‘Great-grandfather Luang Poo’. Name and title of a highly venerated Buddhist monk from the 16-17th century AD, who lived in the Ayutthaya Period. In full, he is known as Phra Ratchamunih Samihraam Khunoopamahjaan and he is also known as Poo Samihramoh and Somdet Chao Pha-ko, yet he is usually referred to as Luang Pho Thuad. He was born at Ban Suan Chan in the amphur Sathing Phra of Songkhla Province on 3 March 1582 AD and passed away on 6 March 1682 at the age of 100. He was the abbot of Wat Chang Hai in Pattani, and is said to have performed miracles, including turning sea water into fresh potable water in an instance, by putting his foot in the sea and reciting an incantation. Another legend says that when his mother was in labour, a powerful thunderclap occurred, to herald the birth of this saint-to-be. He has a magical crystal ball which —as legend has it— a king cobra spat out on him when he was a baby. Hence, he is often portrayed with this magical crystal ball in his lap and sometimes seated on a cobra snake , both referring to this legend. Today, large statues of this immortal monk can be found nationwide and amulets created with his image are believed to hold a great protective power, and traditional amulets from Wat Chang Hai are very much desired and sought-after.