Somdet Ajahn Toh (1788-1872) Phra Brahmarangsi, was
a Thai forest monk and meditation master, and
was one of the most famous Buddhist monks during Thailand's Rattanakosin Period.
He rose to the highest ranks of the Thai
Sangha during the reign of the King Rama IV (1851-68) and Rama V (1868-1910). His mother, Gade,
daughter of Chai, lived at Tambon Tarr-It, Amphur Tarr-Poh (now Amphur Muang)
in Uttaradit Province. Somdet Toh was born in Kamphaeng Phet Provine, possibly the son of King Rama I.
When Somdet Toh
was young, he studied at ChaoKhun Arunyik Institute, Wat Intarawiharn in
Bangkok. At the age of 12 in B.E.2343, he was ordained novice by ChaoKhun
Bowonwiriyataera. Later he had moved to Wat Rakang to study sacred pariyatti
scriptures of the Buddha, under several
Buddhist masters. After becoming a well-known monk, he became the preceptor for
Prince Mongkut, later King Rama IV, when Mongkut became a monk. During Rama
IV's reign Somdet Toh was given the ceremonial name Phra Buddhacharn Toh
"Phomarangsi".
He was noted for
the skill of his preaching and his use of Thai poetry to reflect the beauty of
Buddhism, and for making amulets call "Somdej". The amulets were
blessed by himself and other respected monks in Thailand.
Somdet Toh was the
popularizer of the Chinabunchorn (Jinnabunchorn) Katha. The Pra Katha Chinabunchorn was an ancient Buddhist katha, inherited from Langka
city, and was found in an ancient book by Somdet Toh.
He was one of the teachers of the
Great Relic (Mahathat) monastery in Bangkok, who taught pali to Prince Mongkut
as a young monk. In the 1830s he became a > thudong monk, wandering in the
forests of Cambodia and southern Laos. It is said that he lived as a thudong
monk in the forests of the Great Fire (Dong
Phaya Fai) for fifteen years.
In 1851, King Mongkut disrobed and
ordered the Sangharaj to track down Ajahn To and have him returned to Bangkok.
Venerable To was 63-years old at this time.
He lived on the outskirts of
Bangkok, and often went wandering in the forest with his students. He was
famous for his psychic powers and for blessing amulets, and was held in
veneration by Bangkok authorities.
The amulets were blessed by himself and other respected monks in Thailand. He
also appears in many versions of the story of Nang Nak.
To
was appointed as abbot of Bell Monastery in Thonburi, on the west bank of the
Chao Phgraya River. In the 19th century this monastery was covered
many acres of forests and its entrance faced the river.
In
1864, at age 76, he was titled Somdet.
King
Chulalongkorn patronized To, and firmly believed in his mystical attainments.
Somdet Toh died on
Saturday the 22, June in B.E2415 B.E at the age of 85.
No comments:
Post a Comment