Luang Phu Iam was a World Famous Master Monk of the previous Century, and maker of the Number 2 Amulet of the Top 5 'Benjapakee' of Pra Pid Ta of all Thai Buddhist History, the Pra Pid Ta Yant Yung. Luang Phu Iam is the No.2 Master of all History, renowned for Pra Pid Ta Amulets, and his Rare and Powerful First Edition Monk Coin, which fetches extremely high prices in auctions.

Pra Pāwanā Gosol Thēra (Luang Phu Iam Suwannasarõ)

Luang Phu Iam was a born on Friday the 7th October 2375 BE. Luang Phu Iam was born a Citizen of Bang Khun Tian, whose household lived on the banks of the Klong Bang Hwa Canal, behind the temple of Wat Hnang. Luang Phu Iam was born during the reign of His Majesty Prabat Somdej Pra Nang Glao Jao Yuu Hua King Rama 3. Luang Phu Iam was given the birthname of ‘Iam’ and his surname was ‘Tong U’. The devotees of Wat Hnang temple did not call him Luang Phu Iam, rather, preferred to call him ‘Luang Por Phu Tao’.

People in General, and the collectors of the amulet appreciation societies like to refer to Luang Phu Iam as ‘Luang Por Wat Hnang’. His father and mother’s names were Mr. Tong, and Mrs. U, with the surname ‘Tong U’. Luang Phu Iam’s family were market gardners, and were relatively prosperous. At the age of 9 years old, Luang Phu Iam was taken to the temple of Wat Hnang, to learn to read and write, and practice Khom Agkhara, under the tutelage of his first mentor, Luang Phu Rod, then Vice Abbot of Wat Hnang.

In the year 2387 BE, Luang Phu Rod then began to teach him Wicha Akom Buddha Magic and also to teach him in the Pali Sanskrit scripts, and the Khom Agkhara used for Magical Inscriptions. At the age of 11, in the year 2386 BE, Luang Phu Iam also went to study Pali Sanskrit with Pra Maha Yim at Wat Bovornives Voraviharn.

After he finished his studies with Pra Maha Yim, Luang Phu Rod then went to practice under the tutelage of Pra Pidok Gosol (Luang Por Chim), at Wat Liab.

Thereafter, he returned to Wat Hnang, and ordained as a Samanera Novice Monk, and studied the Dhamma in his original place of learning at Wat Hnang. Luang Phu spent many years focused on study and practice, for about one decade, until the year 2394 BE.

Luang Phu was now coming of age where he should ordain from Samanera to become full status of an adult Bhikkhu, and had to go to the Royal Sanam Luang to take his Pali Sanskrit exams, which were at that time, done orally, answering in front of the teacher without any written questions to answer. Luang Phu did not pass the test. Because of failing his Pali exam, Luang Phu decided to disrobe and go to help his parents and relatives at home.

But Luang Phu only managed to remain a layman for three years, and his true calling became evident, and Luang Phu returned in the year 2397 BE to Re-Ordain as a Bhikkhu in the Buddha Sasanā at Wat Jom Tong, at the age of 22 years old.

Luang Por Gerd was his Upachaya Ordaining Officer, and gave Luang Phu Iam the Ordained Name of ‘Suwannasaro’

His Pra Gammawājājārn was Pra Tamma Chedi (Luang Por Jeen), with Pra Pawanā Gosol Thēra (Luang Phu Rod) as his Prompting Officer.

Once he had Re-Ordained again, Luang Phu Tao (Luang Phu Iam) went to stay at Wat Nang Nong, which was across the other side of the path to Wat Nang Nong. Here he continued his written studies of the Dhamma and Sorcery Grimoires, and Mastery of various Wicha, in the Samnak of Luang Por Jeen, with supplementary tuition from Pra Sangworn Wimol (Luang Por Hmen).

This time Luang Phu Iam went to finish his exams once more at Sanam Luang, and passed with flying colours. The ordained professor of Pali who was examining him, then said he had given very good translations, and invited Luang Phu Iam to come and practice at the same Samnak.

Luang Phu Iam however, refused, and continued with his usual trajectory. He then focused deeper on his practice of Vipassana Mindfulness Practice, and Puttakom (Buddha Magic) with Luang Phu Rod (who was abbot of Wat Nang Nong).

It can be seen from historical documentation, that Luang Phu Iam followed the footsteps of of Luang Phu Rod, in the same way that Somdej Pra Puttajarn (Dto) Prohmrangsri of Wat Rakang Kositaram had followed in the footsteps of his Mentor Pra Sangkarach (Sukh Gai Thuean). Luang Phu Iam hence mastered the various Wicha of Luang Phu Rod, with his diligence and unquestioning service to Luang Phu Rod as his Mentor.

Sometime around 2440, Luang Phu Rod had his Royal Pat Yos fan confiscated and was stipped of Royal status, and moved from Wat Nang Nong to gp stay at Wat Ko Non. This was because Luang Phu Rod refused to use the official terminology of respect towards King Rama 4, because he was angry about the splitting of the Sangha into Dhammayut, and Maha Nikaya sects, which he considered the King to have caused a schism in the Sangha. Luang Phu Iam and his devotees followed Luang Phu Rod to Wat Ko Non, and Luang Phu Iam continued to practice and continue to practice his Wicha with Luang Phu Rod, for many years.

This comparison is also extendible to the amulets of both Masters, just as Somdej Pra Puttajarn (Dto) Prohmrangsri learned the Wicha Pra Somdej from Somdej pra Sangkarach Sukh (maker of the Pra Somdej Arahang Benjapakee Amulet), so, in turn, did Luang Phu Iam make powerful Pra Pid Ta and Pra Pid Tawarn amulets, in the same Dtamra (formula) of his Mentor Luang Phu Rod.

The third Comparison between the two Monks, reveals that both Somdej Pra Puttajarn (Dto) Prohmrangsri and Luang Phu Iam managed to attain the same fame and reverence as their Mentors, and their amulets became equally reputed for their magical power.

Luang Phu Iam created the same style of imagery as Luang Phu Rod for both kinds of Pid Ta amulets, and his Wicha is so equal in power to that of Luang Phu Rod, that one will often seen devotees collecting the amulets of both masters with equal fervency. It is not uncommon to see a high-end collector wearing a Pra Pid Ta Luang Phu Iam alongside a Pra Pid Ta Luang Phu Rod on the same necklaceใ

Some time after the passing of his Mentor Luang Phu Rod, in the year 2441 BE, Luang Phu Iam was called upon by his Majesty King Prabat Somdej Pra Julajom Glao Jao Yu Hua (Rama 5), to become the abbot of Wat Hnang, and perform the duty of its maintenance and further development.

Luang Phu Iam proved to be a Great Abbot, and diligently restored and developed the temple and its facilities. Luang Phu Iam was a highly favoured Monk of His Majesty King Rama 5, and was more often than not always requested to attend the most important Blessing Ceremonies, and Buddhist Rituals of the Royal Palace. His name 'Pra Pawana Gosol' was bestowed upon him by his Majesty the King, at the time he was given the charge of Wat Hnang temple.

Luang Phu Iam then spent 27 Years working selflessly for the temple and devotees of Wat Hnang, for another 27 years, until his passing on the 26th April 2469 BE, at the age of 94. His Pid Ta Yant Yung metallic amulet is equally highly regarded for its Klaew Klaad Kong Grapan Chadtri Maha Ud power, as the famous Pra Pid Ta Rae Bang Phai, and the Pra Pid Ta Wat Tong, and the Pra Pid Ta Pim Tapap of Wat Sapan Sung.