Mah Leng Pu (Phaya Mah Leng Pu Kam), an ancient amulet from Tai Yai, Burma

This amulet is often misunderstood to be a Wasp amulet by the general public. However, it is actually meant to be a Xylocopa Latipes, or Carpenter Bee. Refer to the pictures below for clarification.

Mah Leng Pu are fashioned in the shape of a Carpenter Bee. Some have mercury inserted; others have needles. The smaller ones are “soldiers” known as “Tualuk”. The bigger ones are considered to be “leaders”, known as “Tuakru”. Carpenter Bees are known for their prowess at boring into hard wood, and whoever wears this amulet will therefore be able to “drill into” the hearts and minds of other people, building rapport and attraction in the process.

The people of Chiang Tung (a province in Thailand) often place Mah Leng Pu on the foundations of each corner of the house. It is believed that this will protect the house and its inhabitants. Mah Leng Pu are attracted to sweet smell of flowers, and whenever they approach, any bees already there will flee. Because of this, they are widely considered to be the “King” of all bees (hence the name Phaya, or “King”).

 

History

Mah Leng Pu are considered some of the most potent magical amulets from the Tai Yai tribe in Burma. There were 8 Mah Leng Pu on the BanLang (throne) of King Burengnong

(Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta, the Burmese King who rule in the 16th century) and he also placed them on his sariang (sedan). According to legend, the person who made the amulets on his throne was Phor Kru Bo Bo Aung, who was reputed to have achieved great supernatural power. He placed 8 of these on the throne to enable King Burengnong to be victorious in all his pursuits, and any form of warfare.

 

 

Records of this amulet exist in Myanmar, referring to this amulet as Mah Leng Mongkhon

Saksit(Mah Leng – insect, Mongkhon – auspicious, Saksit – powerful, enabling wishes to come true). It is purported to possess the power of Rasamee(radius, halo) Tip (ability to come true) O Pad (brilliance, brightness). The author makes a guess that this translates to the Tai Yai tribes believing that this amulet had the spiritual power to make all wishes and hopes within its sphere of influence come true.

Legends has it that Mah Leng Pu flew into the Himmaphan Forest and returned with flowers (Gah Salong Tip) to offer to the Buddha, at the moment He was enlightened (TraSaroo Banlu Tam Wised). Upon receiving the offerings, the Buddha reciprocated with well-wishes (Putta Wajah Prasit Pon

), saying “Pen satee pra sert, kua mah leng mee peek tang lai”. This meant that the bees were able to sense the enlightenment of the Buddha, and had the spiritual intelligence to bring flowers as an offering, an achievement far beyond the mortal realm of humans and animals.

 

Consecration Process

This amulet is extremely difficult to make, requiring magical incantations to be recited over them for an extended period of time. The original methodology described in the Tamra, stipulates that these amulets must be made from Mai Pradoo Daeng (the wood from Phyllocarpus Septentrionalis, the Monkey Flower Tree) from a carriage wheel. Only the hub of the carriage wheel may be used to carve Mah Leng Pu. The symbolism of the carriage wheel, which is always moving forward, brings auspicious progress to the life of the wearer. A number of these amulets have also been carved out of ivory.

 

 

The person carving the amulet must come from a royal bloodline. An auspicious date must be selected for the carving. Only 32 pieces can be consecrated each time, with one of them being the leader (Tuakru

), the biggest piece. The Tuakru will always be positioned in the center, surrounded by the smaller ones.

 

The consecration ceremony must follow a process called “Soot Ti Boran Jarn Kamnod”, requiring strict adherence to the rules described in ancient texts, from beginning till end. The steps are described below:

Firstly, these 5 ingredients (Pah Ha

) must be made available. These 5 materials are believed to be especially auspicious, and will bring victory and success to the amulet’s owner:

1. Pa Tong
   (drawings or pictures of carpenter bees)
2. Pa Tar
   (mercury)
3. Pa Tok
   (red wood from Phyllocarpus Septentrionalis, the Monkey Flower Tree)
4. Pa Torng (hub of the carriage wheel)
5. Pa Too
   (leaves and wood from the Datura Inoxia, or Thorn Apple Tree),

 

Next, the venues for consecration must be strictly adhered to:

1. The 1st consecration must be carried out in the place of residence of a relative of the monarchy (Hor Zhao Muang),
2. The 2nd consecration must be carried out in a morgue for deceased commoners (Pahchar Barn) (in Tai Yai, there are separate morgues for the common people and the Sangha),
3. 3rd consecration must be carried out in the morgue for deceased Sangha (Pahchar Phra Song)
4. The 4rd consecration must be carried out at a cross-junction (Tang Si Phrang)

 

5. The 5th consecration must be carried out on a docking pier (Tah Nam) that is heavily populated and frequently used

6. The 6th consecration must be carried out in the premises of a temple, during a major celebration (Ngan Poi),
7. The 7th consecration must be carried out in the middle of the market (Klang Talad),
8. The 8th consecration must be carried out in a pagoda that houses the Buddha’s relics (Phrataat Jaydee),

 

9. The 9th consecration must be carried out in Wiharn (Wiharn is the temple which houses Sutta, Tamra and Bucha, but it is not open to the public)
10. The 10th consecration must be carried out in Phra Ubosot (a temple’s main hall or main building, where all the grand ceremonies are carried out, e.g. a monks’ ordination),
11. After all these consecration places, the Botsuad Phra Puttakoon, Botsuad Thammakoon and Botsuad Sangkakoon must be recited 3000 times,
12. The BodsuadSamPutteh

(refer to our article on BodsuadSamPutteh) must be recited1000 times.

