In the 20th century, the Western world began to learn of the 'Dharma Army' of the Forest Meditation Tradition, led by Luang Pu Mun Bhuridatto... But if we turn back the clock nearly a hundred years before that, during the nation-building era of Siam, there was an Elder Monk (Thera) who stood as a pillar and spiritual anchor for the people of that time. He was the one who purified and propagated 'The Victor's Cage Incantation (Jinapañjara-gāthā)', a sacred chant believed to possess the Power of the Buddha (Buddhānubhāva) to protect against all dangers and bring forth happiness and well-being... Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Toh Phrommarangsi)... the Noble Monk (Ariyasaṅgha) of three reigns.
Chapter 1: Birth and Childhood
The year 1775... In the era of the great general known as Chao Phraya Chakri, who would later be established as the first monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I, led his troops to command the battle at Kamphaeng Phet, to counter the severe Burmese invasion of the Siamese kingdom.
One day, after completing an inspection of his troops, exhausted and extremely thirsty, he reined his horse to a stop to rest at a barn at the edge of a field. There, he met a beautiful young woman named "Ngud," the daughter of Ta Phon and Yai La. When he asked for a drink of water, Ngud displayed impressive quick-wittedness. She drew cool water from an earthen pot, then plucked the stamens of a royal lotus and scattered them into the water bowl until it was full, before presenting it to him.
Seeing this, Chao Phraya Chakri asked with curiosity, "I am exceedingly thirsty. Why do you play a trick
on me by scattering these lotus stamens in the water?"
Ngud replied in a respectful tone, yet one
imbued with wisdom, "What I have done was not with any intention to trick you. I did so because I saw
that you were weary and very thirsty. If you drink the water too quickly, it could cause you to choke
and suffer from indigestion. These lotus stamens will help slow you down so that you drink gradually,
thus preventing harm to yourself, my lord."
Ngud's answer astounded Chao Phraya Chakri with her intelligence and thoughtfulness. This impression turned into love and affection. He spoke with her until Ta Phon and Yai La returned, and he then asked for their daughter's hand according to the local customs of the time, leaving his personal ring as an engagement token.
From that relationship, a baby boy was quietly conceived: the unacknowledged son of Chao Phraya Chakri. It was Chao Phraya Chakri who would one day rule Siam as King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty.
Not long after, Chao Phraya Chakri had to lead his army back to Thonburi. He bid farewell to Ngud, who was in the early stages of her pregnancy, unaware that this would be a separation that would prevent them from meeting again as husband and wife.
Ngud, along with her parents, moved to trade by boat between the northern cities and Thonburi. When her pregnancy came to term, they settled down and built a raft house in the Bang Khun Phrom area. And in the year 1776, on a Wednesday night in the sixth lunar month, she gave birth to a son with a fair complexion and a strong, healthy body.
When the infant was about a month old, people noticed two unusual features: his arm bones were a single, solid piece, and he had a large black birthmark in the middle of his back. Various comments greatly worried his mother, Ngud. Fearing for her son's fate, she decided to offer him as a disciple to a virtuous Elder Monk. She was advised to seek out "Luang Pho Kaew" of Wat Bang Lamphu Bon.
That evening, upon meeting the venerable Ajahn Kaew, he took the infant for consideration and made a
prophecy: "This child possesses sharp intelligence, great diligence, and profound endurance. In the
future, he will become a great man, an expert in all fields of knowledge. He will have many followers
and great prestige, and he will live a long life."
He accepted the infant as his adopted son but
entrusted Ngud to care for him until he reached the age of three.
When the boy was three months old, the traditional head-shaving ceremony was performed. Afterward, Ngud's family relocated to the city of Phichit. There, they prospered in trade and became patrons of the main temple in Phichit, earning the respect of "Than Phra Khru Yai," the abbot who was an expert in sacred verses and Incantations and Spells (Gāthā-āgama).
Chapter 2: Novice To, Seeker of the Dharma Path
In the year 1795, when the boy Toh was 7 years old, his mother entrusted him as a student to the respected abbot of the main temple in Phichit... He was known as "Than Phra Khru Yai of Phichit," to study various subjects. With his brilliant intellect and exceptional diligence, he excelled until the age of 13, when he underwent the topknot-cutting ceremony. Not long after, driven by fervent faith, he was ordained as a Novice Monk (Sāmaṇera).
