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WAT CHANGHAI is situated at Naparu Koppo District, Pattani, Thailand. According to Thai history, it was built over three hundred years ago. It was the site of enlightenment of Liang Phor Thout whose numerous life-works can hardly be fully related in detail. In 1963, the abbot of Wat Chalya Mangkalaram, Penang, the Venerable Phra Kru Prasit Chalya Mongol (Phor Than Daeng) invited the learned monks from Bangkok to Penang to officiate the opening ceremony of the holy image of Liang Phor Thout. It was 24th April 1963 (1st day of Chinese 4th moon). At about 6p.m. Liang Phor Thout suddenly revealed his presence in the body of a monk. The people around were very impressed. Many devotees asked for guidance and medical advice. Out of curiosity, one devotee inquired about his life history. Liang Phor Thout kindly replied that he was born in Singora, Thailand. His ancestors had migrated from Hokkien Province, China many centuries ago when there was chaos in China. They settled down in Singora. His parents very poor. His parents were also born in Singora. His mother was of Chinese origin. His parents were very poor. They were faithful devoted of Buddha. They stayed in a hut near Wat Khokosan, an old temple. They were employed by a rich family as farmers. Liang Phor Thout was born when his parents had passed their forties. When he was less than six months old, he was placed in a towel under a shady tree near the padi field while his mother was working. At noon she ceased work for a time in order to breast feed him. As she walked towards the baby, she saw a huge python twine around him. She alarmed for help. The neighbors quickly gathered knives, axes and clubs and came around. The python was stem and motionless. The people around did not know what to do. No one dared to start the attack. His mother got an idea. She quickly plucked seven wild flowers of different colors, put them on a leaf which served as a plate, knelt down, closed her eyes, and prayed earnestly. The python spit out a gem on the baby’s chest and left. It was a brilliant gem. Many people gathered round to have a look at it. His mother then kept the gem and brought him home. A rich man offered a very good price for the gem, but his mother did not wish to sell it. The rich man forced her. At last she presented it to him. The rich man was happy but for only a while. Within three days, all members in his family fell ill. He consulted a medium. He was told that he had kept something which did not belong to him by right. Only the baby boy could own it. The rich man was frightened and returned the gem to the baby’s mother. Within three months, money poured in like water. His parents became very rich. The neighbors were jealous. They stole the gem. They were chased by the python till they threw it into a pit. Later a certain deity revealed the whereabouts of the gem to his parents in their dreams, thus the precious gem was recovered. His parents became more devoted to the Buddha. They generously helped the poor, made offerings to the sangha and built temples.
Liang Phor Thout began to learn about the Buddhist teaching in a temple nearby at the age of five. Rather talented as he was, he mastered all subjects his teacher could guild him within a year. He went to other temples over the hill and across the jungle to acquire further teaching every day.
He became a monk at the age of twelve and devoted a full time study in the Dhamma. His father passed away at the age of seventy-two. He was then thirty years old. In order to further the studies in Buddhism, he left his mother and went to Ayudhya, Bangkok where there were many pagodas and learned monks. From Wat Pakok, Singora he took a boat sailing northward to Bangkok. After sailing for half a day, the boat met with great storms. The boat was jolted. The passengers were frightened. The boat did not arrive at its destination after drifting for several days. The store of drinking water ran short. The boatmen gathered that their previous voyages had all been very smooth. The catastrophe might have been caused by the presence of the monk. They planned to push him into the sea. He could sense their intention. He consoled them that they needed not worry about drinking water as there was plentiful around. He stretched his legs out of the boat, the storm was pacified. With his legs he drew a circle on the sea and told the boatman to draw water within the circle for drinking. The boatmen were angry at first as they did not believe that the sea water could be used for drinking. After his assurance they made a try and found that it was actually drinking. One purposely tasted the water outside the circle and shouted that it was salty. The boatmen were, amazed and did not take further steps to harm Liang Phor Thout.
On the next day the boat arrived at the capital (Bangkok). Liang Phor Thout walked for two Chinese lis (3/4 mile) and was happy to see a stately temple in front of him. The monks in the temple refused to accept him as he was poorly claded. He turned to an old temple not very far away. The old keeper welcomed him and offered him board and lodging. He stayed there to study the scripture, to pay homage to the Buddha and to practice meditation for half a year.
