widespread belief and is worn by Thai people in all provinces. Hang around any Samnak sak or Samnak Ruesi for a while and you will most definitely see someone wearing a Bpalad Khig amulet. These days, The Bpalad Khig seems to have become extremely specialized and is made by various Ajarn, both ordained and lay masters. Each master makes a different Bpalad Khig with different purposes and uses. Be it good business, love affairs, or protections from evil, there sems to be a Bpalad Khig for every need.

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