Luang Phor Parn, Wat Bang Hia (Klong Dan)

Luang Phor Parn was famous for his cat amulets carved from tiger fangs. These amulets are considered the best amulet for tiger wicha. He lived during the reign of King Rama V, residing in Wat Ban Hia. “Hia” refers to a monitor lizard, and may also be employed as derogatory word meaning “faeces”. Both these words were also often used as insults. For these reasons, the temple eventually changed its name to Wat Klong Dan

. One might guess that, perhaps in ages past, there was an abundance of monitor lizards in the vicinity, thus leading the village, and by extension, the temple, to be named after them. More recently, the temple has also been rechristened “Wat Mongkhon Khothawat”.

 

Youth

Luang Phor Parn was born in KhlongNangHong

, Tambon Bang Hia, Changwat Samutprakan in B.E. 2368. His grandfather, Keow, was of Chinese descent, and his grandmother was a Thai woman named Pin. His mother’s name was Dtan, and father’s name was Pleum. His parents had a total of 5 children, with Parn being the 3rd. Luang Phor Parn had two older brothers named Nai Thep and Nai Tat. Luang Phor Parn’s birth name was named Nai Parn. His remaining siblings consisted of Nai chan, his younger brother, and Nang Jam, his youngest sister. During this period, they did not have any family name. Only under the influence of King Rama V, who felt that each family should adopt a family name, did his family’s name become Noo Thep.

 

In his formative years, Luang Phor Parn’s parents brought him to study at Wat Arun Ratchawararam

(Wat Chaeng). He was taught to read and write in Thai by Zhao Khun SiSaKaYaMuni, who was the Zhao Awat of the temple. He had invited Luang Phor Parn to become a novice monk, but Luang Phor Parn turned him down as he felt a strong sense of responsibility for his parents, and he wanted to assist them with their day-to-day farming chores.

 

When he was 18, Luang Phor Parn desired to expand his social circle, including dating. One day while climbing the stairs leading to his girlfriend’s room, he suffered a nasty fall. These were no ordinary stairs however; they were made of Ton Takien, a type of wood that is believed by Thais to be extremely spiritual in nature (refer to our article on Ton Takien for more information about this belief). Luang Phor Parn took the fall as an omen; deciding that the mundane life was not for him, and that renouncing it in favour of ordainment was his destiny. He pondered for many days, and finally decided to become a monk at Wat Arun Ratchawararam.

 

Life as a Monk

His Preceptor was Zhao Khun SriSaKayamuni

(no details are available regarding his Announcing Teachers). His dhamma name post-ordination was AkKaPanyo. He acquired and honed his skills in Gammatan and Saiyasart at Wat Arun Ratchawararam. After that he relocated to Wat Bang Hia. While there, he was joined by a fellow monk from Wat Arun Ratchawararam, named Luang Phor Ruen.

 

After Ork Pansa (end of Khao Pansa), the two monks embarked on a Tudong

journey, eventually finding themselves at Wat Ang Sila in Ampur Muang, Changwat Chonburi. There, both of them requested the tutelage of Luang Phor Tang, the Zhao Awat. They learnt Vipassana TuRa (another form of Vipassana) and Saiyasart. It was also there that Luang Phor Parn learnt the skill that would make him famous, a wicha called Kieow Suer Krong (a mystical form of Tiger wicha). They both left Luang Phor Tang and went back to Wat Bang Hia. Luang Phor Parn became the Zhao Awat, and Luang Phor Ruen, the assistant Zhao Awat. During this period of time, they also taught an unnamed monk how to practice Patibatham (adherence to the 227 precepts).

 

Miracle of the Tiger wicha

In B.E.2442, at the Bang Hia river, holes appeared in the dam, and it began to leak, threatening the surrounding area. The people had repaired it repeatedly but were helpless to stem the ever-increasing danger to their safety. News of this reached King Rama V, and he came to investigate. He stayed for 3 days, and asked Luang Phor Parn to come and see him. Luang Phor was already 70 years old at the time.

 

The incidences that happened were recorded in a book, Phra RatchaNipon NaiPhrabathSomdej PhrachunlaJom KlaoJaoYooHua (Phra RatchaNipon means “Written by the King”, and the remaining words were the King’s full name). In it, the chapter “ReuangSadejPhraPat MonTonPraJin

” (“The King’s travels to PraJin province) recorded the incredible experience he had with Luang Phor Parn’s tiger wicha. This book is readily available in Thai libraries for further reading.

