Revered Monk Luang Pho Yit's Famous Phra Kring Amulets
The article profiles Luang Pho Yit Chantasuvanno, a revered monk of Wat Nong Chok in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, detailing his life from novice ordination to his passing in 1995. It highlights his famous amulets, especially the Phra Kring Charoen Phon, considered a benchmark in amulet collecting, and the ongoing charitable work of the foundation established in his name supporting education, monastic welfare, and temple preservation.
Luang Pho Yit Chantasuvanno, also known as Phra Khru Nitthammathasunthon of Wat Nong Chok in Don Yai Nu subdistrict, Kui Buri district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, was a renowned guru monk. His birth name was Yit Sridokbuap, born June 10, 1933, to parents Kaeo and Phroi Sridokbuap. At age nine he ordained as a novice at his hometown temple, practicing meditation and studying sacred alphabets and Buddhist doctrine until age 14, when he disrobed to help his family earn a living.
At age 20 he underwent full ordination with Luang Pu In of Wat Yang as preceptor and Phra Athikan Hwan as announcing teacher. He became a disciple of Luang Pu Suk of Wat Thon D Luang to further his studies in mystical arts and undertook wandering pilgrimages to various meditation sites, even walking into Burma. In 1944 his father fell ill, so he returned, disrobed to care for him, married, and started a family. After his parents passed away in 1975, he ordained again at Wat Ko Lak with the provincial ecclesiastical chief as preceptor, and resided at Wat Thung Noi in Kui Buri.
Later, villagers of Nong Chok donated 21 rai 2 ngan of forest land to establish a temple. He gained widespread devotion from soldiers, police, officials, and civilians who sought his blessed objects — takrut, amulets, and plad khik — believed to possess exceptional Buddhist virtues and famous in amulet circles. Each year Luang Pho Yit bathed only once, allowing devotees to gently brush his body with a brass brush used for polishing iron; the brush never irritated his skin. Afterward he would bestow blessed objects for them to worship.
Donations funded education, religious maintenance, and community welfare, becoming his enduring practice. He passed away peacefully on July 31, 1995, at age 71 with 30 years in the monkhood. Despite his passing, devotees established the Phra Khru Nitthammathasunthon (Luang Pho Yit Chantasuvanno) Foundation to maintain temples, provide monastic necessities, education, and medical care for monks and novices, grant scholarships to needy students, promote Buddhism, and serve the public.
Annually the foundation distributes donation proceeds as scholarships to high-achieving but underprivileged students, aids the elderly, supports monastic education for monks and novices studying Dhamma-Vinaya, and maintains Wat Nong Chok and student welfare across all 26 schools in Kui Buri district. During his lifetime he created many amulets and talismans; the plad khik was famed for metta mahaniyom (universal loving-kindness) and widely popular among military and police. Equally renowned is the "Phra Kring Charoen Phon." Collectors say: "If speaking of the prototype Phra Kring Chinabanchor, it must be Luang Pu Thim of Wat Lahan Rai; but for the prototype Phra Kring Charoen Phon, it must be Luang Pho Yit of Wat Nong Chok." In 1994 Luang Pho Yit permitted Phra Khru Panya Tharo of Wat Nong Chok to produce the "Phra Kring Charoen Phon, U-bosot Edition."
