Biography (and amulets) of the Venerable Phra Ajarn Sarmlit of Wat Tham Faed.
🙏🏽 The Most Venerable Phra Ajarn Samrit Kumpiro of Wat Tham Faed 🙏🏽
Phra Ajarn Samrit Kumpiro, also known as Luang Phor Samrit Kumpiro or Phra Kru Kanchanakit Jatorn, was one of the great esoteric masters of Kanchanaburi province. Former abbot of Wat Tham Faed, located in Tha Muang district, he remained famous for his powerful meditative practices, blessing rituals, and his particular connection with the mysterious Lek Lai, a sacred material highly sought after in Thai magical tradition.
Born on January 7, 1923, in Maha Sarakham province, he received the civil name Samrit Khunphan. Coming from a modest rural family, he grew up in the simple world of the Issan rice paddies. After his studies, he served in the Royal Thai Air Force during World War II in Asia. A tragic event, the accidental death of his younger sister, deeply pushed him towards spiritual reflection. This ordeal led him to enter the monastic path.
He was ordained a monk on March 22, 1949, at Wat Nong Lao, in Maha Sarakham province, at the age of 26. He then received the monastic name Kumpiro. He seriously studied Buddhist doctrine and achieved the Nak Tham Ek level during his fourth Rains Retreat. In parallel, he received teachings from renowned masters in meditation, mantras, and ancient sciences from Thai and Khmer lineages.
After his ordination, Luang Phor Samrit extensively practiced meditation in isolated places, particularly in forested and mountainous areas. These years of asceticism strengthened his reputation as a monk endowed with great mental power. Traditional accounts report that during his retreats, he encountered unusual spiritual phenomena, visions, and presences related to ancient sacred sites.
Wat Tham Faed (Twin Caves Temple) gradually became an important spiritual center thanks to him. The temple gained renown in Thailand and among devotees from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Europe, and the United States. Luang Phor Samrit developed a tradition of blessings, amulets, and protective rituals there that attracted many disciples.
✨ The Master of Lek Lai ✨
Luang Phor Samrit is primarily associated with Lek Lai, sometimes described as a sacred material or mystical metal possessing numerous protective virtues. In Thai popular belief, Lek Lai is linked to protection against dangers, powers of invulnerability, luck, longevity, and spiritual strength. Traditions report that Luang Phor Samrit was one of the first great modern masters to popularize the use of Lek Lai in Thai Buddhist amulets and talismans.
Some of his sacred objects contained Lek Lai Ta Raed, a particularly rare variety, sometimes associated with the power of the rhinoceros. This iconography is found in several amulets consecrated by the master, where his image sometimes appears accompanied by a rhinoceros, a symbol of strength, endurance, and protection.
🕯️ The Krob Mongkut Phra Jao ritual 🕯️
Among Luang Phor Samrit's most famous practices is the ritual called Krob Mongkut Phra Jao, which can be translated as "placing the Buddha's crown" or "Long Wax Ritual". This ritual used the famous wax tears, or Nam Ta Tien. The master would pour candle wax into a bowl of holy water, and then the wax, instead of hardening normally, would be drawn into a long flexible thread and placed in a spiral on the devotee's head.
This rite was sought after for protection, elevation of destiny, purification of obstacles, good fortune, and spiritual strengthening. In the memory of disciples, it remains one of Luang Phor Samrit's most impressive ritual signatures.
🔥 Esoteric Anecdotes 🔥
Tradition has it that on certain occasions, several devotees witnessed luminous manifestations or subtle apparitions around Wat Tham Faed, interpreted as signs of celestial beings' approval of the sacred place. These accounts contributed to strengthening the temple's mystical aura.
After Luang Phor Samrit's passing, his body remained astonishingly preserved; when I saw it more than 25 years after his death, he seemed merely to be sleeping. According to monks' testimonies, his hair and nails continued to grow, a phenomenon often interpreted in Thailand as a sign of a monk having reached a high level of spiritual realization.
☸ Later Years and Legacy ☸
Luang Phor Samrit Kumpiro passed away on February 4, 1996, at the age of 73. His death was attributed to heart failure, as he also suffered from diabetes and hypertension. His passing deeply saddened his Thai and foreign disciples.
Even today, his name remains associated with Wat Tham Faed in Kanchanaburi, Lek Lai, protective amulets, and the ritual of wax tears. His amulets, medals, lockets, and blessed objects are still sought after by collectors and practitioners of the esoteric Thai Buddhist tradition.
In the lineage of the great masters of Kanchanaburi, Luang Phor Samrit holds a special place: that of a forest monk, alchemist, spiritual healer, and master of rituals, whose reputation extends far beyond the borders of his province.
Today, his disciple, the Venerable Luang Phor Watchara, is the abbot of Wat Tham Faed and perpetuates his lineage and esoteric teachings.
