Itthaje powder

Idthaje (อิธะเจ) or Idthaje of Thep Sarikabut is a branch of Thai occultism dealing with the preparation of a sacred powder according to the Idthaje scripture.^[1] The Idthaje scripture is one of the four principal texts of the ancient Thai esoteric system, together with the Pathamang, Trinisinghe, and Maharach treatises.^[1] The name of the Idthaje art also appears in the Thai epic poem Khun Chang Khun Phaen in the episode where Phlai Ngam studies magic.^[1]

The content of the Idthaje discipline concerns the making of powder by “setting the bases” according to the Pali Mūla-kaccāyana grammar, a major Pali grammatical system that is no longer in use.^[1] There are several lineages of Idthaje, but the principal formula begins with the syllables: Ita Iti Iti Assā Udaṅ Ahaṅ Aggaṅ Ahaṅ Ahaṅ Ithaṅ Amma Assā, followed by sandhi (phonetic combination) rules drawn from Pali grammar until the final phrase Idthajetosodahḷaṃgaṇhāhitāmasā is produced, signifying completion of the sandhi sequence. The powder obtained from repeatedly writing and erasing these characters on a slate board is called Idthaje powder, believed to possess the power of loving-kindness, attraction, and charm, especially toward women.^[1]

Traditional preparation of Idthaje powder begins with ritual offerings to the teacher (flowers, incense, candles, pork head, ritual trays, white and red rice balls, young coconut, bananas, and a teacher’s fee). The practitioner recites prescribed invocations and then writes the sacred characters with a chalk stick made of refined white clay (din so phong) on a slate, chanting a mantra for every character written. Different lineages may add various substances to the chalk stick—such as residue from temple walls or boundary stones, soil from seven springs and seven forests, layered rak flowers, young sawat shoots, galong flowers, or aromatic herbs.^[1] The Pali Mūla-kaccāyana formulas are invoked during writing and erasing until the letters are completely removed according to the sandhi rules, leaving only the sacred powder. The completed Idthaje powder is reputed to have great power of attraction; some texts claim that if mixed into a woman’s food she will love the man forever, or if merely touched it can cause infatuation. The 13-syllable Idthaje mantra is "Idthajetaso daḷhaṃ gaṇhāhi tāmasā." After completion, the powder is often mixed with medicinal ingredients and molded into sticks for storage or for use in creating amulets. Notably, the famous Phra Pidta images of Luang Pho Kaew of Wat Khruawan were said to include Idthaje powder. The powder is credited with powers of charm, metta (loving-kindness), invulnerability, and protection, though it is most strongly associated with attraction of women.^[1]

The Idthaje powder is part of a series of powders used in the creation of sacred Buddha images. According to the lineage of Wat Rakhang, the process begins with the making of Pathamang powder by repeatedly writing and erasing sacred formulas to generate chalk dust. The Pathamang powder is then molded into chalk sticks and used to write and erase again to obtain Idthaje powder. This sequence continues to produce Maharach powder, Phutthakhun powder, and finally Trinisinghe powder, each stage requiring specific formulas and a set number of repetitions. The combined powders were famously used by Somdet Toh to create the revered Somdej Wat Rakhang amulets.^[1]