Venerable Monk Luang Pu Daeng Dies at 102
Luang Pu Daeng, a revered monk at Sirivravat Temple in Sisaket province, has died at 102 after spending over eight decades in monastic service and becoming one of Thailand's longest-lived ordained clergy members.
Saturday, September 26, 2026 marks the 123rd anniversary of the birth of Phra Sumangalacharn, known as Luang Pu Daeng Seelavanto, of Sirivravat Temple in Nontom sub-district, Kanthralak district, Sisaket province. The former abbot of Sirivravat Temple, former advisory council member to Sisaket provincial sangha, and former district sangha leader was honored with the title "Jao Khun Pu" by Somdet Phra Phutthacharya Keaw Upaseno of Saraket Temple, making him one of Thailand's longest-lived monks at 102 years old with disciples spread across the country.
Born Daeng Kob Krai on September 26, 1903, at Ban Tha Chang in Nong Bua sub-district, Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, he completed third-grade education at Prachabal Wat Luang Sumangklaram School. He took monastic vows on March 20, 1920, at Wat Luang Sumangklaram and received full ordination on November 18, 1923, at the same temple under Phra Khru Ket Silacharn as his preceptor. In 1923, he passed the secondary-level Dharma examination.
Beyond formal education, Luang Pu Daeng was skilled in reading and writing Khmer and ancient Thai scripts and was a proficient teacher. He mastered traditional literature composition, Thai, Lao, and Khmer instruction, as well as arithmetic, woodcraft, masonry, wood carving, furniture-making, construction, and other practical skills.
From 1927 to 1929, he served as acting abbot of Chiang Ee Si Mongkol Vihara Temple. In 1937, he became abbot of Sirivravat Temple in Nontom sub-district, Kanthralak district. In 1939, he advanced to district sangha leader and preceptor; in 1939 he became district sangha leader of Kanthralak; in 1974 he became advisory council member to Sisaket provincial sangha. He received successive ecclesiastical rank promotions in 1939, 1950, 1970, and 2001, culminating in the title Phra Sumangalacharn.
Jao Khun Pu remained in robust health well into his advanced years. Even at 101, he could walk nimbly and possessed sharp memory, recalling past events and people with accuracy. However, after celebrating his 100th birthday, he began to weaken with age and frequent illness, requiring regular medical care from Kanthralak Hospital under Dr. Wanchai Lai Setthakij, hospital director. In his final years, his condition deteriorated severely. He was admitted to Sanprasithprasoeng Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani but showed little improvement. When his condition worsened further, he was returned to Kanthralak Hospital. Despite full medical care, he did not recover. His family brought him back to the temple, where Jao Khun Pu passed away peacefully on August 14, 2004.
