Luang Phor Toop

Luang Phor Toop Wat Kae Nang Lerng is well-known among his devotees for his Wicha Akom. He is also known to have consecrated a range of amulets which are now highly- sought after and hard to be seen among his devotees and amulet collectors.

Luang Phor Toop was born in Tambon Bang Luang Lang in Ayutthaya on 11th April BE 2411. It is known that his father was Mr Dech while his mother was Mrs Phong. However, it was unfortunate for Luang Phor Toop as he lost both of his parents around the time of his first birthday. Hence he stayed with his relatives in Bangkok. It is known that his relatives' names were Jao Praya Racha Supamidtr and Tan Phu Hying Plaek. Luang Phor Toop started to learn Khom Agkhara script and Pali Sanskrit at an early age as he was attending a school at the temple that is nearby to his relatives house.

In BE 2463, Luang Phor Toop ordained as a monk at Wat Suntorn Dhamma Dhana (pronounced ‘Wat Suntorn Tamma Tan’ in Thai) commonly known as Wat Kae Nang Lerng. HIs Upachaya Ordaining Officer was CK Tamma Warodom, the abbot of Wat Benjamabopit. His Phra Gamma Wājājarn was Phra Ariya Muni, the abbot of Wat Tewarachagunchorn and Phra Kru  Puttaban (Luang Phor Naedtr) the abbot of Wat Suntorn Tamma Tan was his Phra Anusawanajarn witness. He received the ‘Chāyā’ (ordained monk’s name) of ‘Khema Siri’. Once he was ordained, Luang Phor Toop studied Kammathāna Vipassanā,Dharma and Puttakom (Buddha magic) under the guidance of Luang Phor Parn Wat Bang Nom Kho in Ayutthaya for a long period of time.

Afterwards, Luang Phor Toop came back to Bangkok but he would still often return back to Ayutthaya to continue his studies with Luang Phor Parn.

As time went on, Luang Phor Toop became friends with Luang Phor Khan Wat Nokkrajab who taught him ‘Wicha Chueak Kart Aew which he mastered under the guidance of Luang Phor Khan. Afterward, Luang Phor Toop also went to several guru monks to learn Wicha from . Just to name some of the guru monks : Luang Phor Chaem Wat Takong and Luang Phor Ngern Wat Don Yai Hom. It was also due to the fact that Luang Phor Ngern would often visit Luang Phor Chaem at Wat Takong that Luang Phor Toop had the opportunity to learn Wicha from these two guru monks.

In fact, Luang Phor Toop was a diligent monk that accepted and fulfilled the requests he received from his teachers and was never lazy or selfish in his behavior. He became highly respected and beloved by his companions in the Sangha during his early years as a novice monk and became a role model for other novice monks by inspiring and driving them to excel in their duties.

Luang Phor Toop was responsible for the helpful activities in assisting the abbot of Wat Kae Nang Lerng in the development of the temple and was later on appointed as the vice abbot of Wat Kae Nang Lerng. However, in the year BE 2471, Luang Phor Toop was appointed as the abbot of Wat Kae Nang Lerng and started to develop the temple till it became a well-known temple. By BE 2477, he was given the honorable official status of Phra Kru Sanya Badtr. Consequently, in BE 2495, he was given the status of Phra Racha Kana (Bishop) by Royal Decree.

Luang Phor Toop is known for his many amulets that he consecrated as he began consecrating amulets in the year BE 2482 by co-consecrating a batch of amulets with Luang Phor Chaem Wat Takong. This first batch of amulets was Phra Somdej Sam Chan Buddha on 3 Tiered Dais, Phra Rod, Phra Pim Nang Kwak Supawadee amulet. All of these amulets were consecrated in Nur Phong Prasom Din Buchaniyasathan (Muan Sarn Sacred Powders mixed with earths from Sacred Shrines), and also in a second sacred material known as Phong Bailan Long Rak Chab Nuea Nai Si Dork Tao (Black Parchment Powders with Lacquered Surface and Gray Inner Color). All amulets had hand-craved Yant.

Something to note is that everytime Luang Phor Toop consecrated a batch of amulets, he would distribute them to devotees who came to the temple and helped out. The amulets which remained left over afterwards would be then hidden in the base of the Buddha Statue within the Uposatha Shrine Room. The amulets of Luang Phor Toop include sacred powder amulets, Chueak Kart Aew Magic Cord Belts with Takrut. And his most famous amulets are from the year BE 2504 and BE 2513. His 2513 amulet was his first Rian and is considered as a Niyom class amulet.

Luang Phor Toop remained as the abbot of Wat Kae Nang Lerng and was highly respected and beloved by the local Folk until he passed away on 29th May BE 2533 at the age of 92.