 

People believe that Mah Leng Pu amulets have the following protective abilities:

1. Metta Mahasaneh,
2. Bringing good luck and business success
3. Protection from danger
4. Counteracting black magic
5. Keeping robbers away
6. Protecting children from being hurt
7. Deflecting hurt back upon your enemies
8. Granting of wishes

 

Katha Mah Leng Pu Kam

Ohm Phaya

Mah Leng Pu Kam

Ngam luer lonn porta

Nai loka loktai ngern kum dai lai nong

Tangkhaw khong gu bpong luerlon Hue pa gunn konn kon ma manusa lok lar

Joompu paa gun hoom fai rak leng doo tontuah gu phaya mah leng pu kam

Kan gu sawad mon gumdai pai yoonai gor bordai herr gai gerdpen

Ngaowbai ma gomhua karb wai nop yam gu

Ohm Phraya Mah Leng Pu Kam

Binnsa suuu yoo bon wehon kon tanglai tang rumruer ton gu teh nerr

Tang pragan pamperr faiha gu tang moo chaophraya praifah

Tang sena klar ammaj tang moo phracharaj chao mueng

Tang nunnerng saesorn rakking kon ha gu paganma jomjoo yooklai

Ma pen kar chai ton goo tid gu Phaya Mah Leng Pu Kam taener maner err rak omsawahomtid

(Note: unable to translate the meaning of the katha as it is in Northern Thai language)

This spell asks the Mah Leng Pu to bring blessings upon your life, and invites all the deities to assist you.

How to use Mah Leng Pu

1) If you build a new residence, cover Mah Leng Pu with red and white cloth, and tie them at all 4 corner pillars of the house. Worship them with white flowers every 15 days, while asking them to guard your residence from harm.

2) Whenever you travel abroad for business, worship Mah Leng Pu with incense or fragrance, and recite prayers. Recite the katha to Mah Leng Pu 7 times, and repeat this sentence, “Please protect me and help me achieve success in business”, 3 times.

3) If you have a shop, place Mah Leng Pu on a plate, and make an offering of white flowers and a small cup of honey on the same plate. Tell him; “Today I offer sweet honey, please accept my humble offering and eat your fill. Please bring wealth to me”. Following which, place the Mah Leng Pu into water, recite the katha one time, and spray the water throughout your shop and on your products. Place the Mah Leng Pu back onto the plate after the process. Offer fresh honey every day.

 

4) When travelling to a jungle or forest, recite the katha 3 times, then shake the Mah Leng Pu, and repeat the following; “kaipayamee peeyamaglaituakah sawaha sawahaiya dern tang bpai terd pai mai mee kaipa gor mai pen lae”. This Thai incancation (mixed with katha) translates as “Jungle fever (Malaria) don’t come to me, evil spirits stay away from me, and wherever I travel in the jungle, I will be safe until I reach my destination.”
5) If you want to hit on a woman/man, you recite the katha beforehand. Upon reaching the last line of the katha; “Ma pen kar chai ton gu tid gu Phaya Mah Leng Pu Kam taener maner

…

 

For using it on a girl, recite “Er Ee (recite girl’s name) rak goo om sa wa hoom tid tid”
For using it on a man, recite “Er Ay (recite man’s name) rak goo om sa wa hoom tid tid”

 

6) Soak Mah Leng Pu with clean water, recite the katha 3 times, and say; “Nam nee tok bon paen din dai kor phor jao pra Mah Leng Pu kam Pu pen yai jong raksa anah ket den nan turd sadrai yah kao dai kon rai ya kao dai pai rai mon dum tan tum mah ya kao dai gan ner phor gan toy tee tehk pai took pragan na phor na. Sappa chaiya na gan na, gan na, gan ni, gan nee, gan nu, gan noo, gan neh, gan neoi, gan noo, gan nang, gan na sawahatek”

 

This incantation translates as “Mah Leng Pu, wheever this water lands, please protect that area from any harmful beasts, intruders or evil and black magic. Please keep them out.”

 

7) To increase your personal might, recite the katha 7 times. Close your eyes and imagine there are 2 Mah Leng Pu beside you, one on the left and the other on the right. Make a sound similar to a buzzing insect 3 times. In your mind, request that Mah Leng Pu follow you wherever you, go bestow upon you the power to accomplish whatever you want.

8) If you want to be popular, you must keep the Mah Leng Pu on your person, recite the katha 3 times, and blow onto both your palms. Sweep your hands upwards across your face 3 times. You will find yourself resplendent with grandeur.

9) If you are cursed with black magic, soak the Mah Leng Pu in clean water, then recite the katha and seek help from the Deva. The water will become consecrated. You must drink it, and take a shower in it, which will purge the curse.