Luang Pho Daeng (Thai: หลวงพ่อแดง) was a Thai Buddhist monk who died while meditating in 1973.[1][2]

Luang Pho Daeng
Born1894
Died1973 (aged 78–79)

Early life edit

Daeng was born in Thailand in 1894. He was briefly interested in becoming a monk in his 20s, but decided he would rather be married instead. He raised six children with his wife.[3]

Later life edit

After all of his children had grown, Daeng, who was by then 50, decided to become a Buddhist monk, realizing his childhood dream. He was briefly an abbot at a temple in southern Thailand, but moved to Wat Khunaram, near his childhood home. He practiced Sokushinbutsu, a form of self mummification.[1]

Death edit

Luamg Pho Daeng died while meditating in 1973.[1][2] His mummified body is on display at the Wat Khunaram (temple) on Ko Samui island in Thailand's Surat Thani Province. The mummy is notable for sporting a pair of sunglasses, placed by the caretakers to hide the decomposed eye sockets to make the display less disturbing. A native gecko species use the body as a hatchery, with eggs being laid beneath the skin.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Kunaram Temple - Mummified Monk". ThailandSelection. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b Nilubol, Pornpitagpan (18 May 2002). "Mummy Men Examine Mystery Of Preserved Thai Monk". ParaDimensions. FarShores. Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 22 May 2008.
  3. ^ a b Meier, Allison C.; Frolov, Dimas; Jackson, Nicholas (15 November 2010). "Mummy of Luang Pho Dang". Atlas Obscura.