 

In the book, it was written that Luang Phor Parn indeed heeded his call. The King had understood from the villagers that Luang Phor was excellent in Vipassana, Tudong practices and Saiyasart. He observed that Luang Phor was large-statured, very soft spoken, and relied on his assistant to relay messages to his audience.

 

The account tells of a strange incident. When Luang Phor went anywhere, it was customary for a young Dek Chai

(temple assistant) to follow him and tend to his needs and instructions. On that day, a young temple assistant named Pod accompanied him to meet the King. The young child was carrying a tiger shaped amulet carved from the fangs of a tiger on an offering plate, and followed measuredly behind Luang Phor. In the presence of the King, he gestured to present the amulet to him. He turned around to find his assistant in a state of panic. The amulet had suddenly disappeared.

 

Pod told Luang Phor that as they were crossing the river, the amulet had morphed into a tiger and leapt into water. The King was in disbelief. Could the child be immature enough to give a ridiculous explanation like that to his King? Upon hearing this, the whole congregation proceeded to the river, where Luang Phor grasped a handful of mud and shaped it into the likeness of a pig. He recited some spells, and attached it to a stick, waving it over the river. As he did that, a tiger leapt out of the water, furiously trying to catch the little mud-pig. Luang Phor continued to taunt the tiger, waving the effigy up and down just outside his grasp. The King was utterly convinced of his supernatural abilities, and requested for Luang Phor to stop.

 

King Rama V also recorded that that Luang Phor was proficient in making Takrut, Dai Pook Kor Mer (Saisin

), NamMon (holy water), but his most renowned amulets were his Kieow Suea Keh Pen Roop Suea (refer to our article on Luang Phor Parn’s tiger amulet).

 

Note: For a detailed account of these events, refer to the book Phra RatchaNipon

NaiPhrabathSomdej PhrachunlaJom KlaoJaoYooHua, page 36-37.

Luang Phor Parn : His Character

Luang Phor’s routine kept a strict, disciplined regimen. He begged for alms every morning, and perform suad mon chao yen (prayers in the morning and evening) every day at the Hor Suad Mon (hall for chanting). Sometimes he would pray for an entire day, reciting all the parittas in the book. He also recited the Patimok occasionally.

 

 

He also contributed to community work by building roads, such as the road from Klong Dan to Bang Priang

; from Wat MongkhonKhotawat to Wat Sawang Arom and even the road between Wat MongkonKoTahWad and the Nang Hoong canal.

 

Luang Phor was recognized a s a very powerful monk during the reign of King Rama V. He is also recognized not only as a Phra Geji Ajarn (monk who is well versed in wicha) but also as a Dhamma monk, who adheres to Vipassana and Tudong austerity practices. He was so respected, that people installed and worshipped a statue in his likeness at his temple, as Luang Phor would often be away on long Tudong journeys. When Luang Phor learnt of the statue however, he relocated to Wat Phra Pathom

instead. When the villagers asked him why he refused to return, he would tell them, “I cannot enter because of that statue, it will cause my death.”

 

He was promoted to Phra Kru Pipadnirothakit

on 10th Nov 2444. He passed away on 10:45pm, on 29th Aug 2453, at the age of 85. He was cremated a year later in B.E. 2454.

 

Luang Phor Parn’s most powerful amulets: Takrut Tone (Tone means one, meaning this takrut is an all-in-one for users) , Takrut Sarika and Takrut Maha Prab (overcome enemies)
1) Takrut Tone
This takrut is 4.5 inches long and 1.5 cm wide. It is made of takua (lead), and bound with string. It provides all the protection that one would require for a lifetime.
2) Takrut Sarika
This takrut is approximately 1 inch long, and 0.5cm in width. It is made of takua, or thong daeng, and a type of red string named Cheuak Lak Daeng was used to tie it. It is good for Maha Ut, KongKrapan, Amnaj and Metta Mahaniyom.
3) Takrut Maha Prab

 

Luang Phor wrote different yants on the takrut; yant KamNerdTorh

, yant LerLeur, accompanied by a recital of the katha “Uttang Artohna Mo Puttaya Kong Kong Ar” on the takrut. This was followed by a recital of the katha “Namapata” to surround and shield the takrut. This takrut is excellent for Amnaj and Kongkrapan Chatri. Most of them are made of takua, some out of thong daeng. There exist a handful of rare examples made of silver.