Features of Thai Jatukam Ramathep Amulets

Jatukam Ramathep Amulet | Type I

Jatukam Ramathep pendant from Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat Thailand. With Naga and chedi.
One of many styles of Jatukam Ramathep pendants from Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Jatukam is in the center with a Naga on either side. This is tri-color, with gold, copper, and silver – representative of what used to be only Buddha amulets.

This article covers some of the elements found in typical Jatukam pendants which were first started in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a southern Thailand province. Khun Paen was a police officer, highly regarding in the region, who began making the amulets. Many people call him “Phra Paen” this is in correct, Khun Paen was never ordained as a monk, and some Thais become upset when they hear him called “Phra” which is reserved for monks only.

Jatukam Ramathep Type I amulets, as above, are round and feature the figure – Jatukam in the center of the front of the amulet, usually with Nagas (serpents), sometimes with Rahu demons, and usually in fancy, ornamental design.

Reverse side of Special edition gold Sothorn Buddha medallion featuring an intricate star and pali language yant design made for luck and protection.
Intricate YAN design on the back of a Sothorn Buddha pendant from Nakhon Si Thammarat in Southern Thailand.

The reverse side of Type I Jatukam pendants typically show a complex detailed Sak Yant design with a circle of Rahu demons around the edge. Or, as above, a complex Sak Yant design with the Chedi from Wat Mahathat in the center. Around the concentric circles can be Chinese Zodiac animals, Pali symbols, star patterns, and other significant designs.

A very rare Thai pendant from Southern Thailand, Khun Paen, with parang sword. Solid silver. Collectible. Very rare.
Khun Paen, the originator of Jatukam Ramathep pendants in the modern era. A police chief with sword skills, we sold this pendant out over and over to Muay Thai boxers who believed it gave them invincibility. This is solid silver. Sold Out, sorry.

Features of Type 1 Jatukam Ramathep Amulets

  • from Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
  • round
  • Jatukam Ramathep on front center
  • nagas (serpents)
  • Rahu demons
  • complex sacred Sak Yant design on reverse
  • Wat Mahathat Chedi, Buddha, or Jatukam in the center of the Sak Yant

More Type I Jatukam Ramathep Amulets

Fancy Jatukam Ramathep, we’ve never seen one like this before. We have just this one.
Reverse side of amulet.
Jatukam Ramathep tri-color pendant featuring him on top of coiled nagas and surrounded by alternative facing Rahu Demons. (front)
Reverse side. Buddha in center and at 4 positions around the amulet. This is a very unique design, we’ve only seen one. We still have it.
Special edition Jatukam Ramathep figure with Naga and Wat Mahathat chedi on the reverse surrounded by Rahu demon.
Jatukam Ramathep in fantastic design with flowing tails of dual naga snakes. Tri-color, and solid silver. Front.
Wat Mahathat chedi surrounded by Rahu demons eating the sun.
Reverse. Tricolor design of solid silver pendant featuring Wat Mahathat Chedi in center and a circle of Rahu demons around the edge.
Copper and bronze mixed Sothorn Buddha pendant from Wat Mahathat temple in Southern Thailand.
Buddha featured on front of this bronze Jatukam style pendant from Wat Mathathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
Reverse side of solid silver Buddha Jatukam style pendant from Buddhist temple in Southern Thailand.
Reverse side shows intricate Sak Yant design with Wat Mahathat Chedi in the center and surrounded by Pali symbols and words.

Jatukam Style Amulet | Type II

When the Jatukam pendants really started selling well, the Wat Mahathat temple in Nakhon had requests from other temples that they be allowed to make their own Jatukam-style amulets.

This was a new phase in the era of Jatukam, as many temples began making their own Jatukam pendants with different monks and Buddha featured in the pendant – not just Jatukam Ramathep. Ajahn Jumnien from Krabi’s “Wat Tham Seua” temple created some pendants that were loosely based on the popular Jatukam style.

Ajahn Jumnien is on the reverse side of this tricolor Buddha pendant with stainless steel case.
Ajahn Jumnien of Wat Tham Seua temple in Krabi, Thailand created this tri-color pendant featuring him in the center and surrounded by Chinese zodiac symbols, and Pali and Sanskrit symbols. The reverse features Buddha surrounded by other Buddhas in Days of the Week poses.

Type II Jatukam style pendants neet not have Jatukam Ramathep at all, but as a nod to the creators of the style, pendant makers will often include a small image of Jatukam Ramathep or an image of the main Chedi at Wat Mahathat.

Features of Type 2 Jatukam Ramathep Amulets

  • from a temple usually not Wat Mahathat in NST, though this temple has also made some Type 2’s.
  • round
  • any color
  • featuring Buddha or monk in the center
  • nod to Wat Mahathat with Jatukam or Chedi on reverse
  • sacred Sak Yant design or other designs related to the monk

More Type II Jatukam Style Amulets

Special edition gold Sothorn Buddha medallion from Nakhon Si Thammarat's Wat Mahathat Buddhist temple in Southern Thailand.
Buddha featured, flames on side.
Reverse side of Special edition gold Sothorn Buddha medallion featuring an intricate star and pali language yant design made for luck and protection.
Complex Sak Yant with Wat Mahathat Chedi in center.
This is a unique Sothorn Buddha pendant in Jatukam style with a radiance eminating from the Buddha's body.
Buddha with background radiance.
Tricolor Buddha Jatukam Amulet Reverse side showing Buddhist Temple.
Grand Palace temple in Bangkok featured.
Ganesha – God of Obstacles.
Om symbol on pewter or stainless round pendant and gold plated case.
Om symbol and Chinese zodiac animals around the perimeter.

You might see that these last two featured pendants appear to have nothing distinctly from Jatukam Ramathep amulets, and yet this style of pendant did not come out until after the round style Jatukams of the same size, and featuring a monk or other deity in the center and surrounded by symbols, zodiac, or other.

These are not really Jatukam amulets, but the style was inspired by Jatukam Ramathep amulets.