As "Novice Toh," he dedicated himself to studying The Doctrine and Discipline (Dhammavinaya) and advanced Pāli grammar scriptures until he was proficient. In addition to his knowledge of the scriptures, Than Phra Khru Yai also kindly taught him various Incantations and Spells, for both protection and charismatic influence, which Novice Toh learned and practiced with great skill.
At the age of 15, after having been ordained for three Rains-Retreats (Vassa), he felt a strong desire to study the scriptures at a higher level. When Than Phra Khru Yai learned of his intention, he admitted that the advanced scriptures were beyond his expertise. Seeing Novice Toh's intellect and determination, he did not wish to hold him back. He kindly suggested that he travel to study with the Phra Khru of the temple in Chainatburi, who was a renowned scholar in this field.
Novice Toh was overjoyed. He returned to ask his family for permission, and they readily agreed and began
preparations for his journey to Chainatburi.
On this journey, a marvelous event occurred, a sign of
the Meritorious Perfection (Puññapāramī) the young novice had
accumulated...
Chapter 3: Supernatural Phenomenon
The boat had been traveling for two nights when it reached the pier in front of the temple in Chainatburi at nighttime. The boatmen moored the boat to rest. While everyone was fast asleep...
At dawn, the villagers living by the river were utterly shocked to see a gigantic crocodile emerge from
the water. It heaved its body up towards the bow of the boat where one of the boatmen was sleeping,
intending to snatch the man for its meal. Shouts erupted, waking everyone on the boat. The other two
boatmen rushed to pull their friend from the jaws of death.
But then, a marvelous phenomenon
occurred...
While everyone was in a panic, Novice Toh, who had awakened and was sitting peacefully in Mental Cultivation (Bhāvanā) inside the boat's canopy, suddenly saw the great crocodile behave strangely. Its jaws would not open. Its body went rigid. It could neither sink nor swim away; it appeared to have become utterly limp and powerless. The incident left everyone who witnessed it completely baffled.
Upon arriving in Chainatburi, the chief monastic official of the city recognized Novice Toh's great merit and destiny and willingly accepted him as a disciple. Novice Toh stayed and engaged in the Study of the Scriptures (Pariyattidhamma) there for three full years. Through diligent effort, he became proficient in The Doctrine and Discipline. However, with a desire to study at an even higher level, he took his leave of the Phra Khru at the age of 18 to travel to Bangkok. The Phra Khru supported his decision and sent him back to his family in Phichit to prepare.
After bidding farewell to the people who had grown fond of him, in the year 1793, his grandfather Ta Phon brought him to Bangkok, returning him to the care of Ajahn Kaew at Wat Bang Lamphu Bon. When Ajahn Kaew learned of Novice Toh's sincere dedication to his studies, he was delighted, seeing that his past prophecy had come true. He then took Novice Toh to be entrusted to a royal sage of great knowledge for higher education.
With his beautiful Proper Conduct (Cariyāvaṭṭa) and sharp intelligence, he became beloved by his teachers and high-ranking officials, who all became his Lay Supporters (Upaṭṭhāka). His fame for delivering Dharma Sermons (Dhammadesanā) spread far and wide, yet he remained focused on his studies and practice. Eventually, his noble patrons agreed that this brilliant young novice should be presented to Prince Itsarasunthon, the son of King Rama I, who would in the future ascend the throne as King Rama II.
Chapter 4: The Royal Novice Under a King's Care
When the time came for the audience, Novice Toh was presented before the Royal Prince. The moment the
prince laid eyes on the handsome and elegant novice, who was wearing the royally bestowed "thorny
jackfruit" sash, he was filled with great affection.
His Royal Highness conversed with him, asking
about his age and his parents. Upon learning of Novice Toh's true parentage from his answers, the
prince's fondness grew even stronger. He took him under his royal patronage and had him moved to reside
at Wat Mahathat to study the Dharma directly with the Supreme Patriarch (Saṅgharāja). From that time on, Novice Toh became known as the "Royal
Novice" and delved deeper into the Study of the Scriptures until he achieved great mastery.
In the year 1797, upon reaching the full age of 21, the Royal Prince graciously sponsored a Higher Ordination (Upasampadā) ceremony for him with full royal honors. He was given the monastic name "Phrommarangsi," but people continued to call him "Luang Pho Toh."
Afterward, Luang Pho Toh returned to reside at Wat Mahathat, further studying The Three Baskets (Buddhist Canon) (Tipiṭaka) with the Somdet Phra Vanarat until he became an expert. With his exemplary conduct and captivating Dharma Sermons, his reputation spread throughout the land. Later, during the reign of King Rama II, his original patron, he was granted the monastic title of "Phra Maha Toh," along with a royal barge to use for his travels to deliver sermons.
