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    Kruba Srivichai by Josh Scoggins

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    roman.stroganov

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    Kruba Srivichai by Josh Scoggins

    Uploaded by

    roman.stroganov
    7 views2 pages

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    7 views2 pages

    Kruba Srivichai by Josh Scoggins

    Uploaded by

    roman.stroganov

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Kruba Srivichai, Patron Saint of Chiang Mai

    By Josh Scoggins
    (compiled form various sources)

    Visitors to Chiang Mai, especially Thai massage


    students of Pichet Boonethumme, would do well to
    know a little about Pra Kruba Srivichai (1878-1938).
    He is one of the most revered monks of the Lanna
    Kingdom, a broad area of northern Thailand that was an
    independent Kingdom before it was incorporated into
    Siam in 1897. Today, when Thai people speak of
    “Chiang Mai language”, it is a reference to the
    earlier Lanna language.

    Pra Kruba Srivichai has been called the 'Engineer


    Monk' because he mounted and supervised over one
    hundred construction projects in northern Thailand,
    including the erection of many Buddhist wats (temples).
    Of special note, he organized the building of a road
    leading to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, the grandiose temple
    complex that sits on a mountain top overlooking the
    city of Chiang Mai. The road went under construction in
    1934 (2477 in the Thai calendar).

    At that time only the strong and devoted made the


    minimum five hour hike up the mountain to
    Doi Suthep through dense tropical forest. Ajahn Pichet
    Boonthumme has said that at that time the government
    couldn't raise sufficient money to build the road, so they Above: Portrait of Kruba Srivichai as an
    called upon Kruba Srivichai to help. He sent word far elder monk. Below: Entrance to the
    and wide, and because of his great popularity, monument in his honor on the road to
    volunteers came from all over Thailand to lend a hand Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai.
    to the effort. It is said that as many as 3,000 to 4,000
    people a day came to build the road, which was
    originally paved in stone.

    Because so many volunteers heeded his call,


    Kruba’s original request for each village group to
    complete 50 feet of road was decreased to 10-15 feet.
    Day by day, a massive volunteer workforce cleared the
    area and set stones on the roadway. The road was
    completed in 5 months and 20 days.
    Kruba Srivichai was the first to inaugurate the opening
    of the road on 30 April, 1935.
    Prayer amulet with photo of Pra Kruba Srivichai
    as a young monk.
    Kruba Srivichai was famous for his kind,
    pious and compassionate nature. He ate
    very little, and spent long hours in medita-
    tion. He was very bright and was always
    doing good works for Thai people.
    Even as a youth he was regarded with great
    merit. He is known to have regularly
    released caged animals, and to have given
    away to others the food and alms that was
    given to him on his daily rounds, an act that
    angered many of his patrons who feared
    that they would not be blessed if he gave
    away their offerings.

    Pichet Boonthamme considers Kruba a


    patron saint, and has very prominent altars
    and photos of him in his classroom,
    alongside the Buddha, Shivaga Komarpaj,
    (the father of Thai massage), and the
    Thai Earth Mother.

    Kruba was ordained at Wat Ban Pang in Lampun, where he began studies at the age of eighteen.
    He was quickly recognized as a great and pious monk, even among the hill tribe people.
    He passed away on 20 February 1938 (BE 2481) at the age of 60. His bones remain in the stupa
    at Wat Chammadevi. He was given the title Nak Bun Haeng Lanna, which may be
    translated as Lanna Saint.

    A very important and often visited monument honoring Kruba is located just past the Chiang Mai zoo,
    in front of Huay Kaew falls. Visitors and pilgrims to Doi Suthep routinely stop here to make offerings
    and send prayers on their way up (and down) the mountain.

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