Luang Phor Nuam Nattasilo of Wat Po Sri Charoen: Biography and Thai Amulets

🙏🏽 Most Venerable Luang Phor Nuam
of Wat Po Sri Charoen 🙏🏽

The Most Venerable Luang Phor Nuam, also known by his monastic name Luang Pu Nuam Nattasilo, was one of the great masters of Suphanburi province in central Thailand. Former abbot of Wat Po Sri Charoen, located in Ban Krang, Si Prachan district, he remained famous for his great mastery of blessings, vipassana meditation, and sacred sciences transmitted by ancient Thai masters.

According to sources, his dates of birth and death are sometimes given differently: birth between 1919 and 1923, and death between 2013 and 2017. Indeed, in the early 20th century, birth registration was still quite haphazard in Thailand. Furthermore, at 79 years old, the Venerable was officially declared dead before "waking up" two days later and living for many more years.

🕯️ Personal Encounter and Famous Anecdote 🕯️


Encounter with the Most Venerable Luang Phor Nuam at Wat Po Sri Charoen,
Suphanburi province, Thailand, around 2010.

During an encounter with the Most Venerable Luang Phor Nuam at Wat Po Sri Charoen, he personally showed me his official death certificate after the mysterious episode during which he was declared dead before "returning" two days later.

One of the monks acting as an interpreter then explained the situation with humor and admiration, stating:

"Luangphor is same James Bond, he never die!"

This anecdote has remained famous among some of the master's disciples and perfectly illustrates the almost legendary aura that surrounded Luang Phor Nuam during the last years of his life.

Luang Phor Nuam studied under several renowned masters, particularly in the fields of meditation, khatas, yants, and protective blessings. Thai sources link him to a spiritual lineage connected to great names such as Luang Phor Parn of Wat Bang Nom Kho, Luang Phor Ee of Wat Sattahip, Luang Phor Im of Wat Hua Khao, as well as other ancient masters. This transmission explains the very special reputation of his amulets and talismans.

🐠 The Master of Fish Talismans Pla Kat 🐠

Luang Phor Nuam is best known for his talismans in the shape of the Thai fighting fish, or Plakat. These sacred objects, often carved from ritual woods, have become his spiritual signature. In popular Thai tradition, the fighting fish symbolizes strength, endurance, courage, and the ability to never give up in the face of obstacles.

A quote attributed to the teachings transmitted around his Plakat explains that the fighting fish is a symbol of struggle and perseverance: whoever wears this talisman must learn to face difficulties, work with courage, and move forward without being defeated.

🪔 Esoteric Anecdotes 🪔

A very well-known tradition reports that Luang Phor Nuam blessed his Plakat talismans with such power that some disciples claimed to have seen them "swim" or vibrate under the effect of consecration, recalling stories related to ancient masters capable of symbolically animating their talismans through the force of their magic.
At the request of his disciples who came to visit him, the venerable also blessed and covered with yants everyday objects such as kitchen pestles or shop signs.

☸ Spiritual Heritage ☸

Luang Phor Nuam's amulets are sought after for their virtues of protection, luck, professional success, prosperous business, and metta maha niyom, the great benevolent attraction. Some Thai texts even nickname him the "God of Success", due to the reputation of his blessings and the deep faith of his disciples.

Even today, the amulets and talismans of Luang Phor Nuam of Wat Po Sri Charoen remain highly valued by collectors, Buddhist practitioners, and lovers of sacred Thai traditions.