Mekkapat amulet by Most Venerable Luang Phor
Sawai.
(from the webmaster's private collection)
Mekkapat is a protective alchemical alloy used in the creation of
different Thai amulets.
Very few Venerable ones still master the technique of compounding this alloy
and so amulets made of it are rare and costly.
During the fabrication of Phra Kling amulets at Wat Intharam
(Bangkok)
sulphur vapors may be seen arising from one of the crucibles.
Before beginning their handling of mekkapat the team of specialists receive
the monk's blessing to avert all mischance.
The ovens and crucibles are blessed too.
The sundry components and melting metals are handled with great care.
The Most Venerable Phra Wee Sutha Thibudee, of the Golden Mountain Temple,
starts the amulet producing flow using a very long ladle.
When some temples make some particularly precious amulets, they sometime collect
many different old amulets and melt them together to make part of the alloy used.
Here are some ingots of alchemical metal seen in a Thai temple.
The casting ceremony of some Buddha statues
at Most Venerable Luang Phor Men temple (Wat Nathan Nok).
The basic ingredients of mekkapat are: copper, lead, sulphur,
mercury, diverse herbs
and sacred oils. Each master has his own personal formula and therefore bring
forth alloys of slightly different colorings.
There also exists another magical alloy, Mekkassil (or, Mekkasit) with similar
properties. Greenish in color, it turns a true green when placed in water. It is easily fractured -
never drop a mekkasil amulet or you will see it break! One of the differences between
these two alloys is that mekkassil contains less sulphur than mekkapat.
Mekkapat Pi Xiu amulet.
Beautiful example of Phra
Somdej alchemical amulet made of Mekkapat.
Mekkapat Hanuman amulet
by Venerable Luang Phor Men of Wat Nathan Nok.
(webmaster's private collection)
Extraordinary alchemical egg made of mekkapat.
This unique sacred objects was made by an Alchemist from Cambodia.
The act of wearing an amulet made of one of these two alloys renders the
wearer unwoundable, just as does wearing lek lai, for
a lesser cost and a simpler process
(lek lai is very expensive and hard to find).
A lek lai lingam, along with a mekkapat
lingam
it is difficult for the novice to see the difference
(webmaster's private collection)
