Revered monk Luang Por Charan dies

PHRA Thammasing Burajarn, better known as Luang Por Charan Thitathammo, died yesterday at age 87 at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital while being treated for severe pneumonia.

Luang Por Charan, who was the abbot of Wat Amphawan in Sing Buri’s Phrom Buri district, had been treated at the hospital since December 20. He died at 8.37am.

Following the abbot’s death, Sing Buri Governor Akaradech Jermsiri helped the temple staff and others to prepare the Abhidhamma reciting rite for the monk last night.

A royal-sponsored bathing rite will be held for him today.

Dr Prasit Watthanapha, dean of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, revealed that the revered monk and his disciples had donated Bt50 million for the construction of the hospital’s Nawamintarabopit Building, a facility to treat underprivileged patients.

Luang Por Charan was born Charan Janyarak on August 15, 1928 at Ban Bang Muang in Sing Buri’s Muang district. He was the fifth son out of 11 children born to Phae Janyarak and his wife Jerm Janyarak.

Following his ordination in 1948 at Wat Phrom Buri, the monk travelled to various places for meditation and became a disciple of various gurus. He studied talisman making with several famous monks, before vowing to propagate Buddhism and not to make talismans again.

Luang Por Charan received the royal title Dhamma in 2004.

He also obtained many awards for his role in propagating Buddhism and social services including a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 1985 for his outstanding contribution to spreading Buddhism.

He received the ‘Phaendintham Phaendinthong’ outstanding developer pin in 1986 from then prime minister General Prem Tinsulanonda, and the Sao Asoke Phuman Silatham from HRH Princess Somsavali last June.