Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

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Ontheway
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Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

Maybe I post something different...

สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)
Somdet Phra Puthajarn (Toh Phromrangsi). His Pali name is Brahmaramsi.

Somdet Toh was born in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, the illegitimate son of King Rama II. He studied the Buddhist scriptures of the Pāli Canon with several Buddhist masters. After becoming a well-known monk, he became the preceptor for Prince Mongkut, later King Rama IV, when Mongkut became a monk.

In Thailand, you will see his statue or poster every temples, be it local temples or royal temples. All Thai people, when you mention "Somdet Toh", the Thai people will instantly recognise this name and treat it respectfully.

Not only he is of royal bloodline, but he was a great Acariya monk, endowed with keen wisdom, Samadhi attainment, loving-kindness for all devotees, and obtained Iddhi knowledge, and even the famous Thai fierce ghost "Mae Nak Phra Khanong" in Bangkok (was tamed by Him by his strong Metta loving-kindness.

If in ancient India, the two excellent disciples are Sariputta and Moggallana; then in medieval and modern Thailand the two excellent disciples are หลวงพ่อทวด วัดช้างให้ (Luang Phor Thuad, Wat Changhai) and Somdet Toh.

It was widely believed in Thailand, that Somdet Toh can channel the power of Vessavana Maharaja, since during his invitation Gatha for his Jinapanjara Gatha, will always mention Vessavana Maharaja's name.

"Puttakamo labhe puttam, Dhanakamo labhe Dhanam; Atthi kaye Kaya nyana, Devanam piya tam sutva...

Iti pi so Bhagava, Yamarajano Thao Wessuwanno maranam sukham, Araham sugato, Namo Buddhaya."

Somdet Toh
แม่นากพระโขนง-6.jpg


Somdet Toh during his meditation.
Somdej_Phra_Buddhacarya_(Toh_Brahmaramsi).jpg

With his disciples, Somdet Toh seated in the middle.
3(4374).jpg
Last edited by Ontheway on Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:58 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

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Somdet was teaching the royal Prince.


Somdet summoning and taming the fierce ghost Mae Nak Phra Khanong (movie adaptation scene)
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Mae Nak Shrine, in remembrance of her tragedy and fierce (unfortunate) events.
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Buddhist Movie adaption for Somdet Toh's life story (Thai), showing main events such as becoming Samanera, dispel lust and reject temptation, mastering of Pali Tipitaka, learning under Klua Ta Seng, meditation and Iddhi attainment, Great Dhutanga, meeting and taming the Christian missionaries, converting and taming the villagers, taming the Ghost Mae Nak, etc:



Thai Buddhist making a folk song to praise Somdet Toh's virtues, wisdom, loving-kindness and Iddhi powers (old Thai language)



:meditate:
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

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unnamed (1).jpg (84 KiB) Viewed 1601 times
Somdet Toh image surrounded by Khom script of Jinapanjara Gatha.

แม่นาก-พระพุฒาจารย์โต.jpg
Left: Somdet Toh; Right: Mae Nak Pra Khanong

In the legend, Mae Nak was a Thai pregnant lady, her husband was away for work in other province. She was dead with stillbirth and before her violent death, she was in great pain, have deep clinging towards her husband and with a lot of grudges. After her death and burial, yet people still can see her walking around in the house and doing chores in her husband's house. When her husband returns, both of them live as if nothing happened, which later someone said to her husband that her wife was long dead, the husband found out and in deep shock and terrified. The whole village gone chaotic, which later, as legend says, Somdet Toh came and tamed the Peta Mae Nak.


Legend says that Somdet Toh found a scripture called Jinapanjara, originally from Sri Lanka. But later he modified the scripture in such a way the structure of text becomes more organized and easy for memorise. Then the local Devas come to inform him about the sacredness of the Gatha. So it is Thai version of Jinapanjara Gatha.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

165a875642cbf0c6bef26067afa98938.jpg
ท่านเจ้าพระคุณ สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี) Than Chao Phra Khun Somdet PhraPuthajarn Toh Phrommarangsi

ee89572ed30cf8a6a7b82a1dfe969038.jpg
I wonder who is the man standing next to Somdet ...

unnamed (1).jpg
Image dedicated to Somdet Toh
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
tamdrin
Posts: 616
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:34 pm
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by tamdrin »

Wasn't this monk reputed to be a bodhisatta and an incarnation of Maitreya?
tamdrin
Posts: 616
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:34 pm
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by tamdrin »

Thanks for making this topic by the way. I lived in Thailand for 7 years and visited his temple (I think it was his) in Bangkok.

What are the iddhi/siddhi he was said to have attained?
sphairos
Posts: 966
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:37 am
Location: Munich, Germany

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by sphairos »

I prey to this arahat
How good and wonderful are your days,
How true are your ways?
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

sphairos wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 6:14 pm I prey to this arahat
He wasn't an Arahant.

A great monk. But not Arahant. The Thais would regard him as a Great Thera, but not Arahant.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

tamdrin wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 5:44 pm Wasn't this monk reputed to be a bodhisatta and an incarnation of Maitreya?

No, he wasn't.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

Revisiting this topic, there can be no answer to whether he is an Arahant or not, or whether he is a Bodhisatta or not.

And I hope can visit Wat Rakhang again.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
Ontheway
Posts: 3062
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Somdet Toh สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)

Post by Ontheway »

Ontheway wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:07 pm Maybe I post something different...

สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ (โต พรหมรังสี)
Somdet Phra Puthajarn (Toh Phromrangsi). His Pali name is Brahmaramsi.

Somdet Toh was born in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, the illegitimate son of King Rama II. He studied the Buddhist scriptures of the Pāli Canon with several Buddhist masters. After becoming a well-known monk, he became the preceptor for Prince Mongkut, later King Rama IV, when Mongkut became a monk.

In Thailand, you will see his statue or poster every temples, be it local temples or royal temples. All Thai people, when you mention "Somdet Toh", the Thai people will instantly recognise this name and treat it respectfully.

Not only he is of royal bloodline, but he was a great Acariya monk, endowed with keen wisdom, Samadhi attainment, loving-kindness for all devotees, and obtained Iddhi knowledge, and even the famous Thai fierce ghost "Mae Nak Phra Khanong" in Bangkok (was tamed by Him by his strong Metta loving-kindness.

If in ancient India, the two excellent disciples are Sariputta and Moggallana; then in medieval and modern Thailand the two excellent disciples are หลวงพ่อทวด วัดช้างให้ (Luang Phor Thuad, Wat Changhai) and Somdet Toh.

It was widely believed in Thailand, that Somdet Toh can channel the power of Vessavana Maharaja, since during his invitation Gatha for his Jinapanjara Gatha, will always mention Vessavana Maharaja's name.

"Puttakamo labhe puttam, Dhanakamo labhe Dhanam; Atthi kaye Kaya nyana, Devanam piya tam sutva...

Iti pi so Bhagava, Yamarajano Thao Wessuwanno maranam sukham, Araham sugato, Namo Buddhaya."

Somdet Toh
แม่นากพระโขนง-6.jpg



Somdet Toh during his meditation.
Somdej_Phra_Buddhacarya_(Toh_Brahmaramsi).jpg


With his disciples, Somdet Toh seated in the middle.
3(4374).jpg
Correction: it seems the incantation "Iti piso bhagava yamarajano...." was another set of Gatha. And he is not channeling the power of Vessavana Maharaja via incantation of the gatha. The verse "Putta kamo labhe puttam..." was more like a verse of blessing. Sorry for the inaccurate info.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
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