Post by Admin on Oct 12, 2017 7:35:44 GMT 7
Luang Phor Kram, the sacred monk of Thailand’s eastern-seaboard provinces
Luang Phor Kram Yasotaro, officially named Phra Mongkolsilacharn, reached a hundred years of age on October 20th, B.E.2540 and was one of the oldest living monks in Thailand.
He was not only highly respected by the locals of Rayong and neighboring provinces but was also highly respected by the general public throughout the kingdom. One of the reasons that he was invited on an annual basis to participate in the ceremonies held at Wat Prakaew, located within the royal palace.
He was also respectfully renamed as “the God of Rayong Province”, “the God of the Eastern Sea” or “the God of the Eastern Seaboard provinces”.
Background
Luang Phor Kram Yasotaro was born on October 20, B.E.2440, on the Wednesday of the 11th month of the Cock Year according to the Thai lunar calendar. He was born in Banvungva Village, Wang Whaa Sub-district, Klang District, Rayong Province to Mr.Kruan Arunwong and Mrs. Toi Arunwong.
Their predecessors had lived in the province for a very long time and had grown Thai pepper plants for generations, just like most families in the region.
Aged 11, his father took him to Wat Wang Waa to be educated by Phra Ajahn Tri and other monks at the temple. He was taught both Thai and Khom (ancient Khmer) languages, the important basic education during that time.
Moreover he also studied under Luang Phor Lum , then abbot of Wat Plongchangperk. Aged 15, he returned home to help his parents.
Ordination
Five years later, aged 20, he was ordained at Wat Wang Whaa by three senior monks namely Phra Kru Sungkakarnburapatis, head Monks of Klang, Prabaitiga Lum Pun-yaying, the Vice head monks of Klang, Phra Atikarn Pern, the former abbot of Wat Wang Waa, who also acted as Phra Upacha, Phra Karmavajacharn and Phra Anusavanacharn respectively.
The ordination ceremony was organized on June 11th, B.E.2460, where he was also given a new name as Yasotaro, which meant a high-ranking individual. After his ordination, he returned to Wat Plongchangperk to learn Dharma and succeeded to pass the Nak Dharma Class I and II respectively.
He also learnt ancient medical sciences, a knowledge which he put to good use by helping many of the local villagers, particularly the poor.
Sacred sciences
He learnt many sacred sciences from a senior monk, named Phra Kru Nivas Dharmasarn (or Luang Por Toh), the former abbot of Wat Khaokadon and Wat Botong. He became highly specialised and knowledgeable in all that he studied, finally returning to Wat Wang Waa to practice further meditative techniques and also assist the temple until Phra Atikarn Pern had passed away, whereupon he was invited to take up position of Abbot
Luang Phor Kram Yasotaro was not only respected for his sacred power but also for his virtue. He highly respected his teachers and would organize sacred ceremony each year to worship them.
Ranks
B.E.2464 appointed as the abbot of Wat Wang Waa
B.E.2474 appointed as Head Monk of Nernkor Division
B.E.2479 appointed as Head Monk of Nernkor Sub-district
B.E.2486 2486 was authorized as Pra Upacha.
B.E.2539 Was given a royal name Phra Mongkolsilacharn
During the time that he governed Wat Wang Waa, all monks and novices would strictly follow the Buddhist code and learn Lord Buddha's dharma. Indeed all monks from this temple were good enough to teach Dharma to the general public.
Sacred amulets / Pha Yant
Luang Phor Kram created several kinds of sacred amulets to help worshippers. These amulets are as popular today as they have always been.
Pha Yant Pat Bohk (Royal Long Handled Fan), is almost without doubt one of his most famous amulets, it was highly distinctive in that the upper part was coloured red and lower part coloured white. The sacred cloth featured many sacred kathas and images.
Pha Yant Pat Bohk, also known as “Pha Yant Pat Bohk Mahalarp”, was initially created to help chase away a big storm that had threatened the livelihood of many of the local population.
Later this same amulet was used to dispel black magic, and evil, whilst at the same time calling upon calling good fortune into worshipper’s homes. This amulet quickly became very popular in many provinces, but its fame even spread to Laos and Cambodia, where people would attach the Pha Yant Pat Bohk to the front of their property for protection. This Pha Yant made him very famous indeed. Today it is highly sought after by collectors.
This Pha Yant is extremely impressive measuring about 3ft by 2 ft, we are fortunate to own an example in near mint condition.
Due to his hard work and dedication to both Buddhism and the poor Luang Poo Kram eventually died of a serious-throat tumor on December 1st, B.E.2540, 02.00 p.m., at Sriracha Smitivech Hospital.
During the 15-day funeral many people were to visit Wat Wang Whaa to pay their last respects to the great monk. It is said that his sacred power lives on through his amulets and in particular his famous Pha Yant.
