Ayutthayan Protective Practices and Devices: Manual of Wat Pradusongtham
Journal of International Buddhist Studies May 11, 2026 Potprecha Cholvijarn
An eighteenth-century manual from Wat Pradusongtham, a late Ayutthaya meditation center, describes protective diagrams called Triple Gem Qualities yantras, which represent the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, along with the Ratanamālā protective chant. It also provides instructions for visualizing four Pali syllables—na, ma, a, and u—that stand for four precious gems and the four elements (dhātu) composing the body and physical world. Adepts use these gems to manipulate natural forces, cure illnesses, perform miraculous powers, and activate protective devices.