It was during this period that Luang Pho Toh had the opportunity to teach the Khom script and Pāli
scriptures to the Grand Royal Prince, or Prince Mongkut, who would later become King Mongkut, Rama IV,
during the time the prince underwent Ordination (Pabbajā) as both a
Novice Monk and a Monk (Bhikkhu). Their close relationship and compatible
dispositions created a deep bond between them from that point forward.
Luang Pho Toh was a quiet and
reserved monk, not given to ostentation. He lived a simple, reclusive life, dedicated to his practice of
Mental Cultivation. This continued for over 25 years during the reign of King Nangklao, Rama III,
until... the kingdom changed hands once more.
Chapter 5: Somdet To Flees
In the year 1851, King Nangklao passed away. The court officials unanimously invited Prince Mongkut, who
had been a student of Luang Pho Toh during his time in the monkhood, to leave the monkhood and ascend
the throne as King Mongkut, or Rama IV.
When Luang Pho Toh, then 64 years old, heard this news, he
did something no one expected... He quietly disappeared from the temple, undertaking Ascetic Practices
(Dhutaṅga).
Once King Mongkut ascended the throne, the student who had become king immediately thought of his former
teacher... He gave orders to find "Maha Toh," but no one could locate him. As the days passed, the king
grew increasingly angry with the Department of Religious Affairs.
"He cannot fly, he cannot burrow
into the earth, nor can he break through the walls of the universe to escape!" the king declared. "Find
him and bring him to me!"
He ordered Phra Yanabodhi to track him down, but to no avail. Finally, the
king proclaimed, "I will search for him myself!"
The royal command was sent to governors in every corner of the kingdom—north, south, east, and west—to apprehend Phra Maha Toh and send him back to the capital. This caused a great uproar throughout the nation and the Buddhist Realm (Buddhacakka). Governors and monastic heads worked together to inspect every wandering ascetic and visiting monk who passed through their areas.
But Luang Pho Toh used the spiritual arts he had learned. His teacher called this art "Narayana Transforms his Form." He could alter his physical appearance, making it impossible for those who knew him to recognize him. Even when they met face-to-face, they saw only another monk and allowed him to continue on his way safely.
Out of The Virtue of Loving-Kindness (Mettādhamma) for the many innocent monks who were suffering hardship from being arrested and interrogated in the search for him, Luang Pho Toh decided to end his flight. He revealed himself to a village headman in a remote area and allowed himself to be escorted back to Bangkok, where he was finally brought before the king.
When King Mongkut saw his old teacher, he spoke in a softened tone:
"It is now my time to rule the
land. You must help me foster Buddhism."
Thereafter, a royal decree was issued, bestowing upon Luang
Pho Toh the Monastic Title (Samaṇasatti) of a high-ranking ecclesiastical
official, "Phra Thammakitti," and appointing him as the abbot of Wat Rakhangkhositaram.
From that day
forward, a new chapter in his life began, as the venerable master of Wat Rakhang, who would go on to
create many more unforgettable legends and would later be known as "Somdet Toh."
Chapter 6: Transcendent Wisdom
When Luang Pho Toh, or Phra Thammakitti under his new Monastic Title, became the abbot of Wat Rakhangkhositaram, he demonstrated a profound wisdom and a unique approach to problem-solving. On many occasions, he used skillful means to teach the Dharma and resolve conflicts in astonishing ways.
Hatred is Pacified by Non-Hatred
When a violent dispute broke out between monks at Wat Rakhang, Luang Pho Toh's initial ruling—that the injured monk was the first one at fault—led to the matter being appealed to Somdet Phra Vanarat, the regional ecclesiastical head. When summoned to be judged and questioned on his reasoning.
There, Luang Pho Toh explained his rationale: "The reason I said that is because I know full well that one monk struck the other first, but it was a striking in a past life. He wasn't aware of it. He was too caught up in his ego, and so his head was split open."
When Somdet Phra Vanarat asked for evidence, Luang Pho Toh cited The Word of the Buddha (Buddhavacana) as his witness, saying, "I know this according to the Buddha's decree: 'Na hi verena verāni sammantīha kudācanaṁ,' which translates to 'Hatreds are never appeased by hatred.' Hatred is appeased by non-hatred.
This is the teaching of the Buddha that informed me, that served as the witness for me to know that for
people to harm one another, there must be pre-existing karmic debt. Therefore, I dared to say, 'You
struck him first.'"
