Former Abbot Luang Pho Jamlong Honored on 91st Birthday

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, locals commemorated the 91st birthday of Phra Khru Ninath Thammakhun, widely known as Luang Pho Jamlong Panyathipo, a senior monk who rendered significant service to the nation. He steadfastly aimed to develop society toward prosperity through knowledge paired with morality.

Luang Pho Jamlong, former abbot of Wat Khao Bai Mai in Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province, and former Deputy District Ecclesiastical Chief, was a direct disciple of Luang Pho Thong Visalo (Phra Khru Niphat Silakhun), abbot of Wat Hua Khao, and Luang Pu Bok Thavaro (Phra Khru Niyom Thammaphan), abbot of Wat Sawangwong.

His lay name was Jamlong Thanthongkam. He was born on Thursday, October 31, 1935, at Ban Khao Bai Mai, Village 6, Takhli Subdistrict, Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province. His parents, In and Phiu Thanthongkam, were farmers. In his youth, he completed Grade 4 at Wat Sawangwong School in Takhli Subdistrict before leaving to help his family make a living farming.

At age 20, he was fully ordained on July 11, 1955, at the ordination hall of Wat Sawangwong in Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province. Phra Khru Niphat Silakhun (Luang Pho Thong Visalo), District Ecclesiastical Chief of Takhli, served as his preceptor, and Phra Khru Niyom Thammaphan (Luang Pu Bok Thavaro), abbot of Wat Sawangwong, served as his announcing teacher. He received the monastic name Panyathipo, meaning "one with wisdom like a bright light."

After ordination, he resided at Wat Sawangwong for the rains retreat, studying the Dhamma-Vinaya and Buddhist scriptures. In 1957, he passed the third, second, and first levels of the Nak Tham examinations respectively, and also passed the equivalency exam for lower secondary education.

In administrative roles, in 1958 he was appointed secretary to Phra Khru Niyom Thammaphan (Luang Pu Bok Thavaro), District Ecclesiastical Chief of Takhli, Nakhon Sawan. In 1962, he was appointed to teach Buddhist scriptures to monks and novices at the Wat Sawangwong monastic school.

In 1967, he was appointed abbot of Wat Khao Bai Mai, Takhli Subdistrict, Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province.

In ecclesiastical ranks, in 1969 he received the royal conferment of the third-class Parian title, Phra Khru Ninath Thammakhun. In 1973, he was elevated to the second-class Parian title, Deputy District Ecclesiastical Chief (Tho), retaining the same title name. In 1982, he was elevated to the first-class Parian title, Deputy District Ecclesiastical Chief (Ek), retaining the same title name, and became a preceptor.

Luang Pho Jamlong was diligent in both scriptural study and practice. His conduct was steadfast, his behavior exemplary, his speech moderate and simple. His heart embraced the suffering of others with compassion. He governed the Sangha with loving-kindness, devoting his body and mind to restoring dilapidated temples entirely anew. Locals held him in high esteem and faith.

In public works, he built a glass ordination hall, a sermon hall, a vihara enshrining Luang Pho Doem, Luang Pho Thong, and Luang Pu Bok, concrete roads within the temple, temple walls, and gates.

Having studied occult sciences with Luang Pu Bok and Luang Pho Thong, along with Luang Pho Doem's manuals, he created a single batch of sacred objects in 1992. These included a floating Luang Pho Doem amulet in brass, copper, and alpaca silver; a Luang Pho Doem egg-shaped coin in silver with medicine inserted, copper, and blackened copper; a Luang Pho Doem locket with a Naga Yung relief, filled with Itthije powder and Krachakom, among others.

Currently, the sacred objects he created are widely sought after by the public.

Luang Pho Jamlong, or Phra Khru Ninath Thammakhun, is considered to have performed his duties upholding Buddhism to the fullest. He stood firm in the principles of Dhamma according to the Buddha's teachings. He was a senior monk who brought benefit to the nation and Buddhism in countless ways. In the final stage of his life, he began to...