Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai is the ancestral Rheesi of Luang Phor Jai Thitajaro of Wat Payayat, Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram. Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai is one of the main 108 Rheesi and the teacher of Hanuman. He is a known problem solver, be it magical, hypothetical, or practical and is highly respected and revered.

A Brief Legend

A long time ago, King Gaudom of Muang Saket who without a successor decided to forgo his kingdom and retreat into the forest as a Rheesi. His beard grew so long that sparrows came and built their nests. One day, a sparrow said to Rheesi Gaudom that he was a sinner and a deserter without sons and daughters and chose to elude by becoming a Rheesi. Infuriated, Rheesi Gaudom used his magical power and created a woman Nang Kalachana. Both of them lived together until she had a daughter named Nang Swaha.

Later, Lord Indra the Sun God, who wanted to consolidate their power to help Lord Vishnu defeat his enemies, impregnated Nang Kalachana causing her to give birth to a son, Phraya Katak. When Rheesi Gaudom found out about it, he dropped the two children including Nang Swaha into the water and prayed that if anyone is his child, swim back to him, if not, turn into a monkey and be banished into the forest. Only Nang Swaha swam back. Phraya Katak was turned into a monkey and scurried away into the forest. Rheesi Gaudom was also very angry with Nang Kalachana and cursed her to be turned into a stone. In retaliation, Nang Kalachana cursed her own daughter, Nang Swaha, to stand on one leg and eat the wind in the foothills of the universe and will pass the curse of Rheesi Gaudom on Phraya Katak to his grandchildren who shall also be monkeys.

Phra Phai, the Storm God released Nang Swaha from her mother’s curse when she gave birth to their son Hanuman, the Monkey God. When Phra Phai brought Hanuman to visit Lord Shiva, the latter created a great spell and turned Hanuman into an immortal with a body resistant to all weapons and, if killed, will be revived with just a blow of the wind. With such great powers, Hanuman quickly rises to become a great Warrior God and has defeated many strong enemies.

However, at one time, when Hanuman fought with a powerful giant Brlaikalpa he was surprised that he could not even catch Brlaikalpa, because the giant Brlaikalpa has rejuvenated with oil, so that the body is so oily that nothing could hold on to it. Hanuman thought of a Rheesi living in the nearby forest and flew to ask the Rheesi Prathit Phai how he could defeat Brlaikalpa. Rheesi Prathit Phai, afraid of sin, refused to tell Hanuman, but he picked up some sand and dust and sprinkled it into the air. Immediately, Hanuman broke into wild laughter and flew back to fight the giant Brlaikalpa. Hanuman ran so fast in circles around Brlaikalpa, causing the sand and dust to fill the air that when settled on Brlaikalpa’s body caused it to lose its oiliness. Thereafter, Hanuman had sought advice from Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai so much so that he honored Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai as his teacher.

Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai Nang Khlong

Luang Phor Jai has a deep understanding of the magical power of his ancestral Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai and what his ancestral Rheesi can do to help believers. Therefore, in year 2552, he made and consecrated his ancestral Rheesi Phra Prathit Phai in the style of the left hand holding a magic wand to support the divine destiny of the worshipers, the right in the posture of wealth fetching, and sitting above the large Tabor drum, the symbol of the Mae Klong River Basin which means having power, honor, and reputation. Following his lineage of Sai Mae Klong sect, Luang Phor Jai followed the ancient texts using the Sondhi method in the creation of this batch of statues and amulets.

Under the Sondhi method, an auspicious time of Sittichok was chosen for the casting ritual so that when combined it promotes career, finance, luck, and wealth to flow continuously. He also invited several guru monks from the inner path to help perform a special Putthapisek ceremony and they include Luang Por Kong of Wat Bang Kraphom, Luang Phor Nueng of Wat Chulamanee, Luang Phor Puek of Wat Suan Luang, Luang Phor Nu of Wat Phumarin, Luang Phor Kae of Wat Maenam, Luang Phor Yot of Kaew Charoen, Luang Phor Noi of Wat Pak Klong Temple, and et cetera.

Yi Kho Hong, original name Tee Yong Sae Tae, was born in 1851 (Thai calender 2394) and bestowed the title of Deputy Head of Thousand Anuwat Ratchaniyom Nai Akorn Bonbia in the land of His Majesty King Mongkut, Rama IV.

He was brought back to his hometown in the Qing Kingdom (now communist China) by his parents in 1853 where he suffered 14 years of humiliation and embarrassment until he reached the age of 16 years old.

In 1867 Yi Kho Hong travelled back to Siam. Contrary to the mindset of older Chinese immigrants, Yi Kho Hong considered himself a Siamese and pledged to live and die as a Siamese. He was dedicated to honest and diligent lifestyle through doing business and building a stable and respectable position in the society.

In the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama 5, as the Siam Kingdom expanded in foreign trading, Yi Kho Hong set a trading company named Kiam Hua to send products to and from abroad. His business thrived and he quickly became a wealthy master. He noticed a similar trait between the Siamese and the Chinese immigrants, that is, both ethnic groups are attracted to gambling. He therefore initiated the lottery play in Siam to that agenda.

According to Folklore

Like most Siamese of those days, Yi Kho Hong took a special interest in occult and magic and became proficient in two specialised areas. When he set up a lottery hall at Sam Yot he use the magic techniques learned to protect his interests against opponents who will come and destroy his hall before the lottery is released. He was said to have performed the ceremony properly according to traditions and his lottery business progressed swiftly. The main essences of his magic are to prevent both competitors and customers from cheating and destroying his business so that he can make hefty profits.

His popularity and wealth increased rapidly and the Chinese community became united under his leadership. Together with eleven other Chinese business immigrants, they constructed Por Tek Tueng Foundation is located opposite Phlaplachai Police Station and invited the deity Tai Hong Kong to allow people to pay their respects and seek prosperity. The Por Tek Tueng Foundation also helps to manage and handle unclaimed corpses, especially those of the Chinese immigrants.

There is still a growing popularity of people worshiping Yi Kho Hong be they Thai or foreigners because they all believe that if they want good luck in buying lottery or gambling, praying to Yi Kho Hong will materialise their desire. However, in many respects this must not exceed the law of karma as well or they will end up being disappointed. There is a wide variety of auspicious items made and consecrated by traditional Thai temples or from either the Por Tek Tueng Foundation or the Phlapphlachai Police Station. People carry and wear Yi Kho Hong amulets mainly for good gaming luck and prosperity. Some people may invite his image and worship at home or business places. The preferred offerings are black coffee without sugar and Mak Plu tobacco.