Wat Huay Mongkon Monastery (Wat Huay Mongkon)
		Tang Sai temple (Wat Tang Sai)
		San Phra Phrom (Brahma) Shrine

Following a miraculous act of having turned seawater into freshwater, Chao Samree Ram was said to be endowed with supernatural powers and has gained a following since. Well into the twenty first century, His Reverend Luang Poh Tuad remains one of the kingdom’s four famous and highly revered Buddhist monks. Luang Poh Tuad’s following spans the centuries and now extends well beyond the baby boomers. In recognition of this seniority, Luang Poh Tuad is known to younger followers as Luang Poo Tuad. Those who have faith in Luang Poo Tuad firmly believe that his sacredness provides protection against accidents, fire and various types of disasters.

Wat Huay Mongkhon, a Buddhist monastery, houses a sculpture of Somdet Luang Poo Tuad Yieb Nam Thale Jued — the Exalted One, said to be the world’s largest of sculpture of His Reverend Luang Poh Tuad. The description ‘Yieb Nam Thale Jued’ refers to the miraculous moment when Luang Poh Tuad ‘stepped on sea water’ and in doing so ‘turned sea water into freshwater’.

Son of Hoo and Jandra, Luang Poh Tuad or Somdet Phako was originally named ‘Poo’. Following his ordination at the age of 20, he became known as Chao Samree Ram. His exact date of birth is not known but he is believed to have lived during the reign of King Maha Dhammaraja in the mid-sixteenth century.

According to folk tales, shortly after Master Poo’s birth, his mother, Mrs Jandra, returned to work in the rice-fields during the harvest season. On one occasion when Mrs Jandra left her young son lying in the cradle under a rose apple (chompoo) tree, a boa constrictor slithered up to the cradle. Upon her return to the site, Mrs Jandra was horrified to find the reptile within inches of her son. The reptile subsequently disappeared but left behind a magic crystal ball.

In times past, village temples also served as the centre of education as well as a centre of religious instruction. When Master Poo was seven years old, his father placed him under the custodian of Juang, Master Poo’s uncle who was at the time the abbot of Wat Kuti Luang temple (also known as Wat Dee Luang) so his son could attend the temple school. Master Poo turned out to be an intelligent child mastering ancient Khmer and the Thai language in an exceptionally short period of time. Master Poo was ordained as a novice on his tenth birthday. His father presented him with the magic crystal ball to be worn as a talisman.

Master Poo subsequently travelled to Wat Si Young (Si Khoo Young temple) to further his education with Phra Shinnasen, a skilful and reputable monk from the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, formerly known as Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya. At the age of 20, he travelled to Nakhon Si Thammarat to further his education at the Reverend Piyadassi Maha Thera Court and was subsequently ordained as a monk. Although he was formally named, ‘Ram Dhammiko’, the generally public referred to him as ‘Chao Samee Ram’.

Chao Samree Ram pursued further education at Wat Tha Pae, Wat Simamuang and several others. Having decided that he had perhaps attained a reasonable level of education, Chao Samree Ram decided to return to Ayutthaya and sought passage on a junk.

While in the vicinity of Chumphon, the junk sailed into a storm and the journey turned perilous. The junk battled against gale force winds, high waves and stormy seas. The junk had to anchor there for a week and food and water supplies ran out. The crew had little doubt that Chao Samree Ram was the cause of their misfortune and decided it would be wise to part ways. The crew decided to ask Chao Samree Ram to leave the junk but provided the monk with a row boat so he could head for shore.

As Chao Samree Ram sat in the row boat, he dipped his left leg into the sea. In doing so, he miraculously turned sea water into fresh water. Chao Samree Ram then asked the crew to replenish their supplies of drinking water. Having witnessed this unusual phenomenon, In, the owner of the junk invited Chao Samree Ram back on board.
From then onwards, Chao Samree Ram became In’s mentor.

The 9.9-metre-wide and 11.5-metre-high sculpture of Somdet Luang Poo Tuad Yieb Nam Thale Jued at Wat Huay Mongkhon (Huay Mongkhon Monastery) depicts the revered Buddhist monk seated in the ‘lotus’ pose. In addition, the monastery also houses an ancient statue of Somdet Luang Poo Tuad carved out of a huge iron wood tree and dating back over a thousand years.

Please click to expand

Wat Huay Mongkon (Huay Mongkon Monastery)
Tubtai sub-district, Hua Hin district,
Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Tel: 032 576 187
Fax: 032 576 188

Wat Tang Sai is situated on Khao Thong Chai (Thong Chai Mountain) and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape with coconut trees forming a fringe along the sandy beach. Maha Chedi Pakdeeprakas, the great nine spired pagoda in which the Phra Buddha Kittisirichai Buddha image is enshrined, was built in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty’s accession to the throne in 1996, and the palace of Prince Chumporn Khet-udomsak, are both situated on the summit of Khao Thong Chai.

SAN PHRA PHROM SHRINE
The shrine, situated on Khao Mahachai, a hill approximately five kilometres south of Hua Hin, serves as a vehicle for promoting Buddhist teachings. For example, the heart-shaped fence surrounding the shrine symbolises kindness.

RELIGIOUS TRAVEL
SACRED PILGRIMAGE SITES
Please click to view