Phor Tiang Nuam Mana, The Sakyant Master of Samnak Barn MeeDee

 

Phor Tiang Nuam Mana

was born in B.E. 2455 during the Indochine period (B.E. 2489 to 2532). The exact date of his birth, remains a mystery. He grew up around Wat Rachabopit and spent his life in Barn Khamin. Phor Tiang could speak Thai Glang and Thai Isaan, as his wife was from Isaan. He could also speak a bit of Mon language. A year before he passed away in Nov, B.E. 2531 at 76, he commented that if had not died by the same time the following year, he would live to be a hundred years old. However, he passed away a few months later.

 

Phor Tiang was a student of many renowned Monks and Masters. One of the most famous was an Ajarn nicknamed “Yoo Ruea Loi

” by the people of the time. Loi, in Thai, means “float”. He earned this nickname from the fact that his samnak was built atop a floating platform in a lake. Ajarn only returned to terrestrial accommodation for a short spell before his passing, as he wished to remain in the presence of Ajarn Heng Praiwan, and continue learning from him. Ajarn Heng taught Wicha Kanombia (or “Chinese Cake” wicha). This unique name stemmed from his affinity for Chinese cakes, which he often used as offerings in his rituals. Present-practitioners of his wicha lineage, continue to offer these Chinese cakes as a mark of respect for Ajarn Loi and Phor Tiang.

 

 

 

Yant Kanombia of Samnak Barn Mee Dee

is commonly seen in many Rooptai of Phor Tiang as it encompasses all goodness (mee dee) for wearer such as safety, wealth fetching, the attraction of benefactors, Metta Mahaniyom, Metta Mahasaneh, Amnaj and so forth.

 

A Specialist in Kongkrapan

An unnamed Ajarn also taught Phor Tiang Wicha Bua Koo

and Wicha Pah Ched Nar. These wicha gives the practitioner kongkrapan neow jing. The word “neow jing’ translates as “impenetrable skin”. It also bestows Klaew Klad, Maha Ut and Metta Mahaniyom upon the practitioner.

 

Ajarn Mong

, a teacher from Myanmar taught him another wicha for kongkrapan, named Wicha Moo Thong Daeng. Yant Moo Thong Daeng (“Copper Pig”) by Ajarn Phor Tiang were highly-prized by olden-day devotees in Samut Prakan, as they bestowed users with an imposing aura, which strikes fear into law enforcers and helped to keep these enforcers at bay. Devotees in possession of these were said to have incredible protective powers. It is also known to generate wealth and abundance, in line with the Chinese symbolism of a plump pig.

 

 

These skills made Ajarn Loi a kongkrapan specialist. The sakyant he inscribes on devotees’ thumbs often invoke Yant Tua Tok

, also known as Yant Tua Torh, which grants protective and healing abilities to the recipient of the sakyant.

Many Teachers, Powerful Skills

When Phor Tiang was a teenage novice monk, he studied under Luang Phor Somsak at Wat BoonBangSingh

. He was also a student of Pu Thong, Ajarn Daeng (Wat Bua Keaw), Ajarn Chit, Phor Soon PayaMai, and Pu Tian (Wat Bot). He learnt Gammatan (meditation) from Ajarn Choom, of Wat Ammarin. Luang Phor Chan of Wat Nang Nu also taught him the wicha for sakyant tattooing.

 

 

He also went on to study wicha from Phor Leur, of Wat Sao ChaNgok, who gave him a special Paladkhik amulet.

His last teacher, Kru Jareon

, taught him Wicha Sak Hanuman Samna Paed Korn (8-handed Hanuman) Plaengrit.

 

Some Display of Phor Tiang’s Prowess

Phor Tiang showcased his supernatural abilities gleaned from years of esoteric practices, on many occasions. Here are some instances;

1. There was once Phor Tiang got ordained as a sammanen and one afternoon, he was practicing wicha on Phong Wisett

a spell which was cast upon a powder to be mixed with food for charming others. Devotees arrived to look for the resident abbot of that temple but he was not in. Phor Tiang proceeds to prepare mark pru, water and tea to serve the guests however he forgot to wash his hands clean. It was said that the devotees who took the food and tea offered to them (with the Phong Wisett), refused to leave the temple afterwards.

 

The Zhao Awat arrived at the temple in the late evening and was told of what had transpired by Phor Tiang. Phor Tiang had just learnt the wicha and had not gone to learn how to break the spell yet. When the Abbot arrived, he was then able to break the spells on the devotees.

When the Abbot splashed the NamMon onto the devotees, they were startled back to their senses. It took a few moments for them to recollect their state of mind and realized that they were still in the temple. They had no recollection of the earlier events in the temple!

2. He once stacked two stools to reach for some high-up objects. Due to the instability of the stacked stools, he fell and landed on the sharp point of his thick and rigid metal sakyant needle. He instead of penetrating him, the needle bent. Unscathed, Phor Tiang joked that old men have thick skins,

3. He once returned home amidst a torrential deluge of rain. His students feared that he would be drenched. They hurriedly prepared some towels for their master, only to discover that he was totally dry, even his hair!

4. A student wanted to visit him with food while he was hospitalized. The student, however, was unsure whether to visit his teacher or mother first. He decided to visit Phor Tiang first. Phor Tiang expressed gratitude for the food and then told his student to visit his mother immediately. His student was astounded, as he had not mentioned his mother at all.

5. A naysayer who did not believe in ghosts challenged Phor Tiang to prove their existence. Phor Tiang told him that there might be a way to convince him and brought him to a place called Pachar. During the visit, the man encountered terrifying things and fled for his life before falling ill.

6. A luksit (disciple) once requested that Phor Tiang attend the Phithi Wai Kru of Ajarn Han

, and he agreed. Midway through the journey, Phor Tiang had a heart attack, and the luksit wanted to send his teacher to the hospital immediately. Phor Tiang stopped him and insisted that they attend the ceremony. 2 hours later, after the ceremony had ended, Phor Tiang finally sought medical attention. Phor Tiang explained to his luksit that a man should always keep his word, and fulfill whatever he had promised, no matter what.

 

7. Phor Tiang once travelled outside of Bangkok to visit his student. In his student’s hometown, there was a kalawat Ajarn who was adept at wicha and sakyant. Upon hearing that Phor Tiang had come to the village, the Ajarn misunderstood his intentions, believing that Phor Tiang had come to challenge him. He insisted that Phor Tiang meet him face to face. At the meeting, the 2 Ajarn reached a complete stalemate, each refusing to back down. Not wanting to continue the discussion further, Phor Tiang said; “Stop me if you can” and stood up to leave. When he tried to pursue him, the resident Ajarn found himself completely unable to stand, paralysed by the strength of a spell cast by Phor Tiang.

8. Once when Phor Tiang was conducting a Wai Kru ceremony, a monk came arrived and sat in the front row. One of Phor Tiang’s students offered a cup of tea to the monk. The monk accepted but proceeded to smash the teacup to pieces with his palm, that miraculously remained unscathed. The monk challenged Phor Tiang if he could do likewise. Phor Tiang stayed silent. The student offered the monk a second cup, which he again decimated while simultaneously challenging Phor Tiang. The third time round, Phor Tiang brought the tea to the monk himself, muttering the spell “Uppa mano yang wai sng kwam pramad

”. The monk once again raised his palm and smashed the cup to bits. This time however, the shrapnel from the cup embedded straight into the monk’s palm.

 

Even till this day, Ajarn Phor Tiang remains famous and well respected, particularly among Sakyant and Wicha enthusiasts.