Historical Background
Wat Phra Prang was home to one of the respected old-generation monk-masters of Central Thailand, Luang Pu Sri, formally known as Phra Kru Wiriyasophit. He was born in BE 2410 in Ang Thong Province during a period when temple education, meditation practice, and Khmer-script occult studies were still deeply intertwined within Thai monastic culture.
In his younger years, Luang Pu Sri was known to possess a fearless and strong-willed personality. Stories passed down among old devotees describe him as someone who disliked injustice, never easily yielded to others, and held a deep interest in sacred incantations and mystical studies from an early age. This combination of natural courage and spiritual curiosity later became the foundation for his reputation as a monk possessing both strong meditative attainment and powerful wiccha.
At the age of twenty, he entered monkhood at Wat Bot in Ang Thong under Phra Ajarn Min as his preceptor. During this period, he focused heavily on Vipassana meditation and traditional monastic discipline before later residing at Wat Phra Prang in Bang Rachan, Sing Buri, where his name eventually became widely respected across Central Thailand.
One of the major turning points in his spiritual development came when he became a disciple of Luang Phor Krai of Wat Yai Tha Chanuan in Chainat Province. Under Luang Phor Krai, he received extensive transmission in sacred Buddhist magic, yantra knowledge, protective katha, and old Khmer-script ritual sciences. Devotees often described this transmission as being passed down “without holding anything back,” reflecting the trust and closeness between teacher and disciple.
Despite his growing reputation, Luang Pu Sri maintained a highly disciplined lifestyle. He was known as a monk who strictly upheld the Vinaya and spent much of his free time hand-inscribing sacred scriptures, prayer texts, and Pātimokkha passages in old Khmer characters. His expertise in Khom script became especially respected among later generations of monks and practitioners.
Over time, many famous monk-masters sought knowledge from him or regarded him highly. Among those often associated with his lineage or influence were Luang Phor Ram, Luang Phor Kuay, Luang Phor Thong, and Luang Phor Pae. This alone reflects the level of respect he carried within the old Central Thai monastic circles.
Sacred Objects and Reputation
Among collectors and older devotees, Luang Pu Sri became especially renowned for his sacred waist cords, Maha Ut takruts, sacred oils, enchanted water, rings, and first-generation portrait medals. His methods of consecration were regarded as exceptionally meticulous.
One of the most repeated stories surrounding his amulet creation process involved his first-generation medal. Before the metal was even struck into shape, Luang Pu Sri personally inscribed sacred yantras onto sheets of copper and performed empowerment rituals over them. Only after this process were the metals melted together with the main casting material. Once the medals were pressed and completed, he performed another round of solo consecration. Old devotees often summarised this by saying his sacred objects were “empowered both inside and outside.”
His reputation extended far beyond amulets alone. He was regarded as a monk possessing strong spiritual attainments, powerful speech, and deep mastery of Jindamanee mantra sciences. Stories from Sing Buri devotees frequently mention his ability to predict events accurately, including his own passing.
Before his death, Luang Pu Sri reportedly informed close disciples in advance about the exact timing of his final days. The accuracy of these predictions became one of the enduring stories associated with his reputation for higher meditative attainments and spiritual insight.
Luang Pu Sri passed away in BE 2482 at the age of 72, after 52 years in monkhood. Until today, his name remains remembered among collectors, old temple communities, and devotees of Central Thai Buddhist wiccha traditions as one of the elder monk-masters whose influence quietly shaped later generations of famous Thai masters.
