Revered Monk's First Medal Series Released

Phra Kru Suwichananavrawut, known as Luang Pho Pi Thinno, was a celebrated Buddhist scholar and former abbot of Wat Kuhasuwan (Wat Lan Hoi) in Sukhothai's Muang district. He was among 108 eminent monks invited to participate in the supreme amulet consecration ceremony for Thailand's 25th Buddhist century treasures.

Born into the Choo Suk family on Wednesday, October 15, 1912, in Lan Hoi subdistrict, Sukhothai Province, his name "Pi" derives from ancient currency. At age 20, wishing to be ordained but lacking funds for robes, his mother sought help from local administrator Them Khaeng, who sponsored the ordination ceremony with only 25 satang from his mother.

He was ordained on May 10, 1922, at Wat Sangkharam's ordination hall under Phra Kru Winaysarn, the provincial ecclesiastical chief, who served as his preceptor. Throughout his entire life, no one ever witnessed him bathing, giving rise to many remarkable stories. Notably, his body remained perpetually clean.

When a devotee once asked him, "Luang Pho, we never see you bathe?" he replied, "I bathe daily." Everyone fell silent. He then had water brought in one bucket, and all watched intently without seeing him bathe—only conversing while passing his hands over his body. Suddenly, his robes appeared completely wet, astonishing all present.

He passed away peacefully on January 11, 1974, at age 71.

Regarding Luang Pho Pi's first medal series: The first auspicious amulet medal was created as a rounded oval with a loop in 1959, commemorating the Wat Lan Hoi ordination hall dedication ceremony. Minted in copper, the obverse features his full seated figure in meditation with his name inscribed above. The reverse is borderless with his personal yantra in the center, beneath which reads "Wat Lan Hoi Ordination Hall Dedication, 2502" (1959). The medal gained wide recognition and popularity.