Luang Pu Liam (Lp Liam) Wat Sri Rueng Boon

 Luang Pu Liam (Lp Liam) Wat Sri Rueng Boon

The history of Luang Pu Liam of Wat Sri Ruang Boon is difficult to trace due to his advanced age and the scarcity of records. However, by gathering information from old texts, including historical documents from Nonthaburi Province, it is known that he served as the abbot of Wat Sri Ruang Boon from 1914 to 1937, and he passed away in 1945 at the age of 82. Originally from the eastern region of Thailand, Luang Pu Liam embarked on a pilgrimage for several decades before settling in Nonthaburi Province, where he set up camp near Wat Sri Ruang Boon.

Luang Pu Liam was a humble and moral monk, earning the trust of the local villagers. He was also highly skilled in traditional medicine, and his treatments helped many people in the area. At the time, Wat Sri Ruang Boon had no abbot, and the temple was in a state of disrepair with few monks living there. The villagers, recognizing Luang Pu Liam’s abilities, unanimously invited him to become the abbot. At the age of around 55, he accepted the position.

The temple, surrounded by peaceful gardens, was an ideal place for meditation. Luang Pu Liam’s expertise in traditional medicine and his mastery of powerful magic spells, particularly holy water used for curing illnesses such as rabies, made him even more revered. He was known to heal even the most severe cases of illness, and people placed great faith in his abilities.

When the time came to renovate and build new structures at the temple, the community rallied around him, helping complete the projects. Luang Pu Liam, feeling grateful for the villagers' support, wanted to give something back. He decided to create amulets made from powder to distribute to the people. Using magic powder, shell lime, bananas, and other ingredients, he molded Buddha images. His disciples, skilled artisans, created over 20 molds, some imitating famous designs such as Somdet Luang Pu Phu Wat In and others with unique features of their own.

For 10 years, from 1927 onward, he continuously made and blessed these amulets, though fewer were distributed than were produced, leaving many amulets stored safely in a box. As a result, the amulets were well-preserved and free from the wear and tear typically seen in crypt-stored amulets. Even those that were used maintained their strong texture, a hallmark of amulets from an older era.

Today, nearly 80 years later, Luang Pu Liam’s amulets are highly regarded. In terms of age and quality, they are comparable to those made by Luang Pu Phu, and the craftsmanship and purity of intention behind their creation are clear. The beauty of the amulets, combined with Luang Pu Liam’s sincere dedication, ensures their lasting value and significance.