Palad Khik is an auspicious talisman often mistaken for an obscene object. In fact it has been widely used by the Thai People for protection, enhancement of business, harmonious relationships, and most importantly, for warding off evil spirits or ghost. Sometimes it is also referred to Palad.
Palad Khik derives from Pali language. The origin of the Palad Khik is related to Lord Shiva, the Indian Hindu God who magnifies himself in the form of "Linga", the male genital and sometimes together with "Yoni", the female genital. It symbolises the power of creation, strength of unity and the source of destruction, similar to the Chinese "Yang" element. It was brought into Thailand together with the Khmer invasion as early as 8th century AD, but it was in a bigger size and was the main object of worship at the centre of many Khmer temples. The present style that could be worn over the waist with a string was made famous by Luang Phor Yi of Wat Sattaheep, Chonburi. His famous and usual inscriptions on the Palad Khik were "Gan Had Nei Had". These were invariably written in an old form of script called "Khom" that cannot be read by contemporary Thais but is now widely used by most Palad Khik makers.
Palad Khik could be carved from wood, bone, horn , ivory or made from mixed herbal powder and even metal. Some Palad Khiks are in plain form, while others could come in many forms, the most common ones are monkey holding the Palad Khik, naked lady laying herself over the Palad Khik and lizard with split tail on top of it, other forms are available as well.
Luang Phor Kit and his famous student Luang Phor Ler of Wat SaoChernNgor, ChaChernSao, Luang Phor Yi of Wat Sattaheep, Chonburi, Acharn Heng PlyWan of Ayutthaya, Luang Phor Soak of Wat Pakkhlong Bangkok, Phetchaburi, are the top master in making Palad Khik.
Linga in phallic pillar form and Yoni discovered at ruins of Phetchabun province dated 10th century (picture left)
The great makers of Palad Khik from 1950 - present are:
- Luang Pu Fak Wat NikhonPhrajasang, student of Luang Phor Ler
- Luang Phor Khong Wat WanSaparok, student of Luang Phor Ler
- Acharn Thai Wat Saijoy, Phetchaburi, student of Luang Phor Ler
- Luang Pu Si Wat Sakae, student of Acharn HengPlywan
- Luang Phor Kee Wat HuChan, student of Luang Phor Yi
- Luang Phor Seng Wat BangNa, student of Luang Phor Yi & Luang Phor Ler
- Luang Pu Make Wat LamkreDam, student of Luang Phor Yi & Laung Phor Ler
- Luang Phor Ghan Wat Intarawan, student of Luang Phor Ler
- Luang Phor Kuay Wat Kositharam, student of Luang Pu Suk
- Luang Phor Bern Wat BangPhra
- Luang Phor Yid Wat Nonjok
- Luang Phor ThongKreang Wat ChediHoi, student of L.P. Seng Wat BangNa
- Luang Pu Sawai Wat Predaram
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L.P Yi Wat Sattaheep standing and L.P. Ler Wat SaochernNgor seated below (1938) |
Precious Moments with Great Makers of Palad Khik
 My teacher Luang Pu Fak Wat NikhonPhraJaSang, Prachuap Khirikhan - early 1980s |
 2 Palad Khik from my teacher Luang Pu Make Wat Lamkredam - early 1980s |
 One of my many visit to Luang Phor Ghan Wat Intarawa - early 1980s |
 Luang Phor Yid Wat NonJok inscribing mantra on one of my PaladKhik - 1993 |
 Receiving a special monkey Palad Khik from teacher Luang Pu Seng Wat BangNa - 1986 |