9 April 2007

‘Magical’ Jatukham talismans set off national craze

More than 10,000 people camped overnight by a school compound, waiting to buy Jatukham Ramathep amulets, which had gained a huge following for their claimed magical qualities and rising market value.

The temple that was making and selling them was fully booked until the end of the year for incantations. ‘The phenomenon has turned the province into an economic boom town,’ said Sonthaya Senniam, director of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Buddhism Office.

Huge numbers continued to flock to Wat Phra Mahathat Buddhist temple, the source of the amulets. The amulets were said to be pumping 100 million baht into the Nakhon Si Thammarat economy each week. Nearby hotels were completely booked every weekend.

However, some found the ‘Jatukham craze’ to be distasteful. Several leading monks criticised the fad as contradictory to Buddhist values, saying it was driven by financial greed.

The amulets were first created in 1987 by a policeman who believed that the spirit of Jatukham Ramathep had helped him solve a murder case.

9 April 2007

‘Magical’ Jatukham talismans set off national craze

More than 10,000 people camped overnight by a school compound, waiting to buy Jatukham Ramathep amulets, which had gained a huge following for their claimed magical qualities and rising market value.

The temple that was making and selling them was fully booked until the end of the year for incantations. ‘The phenomenon has turned the province into an economic boom town,’ said Sonthaya Senniam, director of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Buddhism Office.

Huge numbers continued to flock to Wat Phra Mahathat Buddhist temple, the source of the amulets. The amulets were said to be pumping 100 million baht into the Nakhon Si Thammarat economy each week. Nearby hotels were completely booked every weekend.

However, some found the ‘Jatukham craze’ to be distasteful. Several leading monks criticised the fad as contradictory to Buddhist values, saying it was driven by financial greed.

The amulets were first created in 1987 by a policeman who believed that the spirit of Jatukham Ramathep had helped him solve a murder case.