Product: Phra Sangkachai_Luang Phor Kasem Kemako
Origin: Thaweesap, Wat Chang, Trilak Cemetery, Lampang Province
Period: Unknown
Enclose casing (Color): Waterproof Clear Acrylics Display
Size of Case (approx): 34.2 mmW x 47 mmH x 19.2 mmT
Phra Sangkachai: Arhat of Abundance and Enlightenment. Embodying Kindness and Prosperity.
Also known as Phra Maha Katchayana, Phra Sangkachai is a revered figure in Theravada Buddhism, honored for his wisdom, eloquence, and association with prosperity. Widely venerated across Thailand and other Buddhist cultures, he embodies the virtues of generosity, clarity in Dhamma, and spiritual wealth.
Enlightened Teacher of the Dhamma
Phra Sangkachai was an Arhat—one who attained full enlightenment. He was celebrated for his exceptional ability to explain the Buddha’s teachings with clarity and simplicity. He is credited with composing the Madhupindika Sutta and is said to have authored the first grammar of the Pali language, helping to make Dhamma accessible to all.
Symbol of Prosperity and Good Fortune
Often depicted as plump and smiling, Phra Sangkachai represents happiness, wealth, and abundance. He is especially revered by those seeking success in business, bountiful harvests, and overall wellbeing. Farmers, merchants, and devotees often pray to him for blessings in both material and spiritual life.
Iconography and Representation
Unlike the typically bald depictions of many monks, Phra Sangkachai is often shown with hair and wearing the traditional robes of the Theravada order. He is usually portrayed seated, with a serene smile and a relaxed posture—reflecting inner peace, contentment, and spiritual richness.
Luang Phor Kasem Kemagoh: Lampang’s Saintly Monk
Born on November 28, 1912, in Lampang Province, Luang Phor Kasem came from noble lineage, a descendant of Lampang’s royal Na-Lampang family. Despite his aristocratic heritage, he renounced all worldly privilege in pursuit of spiritual liberation.
He first entered the monkhood briefly as a child, then ordained again as a novice at age 13 after the death of his uncle, the abbot of Wat Bunyeun. Gifted in languages, he studied Pali in Bangkok and later passed advanced ecclesiastical exams with distinction. At 21, he was ordained as a monk, taking the name "Kemagoh Bhikkhu," meaning one content in Dhamma.
His path took a transformative turn when he met Luang Phor Kruba Gaen in Chiang Rai. Under this revered forest monk, Luang Phor Kasem embraced the austere Tudong life—wandering through forests and cemeteries, practicing deep meditation (samādhi) and detachment from all worldly comfort.
Though later appointed abbot of Wat Bunyeun, his calling lay in solitude. In 1949, he quietly left temple life to meditate in the cemetery at Sarn Sala Wangthan. There, surrounded by death and impermanence, he sat in unwavering meditation under harsh weather, often beside burning pyres. He once meditated continuously for three months, and fasted for 49 days—acts of profound discipline.
Luang Phor Kasem lived with radical simplicity. His only possessions were an alms bowl, a single robe, and a human bone for contemplation. He owned no shoes, no pillow, and bathed only once a year—yet his body never emitted odor nor did mosquitoes bite him. He gave away everything offered to him, stating, “A forest monk needs nothing.”
He inspired thousands not through sermons, but through living example. He collected discarded scraps of paper to hang on trees, saying even letters could lead one to enlightenment. His teachings were indirect, profound, and often cryptic—encouraging self-reflection over instruction.
In 1951, he resigned from his abbotship, leaving a note:
“Do not follow me. I have renounced all worldly concerns. I seek only peace and will not return.”
He spent the rest of his life at Trailak Cemetery in Lampang, drawing reverence from laypeople, monks, and royalty alike. Even Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand came to pay respects.
Phra Bhavanavisuthajarn of Wat Traimit once remarked that Luang Phor Kasem’s conduct was that of a true Anāgāmī—one who has completely transcended worldly desires. Though Luang Phor never claimed spiritual attainment, many believed he had reached the final stages of enlightenment.
Luang Phor Kasem passed away in 1995 at the age of 83. His legacy endures not in buildings or institutions, but in the simplicity and serenity of a life devoted entirely to Dhamma.