Luang Pho Daeng
Luang Pho Daeng | |
---|---|
Born | 1894 |
Died | 1973 (aged 78–79) Ko Samui, Thailand |
Luang Pho Daeng (Thai: หลวงพ่อแดง) was a Thai Buddhist monk who died while meditating in 1973.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Daeng was born in 1894. He was briefly interested in becoming a monk in his 20s, but decided that he would rather be married instead. He raised six children with his only wife.[3] After all of his children had grown, Daeng, then in his 70s, realized his earlier dream and finally decided to become a monk. 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]
Daeng died while meditating in 1973.[1][2] His mummified body is on display at Wat Khunaram. 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 Daeng's body as a hatchery, with eggs being laid beneath his skin.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Kunaram Temple - Mummified Monk". ThailandSelection. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ 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.
- ^ a b Meier, Allison C.; Frolov, Dimas; Jackson, Nicholas (15 November 2010). "Mummy of Luang Pho Dang". Atlas Obscura.