Luang Phor Od, Wat Chan Sen, Nakhon Sawan
Luang Phor Od, known formally as Phra Khru Nisai Chariyakun (Wisuth Panyatharo), was born on 28 December 1917 in Ban Hua Khao, Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan. He was the fifth of seven siblings in the Paentho family. Ordained on 21 May 1938 at Wat Hua Khao, his preceptor was Phra Thammatrailokachan (Yod) of Wat Khao Kaew.
From his early years, he displayed strong discipline and humility. He completed his Nak Tham Ek at Wat Mahaprutaram, Bangkok, in 1941, and soon began teaching Dhamma to monks and novices in various temples including Wat Don Yanna Nawa in Bangkok and Wat Hua Khao in Nakhon Sawan. His intelligence and compassion quickly earned respect among both laypeople and the Sangha.
In 1949, he was appointed acting abbot of Wat Nong Seenual, where he served after the passing of his uncle and mentor, Luang Phor Rung, one of Takhli’s most revered masters. Later, he was transferred to Wat Chan Sen, where he became abbot in 1950 and rose through successive ecclesiastical ranks, eventually serving as Chief Monk of Takhli District. His royal ecclesiastical titles advanced steadily from Phra Khru Tri in 1957 to Phra Khru Ek, Special Class in 1984.
Luang Phor Od came from a direct spiritual lineage linking Luang Phor Rung of Wat Nong Seenual and Luang Phor Derm of Wat Nong Pho—two of the most powerful monks of the old generation. His father, Chit Paentho, was the younger brother of Luang Phor Rung, while his grandmother was the elder sister of Luang Phor Derm’s mother. This made Luang Phor Od both nephew and disciple to these legendary teachers.
He learned his first sacred sciences under Luang Phor Rung, alongside Luang Phor Sot of Wat Hang Nam Sakorn. Though initially uninterested in magic, an event changed him: a man named Aod was shot nine times and survived after Luang Phor Od prayed to Luang Phor Rung and used consecrated water for healing. The bullets expelled themselves from the body overnight. From that moment, he committed fully to studying wicha and meditation with unwavering faith.
His practice later extended to Luang Phor Derm of Wat Nong Pho, Luang Phor Phrom of Wat Chong Khae, and Luang Phor Chen of Wat Singh, Singburi. Under these masters, he mastered both saiyasart (occult arts) and vipassana (insight meditation). His tuk kata truk, takrut tone, and phayant followed ancient formulas from these teachers, combining protection, metta, and invulnerability.
Luang Phor Od was equally known for his mastery in meditation. He trained at Wat Mahathat’s Vipassana center in Bangkok and later at Wiwek Asrom, Chonburi, developing deep mental power and clairvoyance. In his later years, he could foresee future events and often spent seven days in continuous meditation retreats without leaving his kuti. Even when ill, he continued meditating daily, often at dawn or before midnight.
Among his most famous creations were the luk om (sacred herbal balls) and si pung (charm balm) of Wat Chan Sen, based on the original formula of Luang Phor Rung. They are famed for metta mahaniyom, klaew klaad, and kongkraphan chatri. These items, made from sacred soils, candle wax from meditation rituals, and relic powders, were widely used by merchants and soldiers. Many devotees reported miraculous protection and success in love and business.
He was also known for consecrating sacred sand kept in a large urn within the temple shrine. Every night, he blessed it for protection against fire, thieves, and spirits. Devotees visiting Wat Chan Sen would bring this sand home for household protection, a practice still maintained today by his successor.
In character, Luang Phor Od was pure-hearted, calm, and endlessly compassionate. He treated all visitors equally, regardless of wealth or status. He would often buy back old Buddha images or amulets from the poor, saying gently, “Perhaps I owed them in a past life. Let this be repayment.” Those close to him never once saw him angry. His patience and kindness left a profound impression on everyone who met him.
He suffered from diabetes for many years but bore the illness with serene mindfulness. In July 1989, his condition worsened, and he passed away peacefully at Ban Mi Hospital on 17 July, Asalha Bucha Day, aged 72, after 50 rains. His body remains enshrined at Wat Chan Sen, still visited daily by devotees.
To me, Luang Phor Od represents the final generation of true cultivated monks — one whose samadhi and virtue reached genuine depth. His training under masters like Rung, Derm, and Phrom produced spiritual strength that cannot be replicated by the modern generation of ritual-only monks. His amulets and charms carry that real inner power — built from meditative attainment, not showmanship. Many Thai businessmen, officials, and householders continue to wear his pieces for wealth, clarity, and protection, testifying to his enduring legacy in both the spiritual and worldly realms.