Khruba Khamla Sangwaro

Khruba Khamla Sangwaro was a senior Lanna monk known for restoring many important Buddhist monuments, including Wat Phra That Doi Tung, Wat Phra That Doi Chom Sak Sangwararam, Phra That Doi Khao Kwai in Chiang Rai Province, and the chedi of Wat Na Nun in Nan Province.

Biography

Khruba Khamla was born on Wednesday, 23 January 1918, at Ban No. 16, Moo 14, Rob Wiang Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province. He was the youngest child of Chai and Noi Suphaiyat, with five siblings. Because he was the youngest, he was named “Khamla.”
At the age of nine, after falling ill, his parents entrusted him to Khruba Siwichai at Wat Chiang Yuen, Chiang Rai, where he studied under his guidance.

Ordination

Khruba Siwichai ordained him as a novice at Wat Chiang Yuen around 1927. After completing elementary education, he studied at Samakkhi Witthayakhom School until Mathayom 2 before leaving. He later earned the Nak Tham Tri at Wat Chet Yot, Chiang Rai, and also studied the Lanna script for three years.
He was ordained as a monk on 28 December 1938 at Wat Mung Muang, Chiang Rai, with Phra Khru Phutthisanawet, the provincial ecclesiastical head, as his preceptor. He received the monastic name Sangwaro. His practices mirrored those of Khruba Siwichai, such as abstaining from meat, eating one meal a day, frequent wandering ascetic practices, and temple building.
He built and restored more than 20 religious sites across Chiang Rai, Phayao, and Nan provinces, including temples, chedis, and schools. In 1953, he studied vipassanā meditation for three months at Wat Mahathat in Bangkok under Phra Phimontham.

Restoration works

Among his major works were:

Restoration of Wat Phra That Doi Chom Sak Sangwararam, Chiang Rai
Restoration of Phra That Doi Khao Kwai, Chiang Rai
Chedi of Wat Phra That Chom Thong, Thoeng District
Wat Phra That Chom Cho, Thoeng District, Chiang Rai
Phra That Si Maha Pho, Wat Phra Si Maha Pho, Thoeng District
Den La Chom Sawan Chedi, Khun Tan District, Chiang Rai
Wat Ku Kaeo Chedi, Mae Chan District
Wat Phra That Pu Lan, Phaya Mengrai District
Chedis and vihāras in Phayao and Nan, including Wat Na Nun in Nan Province.

He also built public works such as the bridge across the Phung River in Pa Daet District, Chiang Rai.

Passing

Later in life, Khruba Khamla resided in the remote Khun Huai Suat Hermitage, Chiang Kham District, Phayao Province, to focus on practice. In late 1989, he fell ill with intestinal inflammation and was hospitalized in Chiang Rai and Phayao. He died peacefully at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital on 8 January 1990, aged 71. His cremation took place at Khun Huai Suat Hermitage on 28 March 1992.