Luang Pu Thuad (*1582, † 1682)

Luang Pu Thuad also known as Luang Pu Thuat, Luang Por Tuad, Luang Phu Tuad was born in 1582 and died 1682. He is a revered Buddhist monk who lived in Siam and it is said to have performed miracles. Luang Pu Thuat ordained as a novice at the age 15 and as a monk at the required as age at Nakorn Si Thammarat province. He decided his pilgrimage travel to Ayutthaya province to gain more experience and study the Buddhist scriptures. Both of his parents were devout Buddhists, and they were likely delighted when their son began to express an interest in spirituality an early age.

The first miracle should have happened when he was just six months old. According to legend, when Luang Phor Thuad was a baby hanged in the cradle between two shady trees near the paddy field, he was nearly attacked by a large snake curled around him. His parents were working in the rice fields, and they left their baby lying on a blanket, under the shade of a tree. At noon his mother returned to find her son had a large reticulated python curled around him. At first she panicked, but then she noticed that her baby did not seem to be in any discomfort. She then remembered a story from her childhood of how the gods can sometimes come to Earth in the form of a snake. Instead of trying to chase the snake away, which would have been too dangerous anyway, she found some flowers and put them in front of the reptile. After a while, the snake spit out a crystal ball of manifold colours on the baby’s chest and slithered away, everyone's surprise he was remained unharmed. 

Another miracle was that Luang Pu Thuad changed the seawater into drinking water.

Luang Pu Thuad is mentioned in the early regional histories of southern Thailand, but his life is mainly preserved in oral traditions. Stories of the famous monk were passed on by word of mouth for centuries. As a result, it is a mixture of Buddhist elements: early signs, alleged magic, travel, study, meditation and eventual “sainthood.” His movements throughout the southern Thai peninsula constitute a path of pilgrimage for many of his followers. 

In his old age he returned to south to resided at Wat Pha ko, Songkhla. He passed away in 1628 (some  sources say he died 120 years old).His disciples held his cremation at Wat Chang Hai, Pattani province.

  

His sacred amulets are very popular and sought after. Many people in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia believe that amulets depicting Luang Pu Thuad hold great protective powers granting safety in times of distress, especially saving the lives.

So it is said that his sacred amulets have saved countless lives of people be it the battlefield, with car accidents, with armed robbery or more.

Amulet with the image of Luang Pu Thuad