Sacred Objects News – Luang Pu Chan's Commemorative Medal BE 2521

Luang Pu Chan Khemigo, originally named Chan Suwanmacho, was born on Monday, December 5, 1924, at Ban Tha Uten in Mueang District, Nakhon Phanom Province. At age 10, following his father's illness and death, he ordained as a novice at Wat Phon Kaew under Phra Khanthi Kantiko as his preceptor. At age 19, he left the monastic life to pursue a trading business, but at age 20 in BE 2445, he returned to monastic practice at Wat Phon Kaew, receiving the name Khemigo.

In BE 2445, under guidance from Phra Achan Sao Kantasilo of Ubon Ratchathani, he was ordained as a Dhammayut monk at Wat Sri Ubol Ratanaram in Ubon Ratchathani. He traveled to practice meditation in the forests before settling at Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram in BE 2449, spending 7 Rains Retreats restoring the abandoned temple.

In BE 2453, he journeyed to Bangkok to pursue higher Buddhist studies under Somdet Phra Phutthakhosa Chao at Wat Thep Sirin Thrawat, where he studied Buddhist texts and Pali. He was appointed abbot of Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram and district ecclesiastical chief. In BE 2459, he established one of Thailand's first modern Thai language schools and Pali studies programs for monks and laypeople combined.

His monastic positions included: abbot of Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram (BE 2459), preceptor (BE 2460), and provincial chief monk of Nakhon Phanom (BE 2502). He received successive ecclesiastical ranks, culminating in the divine rank of Phra Thep Sitthacharya in BE 2502.

Luang Pu Chan passed away peacefully on February 2, 1973, at 08:00 AM, at the age of 92, having completed 72 Rains Retreats. Prior to the royal cremation ceremony at Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram, a commemorative medal was created in his honor in BE 2521, consisting of 99 silver medals and 10,000 bronze medals.