The ruler of a neighbouring Buddhist country, the King of Ceylon, eyeing the growing wealth and power of the kingdom of Thailand, sent seven monks to Ayuthaya province to test the achievements of the monks in Thailand. They brought with them 12 bowls containing 84,000 words. These words puzzle were to be arranged into a certain sutra within 1 week. If the task was accomplished, King of Sri Lanka would present Thailand with 7 boats made of gold. However, should the task be unsuccessful, Thailand would have to surrender its sovereignty to Sri Lanka. The Thai King found it difficult to reject such a challenge as if did so, Thailand would be the laughing stock of the Buddhist world and of the world at large. The Thai King then gathered all his country's well-known learned monks to deal with this problem. Many tried but were unsuccessful to solve the puzzle.
A Royal Announcement was made to look for someone capable of dealing with the puzzle. All the King's subjects were discussing about the country's current crisis. On the fourth night, the King dreamed of a white elephant trumpeting in a brillant light. He consulted a medium and was told that it was a auspicious sign as a sage was likely to appear to solve the problem. The King was, nevertheless uncertain about the meaning of his dream as foretold by the medium.
On the sixth day, LP Thuad left the temple in the morning to ask for alms in the form of food. He arrived at a rich man?s house. They saw him holding a bowl standing in front of the door. The rich host reverently offered him food. He sensed that the monk in front of the door was rather extraordinary in appearance. He paid LP Thuad due respect and told the latter that their country which reputed for their Buddhist studies would be put to shame if no one could meet the challenge put forward by Sri Lanka's King and asked whether he could help. LP Thuad replied that he would try. The rich host was very happy. He intended to invite LP Thuad to see the King immediately. LP Thuad told him not to be in a hurry and he would go the next morning.
After LP Thuad had left, the rich host delivered the good news to the King. The next morning, a special Royal carriage brought LP Thuad to the palace. On arrival he was escorted by officials to the entrance of the royal palace. The steps boomed with loud sound as LP Thuad walked on them barefooted. The King and the officials were all very quiet.
About half an hour later the monks from Sri Lanka came in. After exchanging greetings out of formality, LP Thuad began to arrange the words. 12 bowls of words were poured onto the table. He closed his eyes and arranged them with both hands. After about a quarter of an hour, he announced that 5 words were missing.
The 7 Sri Lankan monks remained silent. He then warned that anyone who did not quickly take out those missing words would die a most horrible death with a cracked skull. The culprits was frightened and took out those missing words.
With his eyes closed Luang Phor Thuat exercised his supernormal power to arrange the words. The sutra was completed in a little while. Seeing that Thailand had successfully responded to Sri Lanka's challenge, those 7 monks presented those 7 boats made of gold and left. Thus LP Thuad?s name became well-known throughout the country. He was henceforth looked upon as a saintly Buddhist monk in Thai history.
Impressed by LP Thuad's wisdom, the Thai king bestowed upon him the rank and title of "Somdej Phra Rajamuni Samiramagunupamacarya". LP Thuad also later became King Ekadasaroth's (King of Sri Lanka) advisor.
LP Thuad remained in the capital city for a few years until he was informed of his mother?s serious illness. He rushed southwards and not long after, his mother passed on at the age of 78. After the funeral he stayed in Singora, Thailand.
Upon returning home, LP Thuad had found that Wat Phra Ko was in ruins. He then sent a messenger to the Thai King asking if his majesty could help restore the temple. The Thai King was only too glad to help and the temple was soon restored to its former state. The Thai King also bestowed the land surrounding the temple on LP Thuad and the 250 families living around that area.
A state governor from the south by the surname of Phang, a man with a comparatively dark countenance, wanted to build a Buddhist temple. He came to Singora to look for a distinguished monk to head the project. One evening after sunset, he saw an old monk strolling along the seaside, leaving behind a trail of light. He knew that this was the monk to approach. He stepped forward to pay due respect to LP Thuad and told him of his intention to build a temple in Pattani. LP Thuad already knew about the matter through his psychic powers. He consented and went with governor Phang to Pattani. When the construction was completed, the temple was named Wat Changhai. LP Thuad was an asthetic monk wondering to many places spreading Buddhism teachings. LP Thuad was the abbot of this temple till he passed away at a far distance location named Saiburi (now known as Gerik in Malaysia).
According to some historical records, the asthetic meditation master passed away in Malaysia in B.E.2217 at the age of 92 years old, some 336 years ago at a present village called Air Kala in Gerik Malaysia. The passing away of LP Thuad marked the enlightenment of a supramandane being and it was said that his body was carried back by devotees and his disciples from Air Kala villange that was known as "Sami Mati" all the way to the present border town Pengkalan Hulu and then onward to Pattani before finally reaching Wat Changhai. A total of 12 stops was recorded where the body was transported using a wooden carriage beginning at;
1. "Sami Mati" Air Kala
2. Pengkalan Hulu a Siamese village 300 years ago
3. Wat Thepsuwannaram at Padang Pliang in present Kedah State
4. Wat Por Saereeyaram in central Kedah State
5 & 6. Thai village by the name Naka
7. Wat Phikhun Thararam a former Thai village known as Padu at the northern part of present Kedah state
8. Wat Dindang in Tanah Merah located in the north-eastern part of Kedah
9. Wat Parittaram in Padang Senai the final Malaysian border
10. Wat Baan Thamtalo in Thailand
11. Wat Baan Lekkachawa in Thailand
12. Wat Changhai the final stop
During the transportation along the stops, strange phenomenon happened where body fluids that flowed out from the body onto the ground and they began to form into molds. These tiny molds began to grow larger on its own and devotees offered their prayers till today at those stops. This phenomenon is still available today at Wat Thepsuwannaram and Wat Phodhichetiyaram in Kedah. The great meditation master LP Thuad had wished that his body be cremated in Wat Changhai within Thai territory as he may already knew in the future Malaysia and Thailand would be split into 2 countries.
At present, there is a monument to commemorate LP Thuad using his Buddhist Monastical title - Rajamuni Samiramo at this holy site nearby to Air Kala village called Kampung Sawa in Gerik vicinity where the great meditation master passed away. The village folks today are mainly Chinese community. The enlightenment spot is a present rubber plantation estate and the land was donated by the land owner where a proper monument for LP Thuad 'Rajamuni Samiramo Park' was built here.
This is a holy site and for the interest of devotees and Buddhism to remember this great meditation master.