Luang Phor Ngern – Wat Don Yai Hom, Nakhon Pathom
Monastic Title: Phra Ratchathammaphon Chandasuwanno
Birth: 16 September 2433 (1890), Year of the Tiger, Tuesday, waxing moon 3, Month 10
Parents: Mr. Phrom and Mrs. Klong Duangphlu
Siblings: Eight in total; Luang Phor Ngern was the fourth child
Ordination: 18 May 2453 (1910) at Wat Don Yai Hom by Phra Palat Huay (abbot) as preceptor. Received the monastic name Chandasuwanno.
Early Life
Luang Phor Ngern was known from youth for his discipline, cleanliness, and moral conduct. Tall, strong, and physically attractive, he stood out for his refusal to indulge in gambling, alcohol, or promiscuity. His meticulous nature in work and life led his parents to remark that even five daughters could not match his qualities.
Ordination and Vow
Upon ordination, Luang Phor Ngern made a public vow to his father and the villagers of Don Yai Hom that he would never disrobe, dedicating his entire life to the Dhamma and the welfare of humanity.
Within his first rains retreat, he mastered the Seven and Twelve Tamnan chants and memorised the Pātimokkha, a feat highly respected in monastic circles of the time.
Spiritual Training
His father, Phrom, a lay adept in meditation and esoteric practices, taught him samatha and vipassanā, along with higher meditative attainments (samāpatti) and psychic development (kasina). This training required:
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Faith (saddhā)
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Effort (viriya)
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Patience (khanti)
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Truthfulness (sacca)
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Determination (adhiṭṭhāna)
Exercises included gazing at the rising sun, flame meditation, and using concentrated mental energy to influence physical objects — foundational training for the wicha he would later employ in creating protective amulets and sacred objects.
Dhutanga Journey
In his fifth year as a monk, he undertook a barefoot dhutanga pilgrimage with two monks, travelling through Saraburi, Lopburi, and into Nakhon Sawan. Food was taken only once daily, and nights were spent in the forest or rural edges, often in tiger and elephant territory.
Upon returning after four months, his body was darkened and emaciated from hardship, and even his brother initially failed to recognise him. This journey deepened his detachment from worldly life.
Abbotship and Development Work
In 2466 (1923), Luang Phor Ngern became abbot of Wat Don Yai Hom. He developed the temple physically and spiritually, fostering harmony between monks and laypeople. He remained deeply respected for his:
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Strict Vinaya discipline
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Compassion toward villagers
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Reluctance to be involved in worldly disputes
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Clear, practical Dhamma teaching, often centred on the principle:
“Know sufficiency, create happiness everywhere.”
Passing
Luang Phor Ngern passed away peacefully on 13 January 2520 (1977) at Ramathibodi Hospital, aged 87, after 67 years in the monkhood. His death anniversary is commemorated annually at Wat Don Yai Hom, alongside other temple traditions such as the Month 4 gold-leaf offering and the memorial for his successor, Luang Phor Chaem.
Amulets and Sacred Objects
Luang Phor Ngern’s amulets and talismans are highly regarded in the Nakhon Pathom lineage and among nationwide collectors. They are known for:
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Protective power (kongkraphan chatri) — safeguarding against physical and supernatural harm.
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Metta Mahaniyom — attracting goodwill, compassion, and assistance from others.
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Business and fortune enhancement — favoured by merchants and traders.
Most of his sacred items were given free of charge when he was alive, leading many locals to assume they could always obtain them. As a result, genuine pieces in the immediate area became rare after his passing.
From 2004 onwards, demand for his amulets surged nationwide. This drove up value and cemented his reputation in the mainstream collector market, pulling other Nakhon Pathom monk amulets into higher recognition.