Venerable Monk's First-Edition Amulet Brings Blessings
A revered monk at Wat Krok Krak temple in Samut Sakhon Province created amulets and sacred Buddha images adorned with eyeglasses, a tradition born from a village's miraculous recovery from an eye infection epidemic nearly a century ago.
Phra Khru Tham Sakhon, known as Luang Pu Krab Yanawatthano, served as the former abbot of Wat Krok Krak in Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province, and as head of Tambon Mahachai Sangha District 2. He was deeply revered by local residents for his scholarly knowledge of Buddhist teachings. Born January 13, 1893, as Krab Charoen Suk, he was the son of Khrab and Loey Khai Muan. He was ordained at Wat Raatchrang in Mueang District on March 12, 1913, with Phra Khru Samut Kunakorn as his preceptor and received the monastic name Yanawatthano.
After completing his monastic studies at Wat Raatchrang, he transferred to Wat Krok Krak, where he was appointed abbot in 1920. He undertook extensive temple development projects and was appointed head of Tambon Mahachai Sangha District 2 in 1942. In 1970, he received royal promotion to the rank of Phra Khru.
Wat Krok Krak is believed to be an ancient temple dating back centuries. It was formally established around 1818 and received official monastic ordination grounds in 1880 during the reign of King Rama II. The temple's wooden teak ordination hall features distinctive Chinese architectural elements, reflecting the historical Chinese settlement in the area. King Rama V's royal barge stopped at the temple on July 30, 1905, during a riverine tour.
The temple is home to a sacred Buddha image called "Luang Pu Pu," revered as a protective spirit for residents of the Mahajai River basin for generations. The image is notably distinguished by wearing dark glasses. Both the original Buddha image and a cast statue of Luang Pu Krab wear black-framed spectacles, along with other modern eyewear styles.
According to the current abbot, Phra Khru Wisutthisitthikhun, the tradition of offering glasses to the Buddha image originated nearly a century ago when a widespread eye infection epidemic struck the community. Villagers made votive offerings asking for recovery from the disease, and miraculously, the entire village was healed. Grateful residents then rushed to apply gold leaf to the Buddha's eyes as an offering of gratitude. However, fearing damage to the ancient image, Luang Pu Krab ingeniously placed eyeglasses over the eyes instead—a practice devotees have followed ever since.
Once, a thief attempted to drill through the Buddha's torso. Upon discovering this, Luang Pu Krab mixed gold with rubber to seal the hole and performed a rededication ceremony on the 15th waning moon day of the first lunar month. This date now marks the annual "Saiyid Luang Pu Pu Day," celebrated with free live music and entertainment throughout the temple grounds each year.
