The great faith of Kruba Krissana Inthawanno

One of Thailand's most famous talismans, known far and wide in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and beyond, is the "King of butterfly" or "Thep Chamlaeng Phamon" created by Kruba Krissana Inthawanno. He consecrated this amulet to provide encouragement and support to his disciples. Kruba Krissana is a highly respected monk, with followers from nearly every corner of the world. He resides at Wat Pa Mahawan in Ban Khlong Yang, Kruburi Subdistrict, Kruburi District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

 
Originally named Suradech Tapklang, he was born on Sunday, August 1, 1954, corresponding to the 2nd day of the waxing moon in the 9th month of the Year of the Goat, in Ban Tanod, Moo 7, Tanod Subdistrict, Non Sung District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

He is the ninth of ten children born to Mr. Phet and Mrs. Kaew Tapklang. In his family, from his grandfather's generation to his father's, they have always been a source of support for the villagers, providing assistance with traditional medicine. As a result, the children and grandchildren learned about herbal medicine and various magical incantations and spells from ancient texts preserved by their ancestors. He acquired these skills from a young age and has continued to help others without accepting money, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. This has led the villagers to always hold his family in high regard and respect.

In his youth, he already had a foundation in meditation, as monks frequently passed through his village on pilgrimage. Grandfather Endu showed him kindness, leading him to follow the monks on their journeys. He became a novice monk and joined these pilgrimages, serving and assisting the revered elder monks as they traveled to Laos and Cambodia. During this period, he rigorously studied both doctrinal teachings and Vipassana meditation for over ten years. Eventually, he left the novice monkhood and returned to his hometown to help alleviate his parents' workload and took on various jobs.

At the age of 25, his father passed away suddenly. With a desire to repay his parents and benefactors, he decided to ordain as a monk. He was ordained at Wat Khok U Thong in Pho Ngam Subdistrict, Prachantakham District, Prachinburi Province.
He was ordained by Phra Khru Thammarong Phothikhet (Luang Pu Solos), the abbot of Wat Khok U Thong, as his preceptor; Phra Ajahn Fun Chutintaro as his ordination teacher; and Phra Ajahn Klom Wimilo as his mentor. The ordination took place on October 27, 1979, which was a Saturday, the 7th day of the waxing moon in the 12th lunar month. He was given the monastic name "Inthawanno."

Due to his deep interest in Dhamma, he retreated to the forests and mountains, practicing intense meditation and observing strict ascetic practices for over a decade. He spent about three years wandering in solitude, engaging in ascetic practices. Villagers who learned of a monk practicing in the wilderness developed faith and frequently came to make merit and discuss Dhamma with him.

The residents of Khlong Yang unanimously invited Kruba Krissana to lead the construction of the "Sana Maha Wan Forest Retreat" in 1993. With the support of his faithful disciples, various monastic buildings were constructed, and a well was dug at the foot of the hill to provide water for daily use. His disciples took the soil from the bottom of the well and fashioned it into "Sarika Bird" figures out of their faith and desire for a blessing from their revered teacher. They made pairs of Sarika Birds from the well's soil and asked Kruba Krissana to bless them. These figures were then given to the villagers and supporters who contributed to the monastery's construction and supported the monks during the initial years of the retreat.

When the disciples brought the Sarika Bird figures for Kruba Krissana's blessing and meditation, remarkable changes occurred. Previously challenging livelihoods became more manageable, and obstacles in their work eased. This led to an increased demand for Sarika Bird figures as sources of auspiciousness and encouragement, instilling confidence in their future professions.

Responding to this demand, Kruba Krissana created these auspicious items by inscribing magical formulas onto powders mixed with various aromatic substances. After blessing and meditating over them, he produced "Thep Chamlaeng Phamon" amulets. These amulets serve as talismans for those with faith, reminding them of their revered teacher's guidance. His teaching emphasizes resilience: "If you fall, refuse to stay down. Life brings only suffering and turmoil to those who remain fallen. But if you rise promptly after a fall, happiness will surely follow as desired."


The sacred objects created by Kruba Krissana are like manifestations of his spiritual essence, characterized by compassion and profound moral integrity. They evoke respect and devotion towards the Triple Gem and gratitude towards teachers, fostering prosperity and success in various professions and endeavors for those who cherish them.

Following this, Kruba Krissana established another monastery, the "Sana Maha Wan Forest Monastery," in Ban Khlong Krating, Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Subsequently, he entered a period of seclusion at the Arboretum Meditation Center, Kruba Krissana Inthawanno, Non Sung District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, where he continues to reside and teach up to the present day.


The collaboration between MURICO and Kruba Krissana Inthawanno, a respected guru monk from Korat who created the sacred object "Thep Phamon Chamlaeng," is significant. Unlike typical amulets, this collection features a peculiar design—a depiction of Lord Shiva (Isvara) and Goddess Uma, facing each other, but from another angle, it appears as a beautiful butterfly. The artwork is exquisite, incorporating ancient "Tewa Nakhi" script characters that date back thousands of years.

Combined with thoughtful design, these pieces promote Buddhist virtues, encouraging compassion, love, and reverence towards elders. They are believed to bring prosperity and fortune, transforming misfortunes into positive outcomes.

Each garment has undergone Buddhist consecration ceremonies to imbue them with auspiciousness for those who possess and wear them.