Biography of Luang Pu Kaew Kesaro
Wat Lahan Rai, Rayong Province
Luang Pu Kaew Kesaro was born in B.E. 2448 (1905) in Tha Kho Sub-district, Tha Wachi District, Roi Et Province. His given name was Chiang Kham, a son of the Khammee family. From an early age, he displayed strong determination and courage—traits that would later define both his turbulent youth and his revered spiritual life.
At fifteen, he ordained as a novice monk and immersed himself in Buddhist studies and mystical disciplines, especially Kongkraphan Chatri (invulnerability) and Maha-Ut (protection from danger). Yet, his restless nature drew him away from monastic life at twenty-two, leading him into a world of uncertainty and peril.
In his years as a layman, Chiang Kham joined a band of hunters and outlaws led by the infamous Suea Qing. As deputy leader, he became known for his daring acts and extraordinary luck in battle. During one raid, he was shot at close range but miraculously survived, sustaining only bruises. This incident cemented his reputation as someone protected by unseen forces. Followers soon begged him for protective tattoos, believing he possessed supernatural power. However, as their crimes deepened, remorse took hold, and he stopped tattooing altogether.
Haunted by guilt, he disappeared from the outlaw life and took refuge in Chachoengsao Province, living in obscurity for ten years before moving to Ta Sit (now Nong Lalok Sub-district) in Rayong. There, solitude began to transform him. The man once feared as a bandit sought peace through repentance and Dhamma.
At sixty, he re-entered the monkhood at Wat Wai Krong, determined to redeem his past. His preceptor was Luang Pho Lat of Wat Nong Krabok, assisted by Phra Ajahn Kiang and Phra Ajahn Sawat. Upon ordination, he received the monastic name Kesaro. Under the guidance of Ajahn Kiang, a Cambodian meditation master, he delved deeply into ascetic practice and meditation.
Later, he moved to Wat Lahan Rai, where he became a devoted disciple of Luang Pu Tim Isarigo. Luang Pu Kaew revered his teacher profoundly, referring to him as “Father,” and dedicated himself fully to spiritual cultivation. His humility and unwavering discipline soon earned him recognition among monks and lay devotees alike.
As word spread of his spiritual strength, people began seeking his blessings and tattoos. Luang Pu Tim himself acknowledged his extraordinary mastery, proclaiming, “Luang Pu Kaew has mastered the elements.” From then, his reputation as a monk of great mystical power became known across Thailand. Among those who experienced his strength was Captain Jamnian Tujinda, a Royal Thai Navy officer and royal bodyguard, who once felt an invisible force strike him during a blessing ritual—an unforgettable proof of the monk’s sacred energy.
One of the most remembered stories tells of a man who tested Luang Pu Tim’s “Charoenphon” amulet by firing a gun at it. When Luang Pu Kaew heard of this disrespect, he declared, “If they wish to test power, let them test mine instead!” To demonstrate, he urinated on a fallen custard apple tree, and a thunderous roar echoed through the air—an awe-inspiring display of his elemental control.
In his later years, fearing that his sacred knowledge might be lost, Luang Pu Kaew sought his teacher’s permission to create his own amulet series. Together with Uncle Sai Kaewsawang, the temple’s treasurer, and Mr. Chinporn Suksathit, a devoted disciple, he produced his first-generation commemorative coins. When Luang Pu Tim saw the design, he smiled and said, “Kaew has mastered it. This should bear the great mother-element yantra, Na Ma Pa Tha.” These amulets became treasured for their potency and historical value, representing both teacher and disciple’s spiritual lineage.
As old age approached, Luang Pu Kaew expressed two worries: that his mystical knowledge might vanish after his death, and that his funeral might burden his followers. Despite frailty, he continued to teach and bless devotees until his final days. In B.E. 2547 (2004), at the venerable age of ninety-nine, he passed away peacefully, leaving behind a lasting legacy of compassion, redemption, and sacred wisdom.
Today, his amulets and sak yant tattoos remain deeply revered for their protective and benevolent energy. His journey—from outlaw to enlightened monk—stands as a profound testament to the transformative power of the Dhamma and the human spirit’s capacity for redemption.
Luang Pu Kaew Kesaro of Wat Lahan Rai continues to inspire generations of devotees, his story echoing through the chants of those who seek strength, forgiveness, and faith. 🙏