Takrut Racha, the Mosquito Net and the Flowing Water

Takrut Racha, the Mosquito Net and the Flowing Water Tuesday, the 9th waning day, an Amarit Chok day (the "mother" reckoning), coinciding with the 9th day. Someone asked me, "Are you making anything?" This rains retreat I do not expect to make anything further. My intention is to make an In (อิ่น) together with the Akkhara Bun Kathin offering — an In combined with sacred wax and Nam Man Chang Yoi (oil of the weeping elephant). In truth, for the 9th waxing day of the 9th month I have been waiting for a Thursday, as there is another fine item prescribed by an old text.... Going back to the Tuesday 9th day of the 9th month some three years ago, we went down into the water to make Takrut Racha. This takrut is a signature item in the lineage of Luang Pu Kham Sing Suphattho (ลป.คำสิงห์ สุภัทโธ); I received the transmission from Phra Ajarn Yotchai (พระอ.ยอดชัย). It is held to be the king among takrut. The masters say that even if it is laid beside other takrut, the others are held to yield before its power, as though leaping away. For this reason it is usually cased in cast lead, and wrapped in cloth as a further layer. Because the power attributed to this takrut is so high, inscribing it under water requires a mosquito net to mark out a protected area, keeping water creatures from coming near — tradition holds that misfortune would befall such creatures — so the net is used as a barrier. The people of Nong Khai (หนองคาย) hold a belief that one must never take a mosquito net into the water or wash it in the river!! For it is said to draw the mermaid-spirit to take a person!! Those who know this saying are therefore afraid to make this kind of takrut. Whether the mermaid-spirit truly comes, I cannot say, but when this takrut is being inscribed snakes often drift and circle nearby. My teacher said that at times the cry of a crocodile could plainly be heard. This is why the takrut of this text is regarded as most exceptional. Some fear the mermaid-spirit; I fear the net tangling round my head and drowning me. A takrut with auspicious timings such as these is made only rarely, when I invite the younger ones to join me — to carry the lineage of practice forward.