Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Legend of 9-Face Buddha 九面佛

This year many temples in Thailand are coming out with the images and amulets of Phra Setthi Nawagot (9-face Buddha) as well as Chuchok. Who is this 9-face Buddha? The origins of the veneration of this Buddha began in Chiang Mai of olden times, when it was still called the Lanna Kingdom. It was a difficult place to live and its population suffers much. Out of compassion, a learned guru monk named LP Ariya advised his lay disciples to built the statue of Phra Setthi Nawagot to help overcome their economic difficulties. After completing the statue, a puttaphisek consecration ceremony was conducted to invite Phra Setthi Nawagot to come and receive great offerings from the lay disciples. During the ceremony, many miracles happened throughout the puttaphisek chanting. The lay disciples were afraid as they haven’t seen such occurences in their life before. However when the puttaphisek was over everything went back to normal. Believe it or not the lives of the lay disciples started changing for the better. After the lay diciples experienced such extraodinary power, they asked LP Ariya how did such a strange 9-faced Buddha came about and why is it so effective.

LP Ariya explained that Phra Setthi Nawagot consists of the 9 rich merchants whom have taken refuge under Lord Buddha. "Setthi" means millionaire in Pali and "Nawagot" means 9 times infinity. During Lord Buddha’s lifetime, these 9 merchants have supported the Buddha’s mission in building the Sangha and spreading the Dhamma. Besides being rich lay supporters, they have also achieved the various stages of sainthood. Thus they can be considered Ariyas or Noble Ones. Inviting and revering them sincerely we hope they can bestow upon us the bountiful merits and wealth that they have accumulated in their previous lifetimes. The 9 of them are:

1. Phra Dhananjaya, who bestows power of superiority in ranks and respect.
2. Phra Yasa, whom bestows success in our undertakings.
Also bestows unity of the hearts and minds of people around us.
3. Phra Sumana, who bestows intelligence.
4. Phra Jati Kassa, who bestows prosperity in property and luck.
5. Phra Anathapindika, who bestows good progress in life.
6. Phra Menda Kassa, who bestows prosperity in wealth and luck.
7. Phra Jotika, who bestows Metta and attractiveness.
8. Phra Sumangala, who bestows a steady and peaceful life.
9. Phra Upasika Visakha, bestows promotions in office and progress.

And the Phra Setthi Nawagot Heart Katha is:

U A Ka Sa
A Ka Sa U
Ka Sa U A
Sa U A Ka
Na Cha Li Ti (9x or 108x).

May you all benefit from the veneration of this 9-face Buddha, sadhu.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

May I ask, what is a Katha, how different is it from a mantra? And what does that katha mean?

Wayne Woo said...

Katha is the same meaning as Mantra. This katha invokes the virtues of the 9 great millionaires in abbreviation.

tun said...

Bro Wayne, I just came back from Chiang Mai and I rented a 9 Face Buddha from Wat Doi Suthep. Can I chant the katha from your website?

Wayne Woo said...

Of course u can.

Anonymous said...

May I ask which teacher's katha is this? tq

Wayne Woo said...

LP Thongdam.

Anonymous said...

Bro, i got a 9 face buddha, and where can i get it certified in sg? Thanks.

Spiritconjurer said...

Hi, bro Wayne, i got 9 face buddha from local temple when archans came to the temple. The temple gave the amulet when we donate to the temple. So can i chant this khata for the amulet?

Unknown said...

mister wayne i found on the addict of my grandma a wooden stattue of this buddha all dusty i live in holland and nobody can tell me anything about i dont no the size by inches but in centimeters its 40 high massive wood with 9 faces one guy offered me like 100 us doller do you know something about it kinds regards randy de jager

Unknown said...

IS RANDY DE JAGER STILL ON THIS FORUM?

I HAVE LIVED IN THAILAND FOR OVER 23 YEARS AND MY WIFE OF 20 YEARS IS FROM LAMPHUN VERY NEAR CHIANGMAI.

My spirit Ajan is the deceased Chiangmai monk Kru Bha Siri Chai who is given credit for leading the construction of the Doi Suthep Road up to the top of the mountain leading out of Chiangmai and the renovation of many local Chiangmai and Lamphun Buddhist sites.

I was recently enchanted by the nine headed Buddha having heard about it and spent some time looking for one recently down near the Gulf of Siam.....only to go home and find a good sized cast brass one already on our home Buddha sala table placed there by my Thai brother in law from Lamphun.

I was thinking of moving it up to be the most prominent Buddha image on our Buddha sala cabinent.

I decided to surf the internet first to find out what the nine headed Buddha meant as I still had absolutely no idea.

Thank you Wayne for the wonderful definition as I now know how important it is in my life right now.

Randy de Jager are you still on this forum?

Do you still have your wooden nine headed Buddha?

Peace Brothers and Sisters
clayton@premierinternational.com

Unknown said...

hi wayne for this 9 face buddha got any prayer song can find in youtube?? thanks

Skye said...

The x9 and x 108 is for na cha li ti or for whole katha?

Unknown said...

How to chant katha. Tq

Unknown said...

9 face buddha got any prayer song can find in youtube? thanks

Unknown said...

In Malaysia, where to find place selling Thai amulets. Tq

Unknown said...

In Malaysia, where to find place selling Thai amulets. Tq

Unknown said...

Hi and good morning friends

khun lau said...

hi...can i know when the ceremony of 9 faces buddha? maybe the date of birth or enlighten day?thanks before....pls inform me at khonyol@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Bro can you WhatsApp me at 92258043. I got something that I need to show you. Raj