Luang Phor Kram Yasotaro, officially named Phra Mongkolsilacharn, reached a hundred years of age on October 20th, B.E.2540 and was one of the oldest living monks in Thailand.
He was not only highly respected by the locals of Rayong and neighboring provinces but was also highly respected by the general public throughout the kingdom. One of the reasons that he was invited on an annual basis to participate in the ceremonies held at Wat Prakaew, located within the royal palace.
He was also respectfully renamed as “the God of Rayong Province”, “the God of the Eastern Sea” or “the God of the Eastern Seaboard provinces”.
Background
Luang Phor Kram Yasotaro was born on October 20, B.E.2440, on the Wednesday of the 11th month of the Cock Year according to the Thai lunar calendar. He was born in Banvungva Village, Wang Whaa Sub-district, Klang District, Rayong Province to Mr.Kruan Arunwong and Mrs. Toi Arunwong.
Their predecessors had lived in the province for a very long time and had grown Thai pepper plants for generations, just like most families in the region.
Aged 11, his father took him to Wat Wang Waa to be educated by Phra Ajahn Tri and other monks at the temple. He was taught both Thai and Khom (ancient Khmer) languages, the important basic education during that time.
Moreover he also studied under Luang Phor Lum , then abbot of Wat Plongchangperk. Aged 15, he returned home to help his parents.
Ordination
Five years later, aged 20, he was ordained at Wat Wang Whaa by three senior monks namely Phra Kru Sungkakarnburapatis, head Monks of Klang, Prabaitiga Lum Pun-yaying, the Vice head monks of Klang, Phra Atikarn Pern, the former abbot of Wat Wang Waa, who also acted as Phra Upacha, Phra Karmavajacharn and Phra Anusavanacharn respectively.
The ordination ceremony was organized on June 11th, B.E.2460, where he was also given a new name as Yasotaro, which meant a high-ranking individual. After his ordination, he returned to Wat Plongchangperk to learn Dharma and succeeded to pass the Nak Dharma Class I and II respectively.
He also learnt ancient medical sciences, a knowledge which he put to good use by helping many of the local villagers, particularly the poor.
Sacred sciences
He learnt many sacred sciences from a senior monk, named Phra Kru Nivas Dharmasarn (or Luang Por Toh), the former abbot of Wat Khaokadon and Wat Botong. He became highly specialised and knowledgeable in all that he studied, finally returning to Wat Wang Waa to practice further meditative techniques and also assist the temple until Phra Atikarn Pern had passed away, whereupon he was invited to take up position of Abbot
Luang Phor Kram Yasotaro was not only respected for his sacred power but also for his virtue. He highly respected his teachers and would organize sacred ceremony each year to worship them.
Ranks
B.E.2464 appointed as the abbot of Wat Wang Waa
B.E.2474 appointed as Head Monk of Nernkor Division
B.E.2479 appointed as Head Monk of Nernkor Sub-district
B.E.2486 2486 was authorized as Pra Upacha.
B.E.2539 Was given a royal name Phra Mongkolsilacharn
During the time that he governed Wat Wang Waa, all monks and novices would strictly follow the Buddhist code and learn Lord Buddha's dharma. Indeed all monks from this temple were good enough to teach Dharma to the general public.
Sacred amulets / Pha Yant
Luang Phor Kram created several kinds of sacred amulets to help worshippers. These amulets are as popular today as they have always been.
Pha Yant Pat Bohk (Royal Long Handled Fan), is almost without doubt one of his most famous amulets, it was highly distinctive in that the upper part was coloured red and lower part coloured white. The sacred cloth featured many sacred kathas and images.
Pha Yant Pat Bohk, also known as “Pha Yant Pat Bohk Mahalarp”, was initially created to help chase away a big storm that had threatened the livelihood of many of the local population.
Later this same amulet was used to dispel black magic, and evil, whilst at the same time calling upon calling good fortune into worshipper’s homes. This amulet quickly became very popular in many provinces, but its fame even spread to Laos and Cambodia, where people would attach the Pha Yant Pat Bohk to the front of their property for protection. This Pha Yant made him very famous indeed. Today it is highly sought after by collectors.
This Pha Yant is extremely impressive measuring about 3ft by 2 ft, we are fortunate to own an example in near mint condition.
Due to his hard work and dedication to both Buddhism and the poor Luang Poo Kram eventually died of a serious-throat tumor on December 1st, B.E.2540, 02.00 p.m., at Sriracha Smitivech Hospital.
During the 15-day funeral many people were to visit Wat Wang Whaa to pay their last respects to the great monk. It is said that his sacred power lives on through his amulets and in particular his famous Pha Yant.