Phra Samut Wachirasophon (Luang Pho Itthi Bhaddacaro)

Following Luang Pho Nuang, the venerable teacher Itthi (Bhaddacaro), a disciple of Luang Pho Nuang, ascended to the position of abbot at the age of only 32, with 12 vassa (rains-retreats), through two rounds of electoral voting in which the devotees of Wat Chulamanee overwhelmingly lent their support on both occasions. He was appointed abbot by the ecclesiastical head of Samut Songkhram Province on 14 January B.E. 2532 (1989).

Birth and Origins

• Lay name: Somphot (Itthi) Amonratanabodi

• Date of birth: 1 August B.E. 2499 (1956), the Year of the Monkey (the government birth register states 1 August B.E. 2500 = 1957)

• Parents: his father Mr Phot Noima and his mother Mrs Pranom Haprasan

• Hometown: house number 78, Amphawa Subdistrict, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province

Novice and Higher Ordination

• Novice ordination: 14 June B.E. 2514 at Wat Bang Kaphom, with Phra Khru Kowitsamutkhun (Luang Pho Nuang) of Wat Chulamanee as preceptor

• Higher ordination: 17 June B.E. 2520 at Wat Chulamanee, with Phra Khru Kowitsamutkhun (Luang Pho Nuang) as preceptor

Educational Qualifications and Special Expertise

• B.E. 2512 — completed Grade 4 of primary school at Municipal School 1, Wat Nang Wang

• B.E. 2521 — passed the advanced (Ek) level of Dhamma studies at the monastic school of Wat Chulamanee

• B.E. 2551 — honorary Bachelor of Arts, Phetchaburi Rajabhat University

• B.E. 2559 — honorary Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

• B.E. 2567 — honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University

He is also skilled in reading and writing the Khom script and Pali, and is expert in construction and restoration works (nawakam).

Ecclesiastical Administration

• B.E. 2532 — appointed abbot of Wat Chulamanee

• B.E. 2533 — appointed ordination-proclamation teacher (kammavācācariya)

• B.E. 2537 — appointed preceptor

• B.E. 2561 — appointed ecclesiastical head of Amphawa Subdistrict, Zone 1

• B.E. 2563 — appointed ecclesiastical head of Bang Chang Subdistrict

• B.E. 2565 — appointed ecclesiastical head of Amphawa District

• B.E. 2567 — appointed advisor to the ecclesiastical head of Region 15

Ecclesiastical Ranks and Titles

• B.E. 2535 — appointed an ecclesiastical attendant (thānānukrama) title of Phra Wisutthathibodi (Bhaddacari) of Wat Suthat Thepwararam, as "Phra Khru Winaithon Somphot Bhaddacaro"

• B.E. 2539 — appointed an ecclesiastical attendant (thānānukrama) title of Phra Thammakittiwong (Suratecho) of Wat Ratcha-orasaram, as "Phra Khru Palat Kittimongkhonwat (Somphot Bhaddacaro)"

• B.E. 2540 — granted the royally-conferred Phra Khru rank, equivalent to an assistant abbot of a royal monastery, first class, under the conferred ecclesiastical title "Phra Khru Sophitwiriyaphon"

• B.E. 2545 — granted promotion to the royally-conferred Phra Khru rank, equivalent to an assistant abbot of a royal monastery, special class, under the same conferred ecclesiastical title

• B.E. 2567 — granted the rank of an ordinary-grade ecclesiastical dignitary (Phra Rachakhana) of the meditation (vipassanā) branch, under the conferred ecclesiastical title "Phra Samut Wachirasophon Wi."

Works Carried On

Luang Pho Itthi's first undertaking was to take 30 million baht to establish the Luang Pho Nuang Kowitho Foundation, so that its proceeds could support the monks, develop the temple, and assist public charities as appropriate. He then carried on to completion the unfinished work of building Luang Pho Nuang's ubosot — laying the jade-stone flooring, creating the window panels of lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and painting the murals (read more on the "Ubosot and Art" page).

The Origin of the Figure of Tao Wessuwan

It is also told that Luang Pho Itthi once had a vision of Tao Wessuwan taking him to behold the realm of Yama (the underworld). He therefore made a resolve that, upon his return to the human world, he would erect an image of Tao Wessuwan in the temple — the origin of the figure of Tao Wessuwan at Wat Chulamanee, which later became a flagship of faith to which people stream to this day to pay homage and ask for blessings (read more on the "Tao Wessuwan" page).