periods (B.E. 2436). They are generally between 400 to 1000 years old. There were many uses of Parodkror accessible to those adept in wicha. It was carried by generals to warn them of impending danger. The stampeding of horses would shake the ground upon which the Parodkror was placed.
The Parodkror consists of a ball placed within intersecting rings. Slight movement would cause the Parodkror to ring. Is it an astounding piece of art, considering the primitive technology available to artisans of the era (refer to picture below).
A Parodkror is cut up to show its internal construction. It has many intersecting rings, within which a centerpiece ball is placed.
Note that the ball is unevenly shaped
Parodkror can vary in size ranging from marble-sized to the diameter of a ping-pong ball, about 1-2 inches. Parodkror can be made of different metals. Some of them are made of gold-plated mixed metal alloys, and some are made of samrit
. In some examples, there is a visible welding seam joining the two halves. The main metallic ball inside is made of a type of lek lai
, inscribed with incantations. There are reputed to be 2 types, male and female. The sound produced by the female version is clearer and sharper, whereas the sound produced by the male is duller, similar to the drone of a cicada. The female version is much harder to find.
Parodkror
In ancient times, each temple buried Parodkror in Jaydee
(a location where monks would hide amulets and statues underground so that future generations could unearth and worship, as rampant wars and looting were common at the time), under the bases of huge Buddha statues, and under Gampeng Muang
(Credit: Pravit Unphet/ shutterstock.com) Ruins of old Jaydee and Gampeng Muang where Parodkror may be found (picture for illustration only)
(Credit: Christopher PB/ shutterstock.com) The compound of ancient temple ruins where Parodkror may be found (for illustrative purposes only)
(Credit: Angkana Somjit/ shutterstock.com) An ancient Buddha statue, where Parodkror may be found under the base (picture for illustration only)
Ruins of old city walls where Parodkror can be found (picture for illustrative purposes only)
The purpose of this was to bless the compound and fend off danger and evil. Each time danger or intruders drew near, the Parodkror sent a psychic warning to devotees. And the old saying is that merely placing a Parodkror anywhere can repel evil, curses, inauspicious events, grief and harm for up to 7 yoch
(112km) around it.
Parodkror are difficult to procure. Most of the Parodkror available on the market were accidentally retrieved during the excavation of places formerly housing temples, a palace, the home of someone with high status, or the ruins of ancient city walls. In some cases, they have been handed down from generation to generation as an heirloom.
Counterfeit Parodkror abound. Many are purposefully aged to give the illusion of being very old. The easiest way to distinguish a real from a fake is to shake it and listen to the sound. If a mere light shake produces a distinctive, clear sound, then the Parodkror is likely to be authentic. If hard shakes are needed to produce a sound, much like when you shake a Phra Kring
was alive, it is known that he kept a Parodkror on him at all times to alert him of impending danger since, as a Police Major-General, he had many enemies. Before he passed away, he requested that his son do the same.
