Kruba Chao Kanchano


Khruba Kañcano Araññavasi Mahathera or simply Khruba Mahathera was a highly respected Theravāda monk of northern Thailand.
He was renowned for his mastery of Pali and the Lanna script and language.
The ruler of Chiang Mai granted him the ecclesiastical title Khruba Chao Kañcano Araññavasi Mahathera, and he is regarded as the first great khruba of the Lanna Kingdom.

Biography

Khruba Mahathera, originally named Poy, was born in 1789 at Sung Men District, Phrae Province.
His father was Mr. Spinna and his mother Mrs. Chanthip.
He became a novice in childhood and was fully ordained as a monk in 1809 at Wat Si Chum, receiving the monastic name Kañcano.
He mastered the Vinaya and Pali scriptures and taught other monks at Wat Si Chum before moving to reside at Wat Sung Men.
Deeply devoted to Vipassanā meditation, he later traveled to Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai to study under the Maha Ratchakhru, exchanging advanced knowledge of Pali and meditation practices.
Khruba Mahathera died in 1878 at Wat Pa Mamuang in Mueang Rahang, aged 89 with 69 rains retreats.
His death occurred in the same year that Khruba Siwichai was born.

Ecclesiastical Titles

In 1859 he was appointed abbot of Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn in Chiang Mai and received the title Khruba Chao Kañcano Araññavasi Mahathera from the ruler of Chiang Mai.
He also traveled to Burma to pursue advanced meditation attainments and brought back sacred relics, including Buddha relics and Arahant relics.
These were presented to Phaya Inthawichai, ruler of Phrae, who later offered them to King Rama IV of Siam; the king returned them to be enshrined at Wat Mahapho in Phrae.
Khruba Mahathera also collected numerous palm-leaf manuscripts from Luang Prabang, Phrae, and Nan for preservation at the Tripitaka library of Wat Sung Men.

Restoration Works

Khruba Mahathera renovated and constructed many Buddhist monuments across northern Thailand and amassed an extensive collection of scriptures on palm leaves.
Notable works include:
  • 1840 : construction of the chedi at Wat Mahapho, Phrae, enshrining three relics brought from Burma.
  • 1860 : casting of a large bronze bell at Wat Phra Singh.
  • 1869 : restoration of the Tripitaka library at Wat Phra Singh with King Kawilorot Suriyawong of Chiang Mai.
  • Building of scripture halls and carving of wooden Buddha images at Wat Sung Men, Wat Si Dok, and Wat Don Kaew in Phrae.
Today, Wat Sung Men preserves thousands of ancient Lanna manuscripts, which have been systematically catalogued and microfilmed by researchers from Chiang Mai University.

Legacy

Khruba Mahathera is remembered as a monk who rendered immense service to Buddhism in Lanna through teaching, meditation practice, preservation of scriptures, and the construction of enduring religious monuments.