With this profound reasoning, Somdet Phra Vanarat granted him the authority to be
the final judge. Luang Pho Toh then called both monks to teach them about forgiveness and to end the
dispute peacefully, taking responsibility himself as the abbot for failing to train them well enough.
All parties accepted the outcome with admiration for his wisdom.
Entrusting Myself to You
On another occasion, two monks at Wat Rakhang were loudly arguing and insulting each other. Luang Pho
Toh, who was resting outside his quarters, witnessed the event. He did not intervene with scolding or
reprimands. Instead, he rose, went into his hut, prepared a tray with flowers, incense, and candles, and
walked directly into the center of the conflict. He knelt on the ground, raised the offering tray to the
two feuding monks, and pleaded with great humility:
"Oh, my venerable sirs! Please protect me. I wish
to place myself in your care. I see now that you are exceedingly powerful, truly powerful, my venerable
sirs... I ask to be in your care."
His action and extreme humility stunned the two monks into silence and brought them to their senses. They immediately stopped arguing and knelt to prostrate before Luang Pho Toh. But Luang Pho To prostrated in return, creating a scene of three monks prostrating to one another. Eventually, all conflict dissolved, replaced by mutual respect.
Facing the Scholars
At the home of the Regent of Siam, a conference of scholars from various nations was organized to
exchange knowledge on philosophy and religion. The Regent invited Luang Pho Toh to deliver a Dharma
Sermon as the representative of the Siamese scholars.
On the day of the event, the scholars
unanimously honored Luang Pho Toh by inviting him to speak first. Luang Pho Toh ascended the teaching
seat amidst a quiet calm. Then he began his sermon by uttering just two words, over and over
again:
"Consideration (Phicharanā)... Great Consideration (Mahā-Phicharanā)... Consideration (Phicharanā)... Great Consideration (Mahā-Phicharanā)..."
He murmured this for nearly an hour, until the Regent approached and whispered a reminder, "Venerable
Sir, would you please be so kind as to elaborate for them?"
Luang Pho Toh then raised his voice a
level higher and repeated the same words for another hour. The Regent had to remind him a second time.
This time, Luang Pho Toh shouted at the top of his lungs:
"CONSIDERATION (Phicharanā)! GREAT CONSIDERATION (Mahā-Phicharanā)!" And then he explained further...
"The affairs of the world, of the nation, of religion, or any undertaking whatsoever, can only be successfully accomplished through 'consideration.' One must consider in stages, from the gross to the subtle, until the very essence of the matter is reached, with thoroughness and care. When that happens, everyone will come to know good and bad, benefit for oneself and for others, on their own. A person with little mindfulness and little wisdom who considers only superficially will know only superficially. But whoever uses profound wisdom to consider to the utmost degree, without closing their eyes to the truth, without delusion, that person will see the results clearly for themselves... Thus."
When he finished speaking, he descended from the seat. It turned out that the scholars from other nations remained silent; none dared to rise and offer their own views afterward. Because his single word, "Consideration," had encompassed the essence of all things. The meeting had to be adjourned for the day.
A Parable of Nibbāna
With his Virtues of Perfection (Pāramīdhamma) and profound wisdom, Somdet
Toh became a beacon of wisdom for the people of his time. Once, during a Dharma discussion, the topic of
"Nibbāna" was raised for his consideration: What is the actual state of Nibbāna? Some translated it as
cessation, others as freedom from fetters, and still others as dying without rebirth. The variety of
meanings caused confusion, making it difficult to grasp the true state.
Somdet Toh replied with
humility that even he himself had not yet reached the realm of Nibbāna and thus could not describe it
with clarity. However, he would offer a parable so that one might come to understand it for oneself,
through reason and logic.
He told a comparative tale of two sisters who both wished to be married. One day, the fortunate elder sister was wed. The younger sister came to visit and asked with great curiosity, "Dear sister... What is it like to live and sleep with a husband? What joy, fun, and delight is there in it? Please, tell me."
The elder sister, despite the great happiness and bliss she experienced, could not find any words to describe that delightful feeling in a way her sister could understand. So she simply replied, "My dear sister... If one day you have a husband of your own, on that day you will know for yourself and will not need to ask me again."
Not long after, the younger sister was also married as she had wished. When she met her elder sister
again, the elder sister asked in return, "Well now, dear sister, do you now know what the taste of
married life is like?"
The younger sister could only smile shyly and reply, "Don't tease me, sister."
And they both laughed together, for now they had both realized the taste of married life for themselves,
equally.
