Luang Pho Tio: Revered Monk of Wat Kuha Sawarn in Ratchaburi
Luang Pho Tio, a Teochew Chinese immigrant ordained in 1900, served as abbot of Wat Kuha Sawarn in Ratchaburi for decades, developing the temple into a major spiritual and educational center while establishing the district's first school in
Phra Kru Tham Suntor, also known as Luang Pho Tio Nanthsaro, was a former abbot of Wat Kuha Sawarn in Damnoen Saduak district, Ratchaburi province, and an esteemed Buddhist monk of the old era. Originally a Teochew Chinese immigrant named Tio with no recorded surname, he was born in 1876 but had no documented family records. He was ordained at age 24 in 1900 at the ecclesiastical boundary of what was then called Wat Suan Phrik, with Luang Pho Dam of Wat Tal Bampruet as his preceptor, Phra Akhan Suthi of Wat Mai Si Muean as his assistant, and Phra Akhan Chai of Wat Kuha Sawarn as his witness. He received the name Nanthsaro upon ordination.
He remained a resident monk and studied vipassana meditation and Buddhist disciplines under Luang Pho Dam, a renowned spiritual master of his time. Wat Kuha Sawarn is a community temple under the Mahanikaya sect, established on July 1, 1884. It is located in Moo 7, Si Muean subdistrict, Damnoen Saduak district, Ratchaburi province, and received royal consecration on July 4, 1888. Originally called Wat Suan Phrik because the area was mostly pepper gardens where locals cultivated various vegetables and notably long peppers, the temple gained its current name after a royal visit.
The initial construction of Wat Kuha Sawarn began through the faith of Chin Teng and Mrs. Mar Saentun, who donated 5 rai of land. Later, Chin Hia and Tim donated an additional 4 rai. The temple was completed in 1885, and Luang Pho Sai from Wat Bang Yai in Samut Sakhon was invited as the first abbot. Though blind, Luang Pho Sai had keen hearing and was skilled in construction management, administering the temple smoothly for 20 years until his death in 1905.
In 1906, the villagers and temple committee unanimously invited Luang Pho Tio, who had been a monk for seven years, to become the next abbot. That same year, the Supreme Patriarch visited Damnoen Saduak to inspect the temple. Luang Pho Tio and villagers prepared an elaborate welcome with decorated arches along the canal approach. During the visit, the Supreme Patriarch remarked that the procession resembled floating through a heavenly pavilion—kuha sawarn. Luang Pho Tio adopted this compliment as the temple's new name, which has been used ever since.
As abbot, Luang Pho Tio applied his construction skills to develop the temple significantly, building two rows of quarters with a central library and ordination hall, a learning hall, a main chapel, and a crematorium. In 1924, he became preceptor to Phra Thep Kawi of Wat Bowon Niwet. In 1926, he was promoted to Phra Kru Tham Suntor and appointed as district monastic leader and preceptor. In 1930, he established Tham Suntor School, the district's first school, and later founded a novice school, bringing education to local children.
