Luang Phor Sang-Nga Anupuppho, Wat Ban Mor, Ratchaburi

 

The highly esteemed Venerable Monk, who departed the world in peace, and left behind incorruptible remains.

Luang Phor Sang-Nga of Wat Ban Mor

, in Changwat Ratchaburi, was also known as “PhraKru Anurakworakhun”. He was affectionately known as an expert in sorcery by the people who resided along the Mae Klong River, surrounding his home temple.

 

He was born on 11 March B. E. 2459 to Mr. Khiam

and Mrs. Mao Wessuwan in Ban Mo, Khlong Ta Kot Sub-district, Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province. He was given the name Mr. Sang-Nga Wessuwan by his parents.

 

Childhood

Throughout his childhood Luang Phor Sang Nga maintained close ties with the Buddhist world, through relationships with monks and temples.

He received this education in Wat Ban Mor, under the tutelage of the monks residing there, as was commonplace in many temples of the time, as formalised educational facilities were scarce. Luang Phor Sang Nga often reminisced over his days spent at the temple, serving the monks and helping to clean the premises. He sometimes even spent nights at the temple.

He left the temple’s school at the end of Elementary school year 4, to help his parents on their farm.

 

The Pursuit of Knowledge

In his teens, Luang Phor Sang Nga spent his leisure time like most youths; hanging out with friends. In search of ways to expend his youthful exuberance, he would sometimes even travel to surrounding villages, seeking out tutelage from sorcerers and other spiritual adepts.  Their lessons, however, left him dissatisfied. He had heard about a particular potent practitioner based in Wat Sai Arak

. His curiosity piqued, and he set off for the temple to visit him.

While there, he was presented with a vexing conundrum by The Venerable monk of the Wat; why did he travel all the way to Wat Sai Arak, when Wat Ban Mor itself was a veritable treasure trove of excellent Wicha.

The Venerable’s exact words were; “Is the grass on this side of the fence greener? Do not forget the beautiful pasture on your side.”

Young Sang-Nga found himself perturbed by the words. A few days later, it finally struck him that the Venerable at Wat Sai Arak had hinted him that he would acquire more knowledge at Wat Ban Mor instead. Luang Phor Sang Nga persuaded the Abbot at Wat Ban Mor to take him in as a disciple, and help mould into a spiritual adept in his own right through their secretive practices and skills.

 

Kasawaphat – Entering the Refuge of the Saffron Robe

In B. E. 2481, Luang Phor Sang Nga ordained at Wat Ban Mor, Ratchaburi Province, at the age of 22. The monks present at the ceremony were Phra Athikarn Klin from Wat Khongkha

, acting as his Preceptor, Phra Ajarn Kliang from Wat Chalermart who acted as his 1^st Announcing Teacher, and Phra Ajarn Cheng and Phra Ajarn Pae, who jointly acted as his secondary Announcing Teachers. He was given the Dhamma name ‘Anupuppho‘.

 

After being ordained, he lived at Wat Ban Mor to study the Dhamma

, and observe the Monastic code of discipline. In addition to that, Luang Phor Sang-Nga immersed himself in esoteric knowledge passed down from Phra Ajarn Pae and Phra Ajarn Pia (both from Wat Ban Mor), as well as traditional herbal medicine. Owing to his intellect and diligence, he quickly attained mastery over a plethora of skills, and was almost unparalleled in his wealth of esoteric knowledge and healing abilities.

 

In the year B. E. 2484, in Wat Nong Muang, Bang Phae District, Ratchaburi Province

, the villagers and the resident monk-in-charge of their dilapidated temple, sought Luang Phor Sang Nga’s aid in restorative works. Luang Phor Sang-nga believed that a well-developed temple would be able to unite the community in the pursuit of the Dhamma, and encourage them to be mindful of virtue, and thus agreed to the request. The temple is now known as Wat Nong Muang, where it has remained in that form till the present day.

 

Having completed this task, Luang Phor Sang-Nga returned to Wat Ban Mor at the end of the year B. E. 2538.

 

Study and Application of Putthakhom

Luang Phor Sang-Nga also studied under Luang Phor Ngern of Wat Dornyaihorm.

He also sought out knowledge from Luang Pu Dee, Wat Ban Yang, Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province, who imparted to him the Wicha of Maha Ut (useful in crafting effective Pidta).

 

He inherited the knowledge of creating Phong Itthijay Patthamang

(Look out for our article on Phong Wiset) and inscribing of Yant 108 from Luang Phor Plian Wat Tai, Kanchanaburi Province. He also inherited Wicha Maha Ut from Luang Phor Chaem from Wat Takong, and the wicha to create Hoon Payoon from Phor Thao Yim Jantharangsri of Wat Nongbua.

 

Luang Phor Sang Nga became heir to a vast amount of knowledge both directly and indirectly.

Since young, Luang Phor Sang-Nga had already become exposed to teachings regarding prosperity, wicha and Vipassana, from a litany of esteemed masters. He had a profound knowledge of wicha, numerology, Akara Lek Yant and Sakyant. As a monk, he carried out sakyant for the villagers for many years until errant devotees started to get into trouble with the law. Gangsters who had his sakyant got too big for their boots and began to act in open, brazen defiance, claiming that his spells rendered them invulnerable. When news reached Luang Phor Sang-Nga, he decided to stop inscribing sakyant for his devotees once and for all.

Although Luang Phor stopped the sakyant rituals, he continued to shower blessings onto devotees by blessing them with consecrated holy water to drive away inauspiciousness. Luang Phor felt that such a practice would benefit devotees more than the sakyant, which resulted in more harm than good.

 

Luang Phor Sang-Nga’s exhortation to his devotees

Luang Phor Sang-Nga was also a picture of mercy, and peaceful contentment, cultivated through his lifelong pursuit of the Dhamma. He taught his devotees who came to him to be patient, and self-reliant, preaching that the greatest threat to the individual was his own self-doubt.

He also emphasized that wealth was not measured by material means, but instead by the spiritual purity and quality of a person’s character. He taught that a person who gives in to his own insecurities will starve, and that the outcome of a person’s life was entirely of their own volition, and their level of satisfaction was dictated by their own inclinations to greed.

 

The Remains of the Day

Luang Phor Sang-Nga had an intimidating look but had a gentle, compassionate heart. Before he passed away, he would remind his students that the simple act of lighting joss sticks for him, would inform him that they missed him.

In B.E, 2484, he went to Wat Nong Muang to serve as an abbot and returned to Wat Ban Mor in B.E. 2538, however, he declined to be the abbot of Wat Ban Mor. He stayed as an ordinary resident monk in Wat Ban Mor.

Luang Pho Sang-Nga passed peacefully into holy stillness on Tuesday, 29^th  of March, B.E. 2547, at the total age of 88 years, having completed 66 Pansa.

His mortal coil, however, lives on, having remained miraculous impervious to any form of degradation. To this day, one might still visit him at Wat Ban Mor Photharam, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand.

His Legacy

Luang Phor Sang-Nga created many auspicious objects and presided over many mysterious events. The most prominent of these are his Luang Phor Sang-Nga Rian and his Hoon Payoon amulets.

 

An Important Note Regarding His Amulets:

1. During your travels, always bear the thought of Luang Phor Sang-Nga, and he will watch over you.
2. Always be mindful of the holy monk in your presence. Do not do anything that defies the 5 precepts.

From the words of Luang Phor Sang-Nga;

“If it is time to die, no amulets can save you. If your time has not come, even a lack of amulets does not matter.”