IRENE STENGS, AMSTERDAM
https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/irene-stengsSiam Protective Powers
Three sacred items related to ‘Somdet To’ to be auctioned and donated to the Thai Temple in Amsterdam
The Siamese monk Somdet To (full name: Somdet Phra Putthachan - To Phrom Rangsi, 1788–1872) is still widely venerated in present-day Thailand. The monk is famous for his rediscovery of a powerful Sanskrit prayer (khatha), named the Phra Khatha Chinnapanchon, somewhere, as the story goes, in a cave while meditating. Hence, the monk is always depicted with the khatha. Reciting the khatha evokes an auspicious, protective power (saksit). Somdet To, and everything related to him, is saksit. Irene Stengs learned about Somdet To through her research on the veneration for King Chulalongkorn (Rama V; 1853–1910): it is widely believed that Somdet To had been the Buddhist teacher of the young prince Chulalongkorn.
The three items to be auctioned came to Irene in The Netherlands after her research had ended. The money raised from the auctions will be donated to Buddhavihara Temple Amsterdam.
🔥 PROMO OFFER 🔥
The highest bidder with a PROMO CODE will receive a found postcard. The postcard has been part of an art installation some years ago, which included a portrait of Somdet To – according to the artist ‘a monk from Birma’.
Irene Stengs is senior researcher at the Meertens Instituut (KNAW) and, since 2017, professor by special appointment “Anthropology of Ritual and Popular Culture” at the Vrije Universiteit. She received her PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the Universiteit van Amsterdam, with a thesis on the veneration for the monarchy in present-day Thailand. Her research in The Netherlands and Thailand focuses on popular religiosity, material culture, commemorative ritual and processes of heritage formation.
01KATHA PILLOW SHEET
Pillow Sheet / Fabric / 73x50 cm / second hand
Price AUCTION €
The pillow sheet with a print of the Phra Khatha Chinnapanchon was given to me by a friend. As the khatha is long, it is difficult to memorise it. Sleeping on such a pillow sheet is believed to help to learn the text by heart.
** CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE AUCTION **
The auction will happen from 26 June on Instagram until the final bidding on 2 July at 18:00 CET time zone. The winner will be announced underneath the auction post.
The money raised from the auctions will be donated to Buddhavihara Temple Amsterdam.