Lersi Thom X Arjan Pan of Wat Khao Or

This cast image (roop lor) of Arjan Pan of Wat Khao Or, Phatthalung Province came directly from the personal collection of a Lersi I visited. Created in 2017 (B.E. 2560) by Arjan Plian Hatthayanon in reverence to his teacher, the piece is filled under its base with sacred herbal substances, including the medicinal herbs traditionally used by Arjan Pan himself at Wat Khao Or. The image was cast in lead (nuea takua) and issued as a special committee edition.

Arjan Pan holds a central place in southern esoteric tradition as the preceptor of Wat Khao Or, regarded as the South’s most important and enduring school of wiccha. From this lineage flow generations of masters and practices tied to forest retreats, cave rituals, and the transmission of sacred knowledge.

The Lersi explained that it was this very image which once guided him deep into a cave where he successfully harvested lek lai. He described it as more than a symbol—it served as a compass of spirit, pointing him toward the direction he needed to take, both physically and in life. He emphasized that this piece is especially potent for showing the right path, opening the way for success when one is uncertain.

I sat with him for some time before he agreed to let me take it. The longer I looked at it, the stronger the sense grew that the image was alive in its presence. Bringing it back with me felt less like a transaction and more like fulfilling something inevitable—that this piece was meant to continue its journey.

About Lersi Thom

On my recent trip to Nakhon Si Thammarat, I passed by the samnak of an elder hermit, Lersi Thom. At his age, most would have returned to their hometowns to retire quietly, but his life reflects a different path. Once a wandering hermit, he had spent his younger years traveling on foot across forests and caves, reaching even into neighboring Myanmar in pursuit of practice and solitude.

Now, in his later years, he has settled back in his birthplace, where his sister helps with the simple but essential duties of maintaining the samnak—feeding the animals, tending the grounds, and arranging the visits of disciples who come for blessings, holy water baths, and guidance in spiritual matters.

The setting of the samnak itself was striking. Just thirty meters in front stood a cave-mountain, a reminder of the caves where monks and ascetics seek silence and spiritual depth. Behind flowed a river, carrying the resonance of cleansing, transformation, and ritual renewal. Together, cave and river framed the samnak in an environment rich with natural power, an ideal landscape for spiritual work.

Lersi Thom has become known across Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, both for his presence and for his rare creations. His amulets, crafted from lek lai and complex mixtures of parad (solidified mercury), are sought after not only for their potency but for the authenticity of their preparation.

The process is demanding, the costs high, and the materials all personally sourced by him. I saw herbs drying in the sun and raw minerals arranged carefully, evidence of the care and effort invested. Even my driver took some herbs home for his family, a small reflection of how his work touched both locals and visitors.

The samnak itself was beautiful, much of it built from donations—the very land gifted by the surrounding community so that he could live close to them and continue his service. In this place, where mountain cave and river converge, Lersi Thom’s life of wandering and discipline now flows into one of teaching, blessing, and quiet service, sustained by the devotion of those who continue to seek him out.