Funeral begins for revered abbot of Phuket’s Wat Chalong

PHUKET: A seven-day funeral service began yesterday for the revered Abbot of Phuket’s famed Wat Chaithararam, well known among foreigners simply as Wat Chalong (Chalong Temple).

Phra Ajarn Udomwetchakit Uttamuyano, often called “Phra Ajarn Lim Wat Chalong” by his devotees, died on Tuesday, September 11, at 4:21pm at the Coronary Care Unit of Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

He was 87 years old.

Leading the funeral bathing ceremony yesterday afternoon was Phra Thamwimonmolee, Lord Abbot of Region 17 Buddhist monastery from Wat Chonprathan Rungsarit in Nonthaburi.

Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa was present as the representative layman.

Phra Ajarn Lim was admitted to hospital on July 21, 2005, and he had been in and out of the hospital for some time. However, he spent nearly the last four years in the hospital.

Born as Mr Lim Sitthichok on April 5, 1925, in Tambon Bang Tao, an area now known as Cherng Talay, he was a son of Mr and Mrs Daeng and Kong Sitthichok.

Phra Ajarn Lim was ordained at Wat Chalong at 1pm on July 5, 1962, and given the name “Uttamuyano”, meaning “a man of deep wisdom”.

He attained the position Abbot of Wat Chalong in 1989.

In addition to the spiritual guidance he provided, Phra Ajarn Lim leaves behind a legacy of monuments at the temple, including the humbling “Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Jom Thai Baramee Prakat”, also called “Chedi Wat Chalong”.

People may arrive to pay their respects until Tuesday, when a merit-making ceremony will bring the funeral service to a close.

Phra Ajarn Lim’s body will be kept at the temple for another 100 days.

The cremation ceremony is expected to be held on December 17 this year.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong