Mummified Monk & Wat Khunaram Temple

This temple has been on National Geographics with its mummified monk which is on display for you to see.

A brief explanation about the origins of the Monk, Phra Khru Samathakittikhun (Dang Piyasilo) or Loung Por Daeng. He was born in 1894, was a well respected family man within the local community on Koh Samui and first become ordained as a monk when he was in his early twenties. He spent two years in Wat Samret before exiting and marrying a local lady from Lamai with whom he had six children, a few still alive on the island today.

Upon reaching fifty years of age, once his children were all grown up, Loung Por Daeng decided to dedicate the rest of his life to Buddhism and returned to the temples where he felt so at peace. He was ordained as a monk in 1944.
Most famously, two months before his death, at the age of 79 years and 8 months, he requested the company of his students to inform them that he felt his death was imminent and wanted to instruct them as to his last wishes. He requested that should his body decompose that he be cremated and his ashes scattered at the famous three forked road intersection Hua Thanon.

He went on to request that should his body not decompose, he would like to stay at the temple and be placed in an upright coffin on display as a symbol to inspire future generations to follow Buddhist teachings and be saved from suffering.

In his final seven days of mortal life, he no longer spoke to anyone or ate or drank anything, concentrating solely on his mediation and the path to enlightenment. He died a week later in the same position that we can see him sitting in nowadays.