Somdet Toh concluded that Nibbāna is a state of supreme, pure happiness (ekantabaramasukha), which the practitioner will realize directly for
themselves (Paccattaṁ) and which cannot be fully explained to one who has
not experienced it, just as the two sisters in the story could only understand the joy of married life
after experiencing it firsthand.
Facing the Raging Sea
Once, during a royal journey to celebrate the new palace on Khao Mahaisawan in Phetchaburi, Luang Pho Toh
was invited to travel with the entourage. He journeyed by a four-oared Vietnamese-style boat, departing
from the estuary at Ban Laem. On that day, the sea became violently turbulent, a condition the locals
called "the mad sea." The waves and wind raged so fiercely that the villagers cried out in warning,
"Venerable Sir, do not go out! The boat will capsize and you will die!"
But Luang Pho Toh calmly
replied, "We're going, we're going."
He went and stood at the front of the boat's cabin, using only the palm-leaf fan in his hand to wave slowly before him. A miraculous phenomenon occurred. In front of his boat, the raging waves and wind calmed, forming a smooth channel of water as if they were rowing in a canal. Meanwhile, on both sides of the boat, the waves remained as high as walls of water. The Phra Khru Palat, who was traveling with him on that trip, later recounted that it was a sight both marvelous and terrifying at the same time. But Luang Pho To remained standing, waving his fan with serene stillness, until the boat safely navigated the "mad sea" and entered the estuary of Phetchaburi, inspiring faith and awe in the villagers and officials who witnessed the event that day.
Giving Lottery Hints
In addition to these reverent stories, there is another side to the legend of Somdet Toh that shows the
fascinating connection he had with the lives of ordinary people: stories about "bestowing good
fortune."
In those days, the popular lottery in Siam was not a numbers game like today, but the "Go
Kho Lottery," where one would bet on which letter of the Thai alphabet would be drawn. For this reason,
villagers would often "interpret" various words or actions into letters to try their luck. And when it
came to Somdet Toh... it often happened that they would coincidentally win.
For example, a young girl was paddling her boat selling sweets at Wat Rakhang. He had a disciple buy two
plates for him. When it came time to pay, the girl said she wished to offer them. He then repeated to
her, "Two plates, my dear... two plates!" He was still calling after her even as her boat paddled out of
sight.
When the girl went back and told her parents, it dawned on them immediately... The word for
'plate' in Thai, 'jan,' begins with the letter 'Jor Jan.' So they used this letter to play the
lottery... and won a huge prize!
Another time, he was returning from upcountry. When he reached the mouth of the Bangkok Yai canal, he
came out to stand at the front of his boat's cabin, using a pestle to tap loudly on a brass tray while
calling out all along the way, "I'm back! I'm back!"
The villagers who heard him interpreted this in
various ways, but one group had a thought: his cry of "I'm back" could be a hint that "the old lottery
letter will come back out again." So they all went to bet on the letter that had been drawn
previously... and the next day, the lottery did indeed repeat the same letter!
In truth, Luang Pho Toh had no intention of giving lottery hints to anyone. His actions and words were simply part of his normal, compassionate, and wise disposition. It was the villagers who interpreted them according to their own beliefs.
Subduing Mae Nak Phra Khanong
The story that is most legendary in recounting his compassion is undoubtedly the incident of "subduing Mae Nak Phra Khanong."
For those unfamiliar, the legend of "Mae Nak Phra Khanong" is one of the most famous and widely believed ghost stories in Thai history, believed to have occurred in the early 19th century during the reign of King Rama III. It is the story of a young woman named Nak, who died tragically along with her unborn child while her husband was away at war. Due to her intense love and attachment to her husband, her spirit did not pass on to a peaceful rebirth but instead lingered at her home by the Phra Khanong canal, terrorizing anyone who tried to tell her husband the truth... that she and their child were dead.
In that era, the terrifying reputation of "Nang Nak's" ghost was feared throughout the land. It was said she could stretch her arms across the canal to pick limes, terrifying villagers so much they dared not paddle past her house at dusk. Some said her ghost would brutally kill anyone who offended her or tried to expose the truth. Her spirit haunted those traveling through the Phra Khanong canal at night, not even sparing the monks and novices in the local temple, who were so disturbed that none dared to sleep alone. Various spirit doctors with powerful arts went to perform exorcisms, but none could overcome Nang Nak's power.
When news of this trouble reached Luang Pho Toh, he traveled to Wat Mahabut in the Phra Khanong canal.
