History and Background
Wat Phleng Klang Suan
ประวัติ
There is no clear evidence regarding the exact date Wat Phleng (Klang Suan) was founded. However, local oral history suggests that during the wars between Thailand and Burma, King Taksin the Great led his army to camp in this area. One part of the army stayed near Wat Saphan, another near Wat Prasat, while King Taksin himself used the Vihara of Luang Pho Ta Daeng as his personal quarters.
Following the end of the wars, the area became more populated. Most residents were fruit and vegetable farmers. Wat Phleng was renowned for its diverse variety of fruits and its tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by small canals. To the east and west, connecting waterways allowed residents to paddle boats all the way to the Chao Phraya River.
Tradition tells of the fame of Wat Phleng’s fruit, which frequently drew ladies-in-waiting from Nanthauthayan Palace (the site of the present-day Nanthauthayan Club) to travel by boat to sample the harvest and bring it back to the palace. Because of the lush surroundings, these visitors enjoyed resting at the temple, often lounging on the trees near the site of the current Ubosot and the Vihara of Luang Pho Ta Daeng—so much so that the trunks leaned toward the ground. A large, leaning Yang tree was once visible to the west of the Ubosot.
Later, in 1827 during the reign of King Rama III, devotees built the original Ubosot in the Chinese-influenced architectural style popular at the time. Wat Phleng Klang Suan flourished for a period. However, around 1917, the temple lacked maintenance, and its structures fell into ruin. It eventually became an abandoned temple, serving as a cemetery and ossuary for the local community for several decades, rarely visited by outsiders.
According to the accounts of Grandma Banjong Thongprasri, a long-time resident and former local gardener, only a few monks were known to pass through during that era, such as Phra Ajarn Thawin, Phra Ajarn Phin, Phra Ajarn Charoon, and Phra Ajarn Sa-nga, who once stayed there on pilgrimage. Afterward, no other monks visited, and local villagers avoided the area due to widespread rumors that the abandoned temple was haunted.
As the neighborhood grew more populated around 1976, the community invited Phra Samuh Thongbai Tikkhaveero to lead the faithful in restoring the temple. On June 14, 1979, the Ministry of Education officially declared Wat Phleng (Abandoned) as Wat Phleng (Klang Suan), a functional temple with resident monks once again. The temple has continued to prosper to the present day.
Location and Geography
Wat Phleng Klang Suan is located at 112 Phrannok–Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road, Bang Phrom Subdistrict, Taling Chan District, Bangkok. The temple grounds currently cover approximately 9 rai and 3 ngan.
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In the past: The area was low-lying land with the main entrance to the north. It was surrounded by small irrigation canals, with access via a lane from the Wat Kaeo–Phutthamonthon Sai 1 Road.
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Present day: The main front entrance is to the south, adjacent to Phrannok–Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road. The rear entrance is via Soi Bang Phrom 33 (Bang Phrom Road), connecting to Phutthamonthon Sai 1.
Religious Buildings and Structures
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Ubosot (Ordination Hall): Originally a Chinese-style pavilion that had fallen into disrepair, it was rebuilt in a modern style with a two-tiered roof. The doors and windows are crafted from teak wood, and the hall measures 5 meters wide by 16 meters long. The principal Buddha image is Luang Pho Sin, a brass statue in the Mara-Vichaya (Subduing Mara) posture with a lap width of 2 cubits, flanked by statues of Phra Moggallana and Phra Sariputta.
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Vihara of Luang Pho Ta Daeng: Originally a traditional Thai-style pavilion with a wooden roof, it was later restored to its current form. The principal image inside is Luang Pho Ta Daeng, a Buddha statue in the meditation posture with a lap width of 59 inches. He is flanked by two 43-inch meditation-posture Buddha images. In the foreground are statues of Phra Moggallana and Phra Sariputta, as well as two Buddha images in the posture of Preventing Calamity (Abhaya Mudra)—one large (79 inches tall) and one small (61 inches tall).
Abbot of Wat Phleng Klang Suan
The following list includes only those who served after the temple was officially reinstated as a functional monastery with resident monks:
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Phra Samuh Thongbai Tikkhaveero
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Phra Athikan Somsak Deepadhammo
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Phra Khru Sangkharak Narong
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Phra Athikan Boonrod Thirapunyo
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Phra Khru Athorkitjaphirak (2003–2004)
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Phra Khru Sangkharak Sa Thitapunyo (2004–2009)
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Phra Khru Phawana Thiraworakhun, Vi. (Phairat) (2009–Present)
History of Luang Pho Ta Daeng
There is no clear evidence regarding the original name of Luang Pho Ta Daeng or the era in which the image was created. According to local elders, back when Wat Phleng was still abandoned, Luang Pho Ta Daeng was already known as a highly sacred Buddha image. Those in distress or facing hardship would often come to pray, and it is said that their wishes were consistently granted, leading to his widespread reputation for spiritual power.
Local lore tells of people seeking lottery numbers from the image and winning so many consecutive draws that the Khun Ban (a term for lottery operators at the time) went bankrupt. In an attempt to break the "good luck spell," those who had lost money tried to drive nails into the eyes of the Buddha image. However, the nails would not penetrate the surface. Whether by miracle or some unknown cause, witnesses reported seeing what looked like blood flowing from both eyes, staining them a deep red that could be seen from a distance. From that moment on, people began calling him "Luang Pho Ta Daeng" (The Red-Eyed Buddha), a name that has endured to this day.
Another story regarding Luang Pho Ta Daeng was shared by Mr. Riam Lailert in 2006 (at the age of 76). He recounted that around 1976, while he was ordained as a monk at Wat Saphan, he walked through the orchards to Wat Phleng to clean the Vihara of Luang Pho Ta Daeng. As he approached, he discovered two massive snakes coiled at the base of the Buddha image, one on each side, appearing to stand guard. When he drew closer, the snakes raised their heads and hissed, refusing to move even when he tried to shoo them away.
The monk then raised his hands in prayer, informing Luang Pho that he had only come to clean the sanctuary and meant no harm. Immediately after his prayer, the two large snakes calmed down and coiled back into their original positions. They remained there peacefully until he finished cleaning the Vihara and returned to Wat Saphan.