Wat Suthat Monk Creates Small Thao Wessuwan Statue
The revered monk Phra Mongkhon Rajamuni, known as Thao Khun Si of Wat Suthat, created a small Thao Wessuwan statue while building a temple in his hometown. Throughout his life he studied Buddhist scriptures, survived a violent attack, and became renowned for producing popular amulets. He passed away peacefully in 1952, leaving a lasting legacy in Thai religious art.
Phra Mongkhon Rajamuni (Sanut Yittitharo), popularly called Thao Khun Si, was a disciple of Sangharaja Pae at Wat Suthat Thepwararam. His lay name was Sanut Phongskrawee; he was born on Friday, July 17, 1903, in Ban Pa Wai, Phutthabat district, Saraburi, to parents Suk and Thongdi, and had ten siblings. At age eleven his father died, and his mother placed him under the care of the monk Bun (Luang Ta Bun), a relative at Wat Suthat, to study Buddhist doctrine. He began with Pali grammar at thirteen and was ordained shortly thereafter, with Phra Mongkhon Rajamuni (Phueang Pappuko) serving as his preceptor. He continued his studies until April 1916, then transferred to Wat Klang Bang Kaew in Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, under the provincial sangha. He returned to Wat Suthat in 1917, passed the elementary Dhamma examination in 1921 and the intermediate in 1922. In 1923 he was ordained as a monk with Sangharaja Pae as preceptor, Phra Mongkhon Rajamuni (Phueang) as chanting master, and Phra Phimoltham (Nak Summannaho) of Wat Arun as teacher, receiving the monastic name Yittitharo. In 1925 he passed the four-part Pali exam and was granted the title Phra Khun Thamarak. On June 8, 1926 he suffered a brutal knife attack by a mentally disturbed individual, sustaining multiple wounds; after three months of recovery he returned to Wat Suthat, where Sangharaja Pae blessed him, saying further misfortune would not befall him. In 1931 he passed the seven-part Pali exam, held various ecclesiastical posts, and studied traditional medicine, astrology, occultism, and related fields. On March 1, 1938 he received the royal monastic title Phra Si Sattayañāṇa Munī, and on December 8, 1950 was promoted to the equivalent royal rank Phra Mongkhon Rajamuni. He mastered the art of creating Buddha images and bell amulets, a transmission he received directly from Sangharaja Pae, and faithfully preserved the rituals according to the texts. On the night of January 16, 1952 at 9:20 pm he passed away peacefully. He produced numerous editions of amulets and bell amulets that gained wide popularity. It is recounted that Wat Suthat once crafted a small Thao Wessuwan statue through him; the motivation arose when he was constructing the ubosot at Wat Sri Chomthong (Wat Tin Non) in Phutthabat, Saraburi, a locality locals believed was haunted by spirits.