When evening fell, he went and sat by the edge of her grave, performing a Recitation of Incantations
(Parikamma-gāthā). He then summoned her spirit to converse with
him.
No one knows what he discussed or agreed upon with Nang Nak's spirit, but in the end, he had the
grave dug up and took a piece of bone from her forehead. He brought that piece of bone back to Wat
Rakhang, polished it until it was smooth, inscribed it with sacred symbols, and fashioned it into a "pan
neng" (a decorative belt buckle) which he wore on his person everywhere
he went. It is believed he did this to guide her spirit, allowing it to be near the Dhamma and receive
merit each time he practiced.
From that day on, the spirit of Nang Nak Phra Khanong never again appeared to haunt and trouble people. Even so, it is told that her spirit retained a playful nature, sometimes appearing to tease the young novices at Wat Rakhang until Somdet Toh would gently chide her, saying, "Oh Nak, please do not disturb the novices," after which her spirit would quiet down. It is said that he did not "subdue" or "destroy" her spirit; rather, he used The Virtue of Loving-Kindness to "liberate" that spirit, helping it to let go of its attachments and pass on to a Happy Realm (Sugatibhava). His actions on this occasion demonstrated the true essence of Buddhism (Buddhasāsana), which focuses on helping All Beings (Sabbasattā) find release from suffering through compassion, not through affliction.
His stories and venerable practices made his name known throughout the kingdom, until in the year 1865, King Mongkut graciously elevated Phra Thepkawi (Toh) to the rank of Somdet Phra Rajakhana with the title "Somdet Phra Phutthachan." This was the highest honor of his life, and now the people of the entire kingdom referred to him with the utmost reverence and love as "Somdet Toh."
Chapter 7: Towards the Realm of Nibbāna
Despite receiving the highest Monastic Title, Somdet Toh continued to conduct himself with simplicity and
Tranquility (Samatha) as before. He still went on his daily Alms Round
(Piṇḍapāta) himself, spoke to the birds with kindness, and continued to
build large Buddha images as an act of Homage to the Buddha (Buddhapūjā).
He initiated the project of constructing a large Buddha
image in the meditation posture at Wat Bang Khun Phrom Nai (now known as Wat
Intharawihan). He personally prepared the sacred powders to create small amulets known as
"Phra Somdet," which were to be enshrined within the large statue and distributed to those who came to
make merit. His amulets were crafted from various sacred substances, such as seashell lime, incense
powder, flower pollen, and, most crucially, the 'Five Sacred Powders' that he personally prepared:
Patthamang, Itthije, Maharaj, Buddhakhun, and Trinisisinghe.
He made these amulets every day with
diligence, alongside the construction of the large Buddha statue, which slowly began to take shape.
Then, in the year 1868 (B.E. 2411), King Mongkut passed away. When Somdet Toh heard the news, he walked around Wat Rakhang weeping, murmuring to himself, "The fun is over... This time, the fun is truly over." It was an expression of his profound grief for the monarch who had been both his student and his patron throughout his life.
Even as the kingdom transitioned into the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, the great modernizing monarch of Siam, Somdet To remained an unwavering spiritual pillar of the land... He continued his life and his Religious Duty (Sāsanā-kicca) with determination, even as his physical body declined with age.
Finally, on the fifth lunar month of the Year of the Monkey, 1872 (B.E.
2415), while Somdet To was inspecting the construction of the great Buddha statue at Wat Bang
Khun Phrom Nai, he fell ill due to old age and passed away peacefully in the main hall of that very
temple.
He lived to the age of 84, having served as the abbot of Wat Rakhangkhositaram for 21 years
and holding the title of Somdet Phra Phutthachan for 7 years.
The news of Somdet Toh's Death (of a Monk) (Maraṇabhāva) brought sorrow and mourning to people all across the kingdom. On the day his body was carried back to Wat Rakhang, people from all directions—royalty, nobility, and commoners alike—flocked to pay their last respects, lining the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It was a scene that showed the immense love and faith the public had for the Elder Monk who was like a beacon of light for the nation of Siam.
Though the physical form of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Toh Phrommarangsi) has passed away according to the law of the Three Characteristics of Existence (Tilakkhaṇa), his goodness, teachings, conduct, and marvelous stories remain enshrined in the hearts of Thai Buddhist Devotees (Buddhasāsanika-jana) to this day. The Phra Somdet amulets he created have become the most sought-after sacred objects, and most importantly, the core Dharma of "wisdom and compassion" that he demonstrated through his actions throughout his life has become a precious legacy, guiding people on the path of goodness... forevermore.