Phra Kring Luang Pu Chad Amulets Featured in Prachinburi
The article profiles Luang Pu Chad, a revered 20th-century monk from Wat Bang Kho Ba in Prachinburi, renowned for his meditation mastery and the sacred amulets he created. His Phra Kring amulets, blessed in ceremonies with top monks during World War II, are credited with miraculous protection and remain highly prized by collectors nationwide.
Luang Pu Chad Khangkacharo, also known as Phra Khru Sittisarakhun, was the dean of Buddhist studies at Wat Bang Kho Ba in Ban Sang district, Prachinburi province. His lay name was Chad Wongkampuch, born on Tuesday, March 17, 1872, at Ban Dong Noi in Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. In his youth, his adoptive parents, Thiin and Lin Sishang, respected residents of Ban Sang, dedicated him as a 'merit son' to the monastic life. At age 20, his adoptive father placed him under the tutelage of the abbot of Wat Ban Sang to learn nak protocol and monastic discipline.
After sufficient training, he was ordained on April 13, 1893, at the Wat Ban Sang ordination hall, with Phra Khru Prachinburi of Wat Luang Prichakul as preceptor. After ordination, he visited his father at Wat Ko Kaeo Weluwan in his home district and observed his first Rains Retreat there, studying under Phra Ajarn Chan (or Phra Ajarn Chin), a famous elder known for meditation practice. In his second Rains Retreat, he followed Phra Ajarn Uan to study Buddhist doctrine with Phra Ajarn Yu at Wat Kraisri in Bang Kapi, Bangkok. By his fourth Rains Retreat, he returned to reside at Wat Bang Kho Ba.
He then wandered in forests for several years, meeting many fellow practitioners such as Luang Pu I of Wat Sattahip in Chonburi, Luang Pu Chong of Wat Na Tang Nok in Ayutthaya, and Luang Pu Chaem of Wat Takong in Nakhon Pathom. He mastered various spells, including those for invulnerability, universal loving-kindness, and stilling the mind. Around age 40, he returned to Wat Bang Kho Ba as an expert in doctrine, particularly the Great Invulnerability Still-Mind spell, which he only used when absolutely necessary.
During the Greater East Asia War, sacred objects of Luang Pu Chad were created multiple times. The largest and most famous edition was in 1940, when leading scholar-monks nationwide created amulets for distribution to soldiers. Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram invited him to help consecrate the treasury's regalia. Luang Pu Chad crafted seated medallions featuring Maha Udom on a lotus base, in both silver-with-insert and bronze versions.
The amulets' reputation for miraculous protection was confirmed when French planes dropped bombs but no one was injured, a miracle that spread his fame across the region, earning him the title 'Deity of the East.' He was highly respected by senior monks, especially the Supreme Patriarch (Pae).
His ecclesiastical ranks: 1904 received promotion to Phra Khru Thananugran; 1914 became district prelate of Ban Sang; 1917 became a preceptor; 1927 received the Phra Khru Sanyabat Tho title as Phra Khru Sittisarakhun. He passed away peacefully on November 10, 1956, at age 85.
His sacred objects remain popular collectibles. Beyond the famous first-edition medallions, there are Phra Kring amulets of Luang Pu Chad from Wat Bang Kho Ba, released at Wat Bang Hoi in Mueang district, Nakhon Nayok. This batch underwent a gold-smelting ceremony at Wat Suthat Thepwararam led by Phra Mongkhon Ratchamuni (Son Yatithiro), also known as 'Than Chao Khun Sri' (Son), and a Buddha-blessing ceremony at Wat Bang Hoi, Nakhon Nayok, in 1942, with nine renowned monk-teachers presiding, including Luang Pu Chong of Wat...