The ruler of a neighboring country sent seven monks to Bangkok to test the achievements of the monks in Thailand. They brought with them twelve bowls containing 84,000 words. These words were to be arranged into certain within one week. If the task was accomplished, their ruler was prepared to present Thailand with seven boats made of gold. Should the task be a failure, Thailand should surrender her sovereignty to their country. The King gathered all well-know learned monks to tackle the problem. Many tried but were not successful. Announcement was made by the court to look for someone capable of dealing with the task. On the fourth night the King dreamed of a white elephant trumpeting in dazzling light. He consulted a fortune-teller. He was told that it was a good sign as a sage was likely to appear to solve the problem. The King was uncertain. On the sixth day, Liang Phor Thout left the temple in the morning to beg for food. He arrived at a rich man’s house. The people were discussing about that very serious topic. They saw him holding a bowl standing in front of their doors. The host reverently offered him food. He sensed that the monk in front was rather extraordinary in appearance. He paid Liang Phor Thout due respect and told the latter that their country reputed for her Buddhist studies would be put to shame if no one could meet the challenge put forward by the neighboring land and asked whether the latter could help in that matter. Liang Phor Thout replied that he would try. The host was very happy. He intended to invite Liang Phor Thout to see the King immediately. Liang Phor Thout told him not to be hurry and would go the next morning. After Liang Phor Thout had left, the host broke the news to the King. On the next morning, The King sent a special carriage to bring Liang Phor Thout to the palace. On arrival he was escorted by the officials to the entrance. The steps split with loud noises as he walked on them barefooted. The King and the officials were all very quiet. About half an hour later the monks from the neighboring country came in. After exchanging greetings, Liang Phor Thout began to arrange the words. Twelve bowls of words were poured on the table. He closed his eyes and arranged them with both hands. About a quarter of an hour later, he announced that five words were missing. Those seven monks remained in silence. He then warned that anyone did not quickly take out those missing words would die of cracking skull. The culprit was frightened and took out those missing words. With his eyes closed Liang Phor Thout exercised the supernormal power to arrange the words. The sutra was completed in a little while. Seeing that Thailand was invincible, those seven monks presented those seven boats made of gold and left. Thus Liang Phor Thout’s name was well-know throughout the country. He was looked upon as a saintly Buddhist monk in Thai history.
Liang Phor Thout remained in the capital city for a few years until he was informed of his mother’s serious illness. He rushed southwards. Not long after, his mother died at the age of seventy-eight. After the funeral he stayed back in Singora. A state governor from the south by the surname of Phang, a man with a comparatively dark countenance, wished to build a Buddhist temple. He came to Singora to look for a distinguished monk to head the project. One evening after sunset, he saw an old monk stroll along the seaside, leaving behind a trail of light. He knows that was the right person to approach. He stepped forward to pay due respect to the monk and told the monk his intention of matter through his psychic power. He consented and went with the governor Phang to Pattani. When the construction was completed, the temple was named Wat Changhai. Liang Phor Thout was abbot to this temple till he passed away at the age of one hundred and twenty.
For over three hundred years Liang Phor Thout has been exercising his power to help people in danger and accidents. His images were highly esteemed for their supernormal power.
The ingredients for making the images are one hundred and eight kinds of roots of precious herbs with an equal number of flowers and soils. All these are well ground and well mixed. The images will be effective after undergoing a ceremony of “opening the eyes” of the images conducted by twelve monks who will chant parittas and sutras, and mediate continuously for seven days and seven nights. The image may protect the bearer from the disturbance by demons and relieve sufferings of a patient. Its effect in preventing accidents is especially noted.
In the beginning of 1963, Lokhunpakpaliang in Thailand was attacked by typhoon. The flood caused great loss to the population who were mainly fishermen. Houses were washed down, numerous lives were lost, wounded and reported missing. Those wearing the images of Liang Phor Thout were safe and sound. This was a well know incident witnessed by many people.
A bus on the Singora-Haadyai route fell into a deep pelt due to the very dangerous roads in the mountains. All passengers were safe and sound and all of them were found wearing the images of Liang Phor Thout. The Thai newspaper has published such news many times. This is further proof of the validity of the images of Liang Phor Thout.
