When speaking of Phuket province, "Phuket" is the name of the province. The Andaman Pearl City often brings to mind sparkling white sandy beaches for many. But for locals, the true heart and soul through all eras has been "Luang Pho Chaem" or Phra Kru Wisutthiwong Charanyan Muni, the former abbot of Wat Chalong (Wat Chaiyathararam), a revered monk known for his spiritual powers and compassion who has long been intertwined with Phuket's way of life.
His name is not just that of a famous monk but rather "a symbol of safety and peace of mind" that Phuket residents and devotees from all directions respectfully worship, with stories recounting his miracles and historical events reflecting his profound spiritual authority in many instances.
Back in 1876 CE, during a period of turmoil caused by the Ang Yi Chinese rebellion, Chinese mine workers united to riot, looting and killing until Phuket city was engulfed in flames. The frightened villagers fled and sought refuge at Wat Chalong.
In this desperate and dangerous time, Luang Pho Chaem refused to abandon the temple and the people. He gave them a white "prajead" cloth to wrap around their heads to boost morale. As a result, the villagers wearing his prajead cloth became emboldened and united to fight back, miraculously defeating the Ang Yi rebels without any villagers suffering harm from weapons.
Another distinctive story in Siam is the tradition of "gilding a living monk." This event began when a group of fishermen faced a massive cyclone at sea, nearly capsizing their boat. They vowed that if they survived, they would gild gold leaf on the shin of the revered abbot of Wat Chalong. After surviving, the fishermen came to apply gold leaf to Luang Pho Chaem's shin, starting a practice where people frequently come to gild him to this day.
There is also a story about Luang Pho Chaem's "sacred staff," which villagers bring their sick children to have lightly touched with the staff while chanting incantations, leading to remarkable recoveries. This reflects the limitless compassion of the revered monk.
Another sacred feature within Wat Chalong is the "Sacred Well," constructed during Luang Pho Chaem’s time. Physically, it is a well dug into the rock layer, square-shaped with sides 1.60 meters wide and about 4 meters deep. A natural spring of clear water bubbles up continuously and has never dried up since its creation.
Locals believe this water can dispel illness and bad luck, using it for drinking, sprinkling, or bathing for good fortune. Even today, tourists and locals regularly stop to collect holy water in bottles to take home as a blessing.
Importantly, the Sacred Well at Wat Chalong has been selected as one of Thailand’s important sacred water sources for royal water-drawing ceremonies to create holy water used in major national royal rites across several reigns, including:
The miraculous stories of Luang Pho Chaem of Wat Chalong and the sacred well stand as enduring evidence of the unwavering faith of Phuket’s people and Thais nationwide. A visit to pay respects to Luang Pho Chaem when in Phuket offers great blessings and strengthens one’s spirit for life’s journey.
Information provided by the "Above the Sky, Beneath the Earth" column, Thairath Newspaper Column.