subject: Wat Khunaram: The Temple Of The Mummified Monk [print this page] Wat Khunaram located in Koh Samui is quite an intriguing temple dedicated to the mummified monk, Luang Por Daeng Piyasilo. The temple is ideally and conveniently positioned between Ban Thurian and Ban Hua Thanon.
Although the monk had passed away some 2 decades ago, the ghostly figure has been well preserved and even today visitors will find the corpse seated in a meditative manner. The mummified monk and the temple dedicated towards him has today become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Samui. The entire complex features two beautiful temples. The preserved body of the monk is kept in the small temple. The other temple which is relatively larger in size is impressive and beautifully crafted. There is absolutely no entrance fee for those wishing to explore this rather unusual temple. However conservative clothing is required when entering Wat Khunaram.
The corpse of Luang Por Daeng Piyasilo is placed within a casket made out of glass. When Dang Piyasilo was 50 years old he became a monk and soon came to be popular due to his belief in meditation. During his 20 years of service, he had many other monks as his disciples. Dang Piyasilo also became famous for his aptitude in predicting the time of his own death which took place in 1973.
When the monk passed away at the age of 79, it was quite surprising that his body did not get spoiled. Therefore, his disciples as well as relatives got together and created a casket made out of glass and placed the body in a seated position as requested by him. The body of the monk was preserved in this manner, as a symbol for generations to come and to provide them with valuable insight on the importance of Buddhist teaching.
Staying at any of the nearby Koh Samui resorts such as Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach will make discovering Wat Khunaram even more exciting and memorable. This luxury resort Koh Samui features an array of contemporary amenities, warm hospitality and friendly service.
