Maha Sarakham Honors Revered Monk Luang Por Sri Tho on 51st Anniversary
Villagers in Maha Sarakham's Wapi Pathum District marked the 51st death anniversary of Luang Por Sri Tho Silavanno, former abbot of Wat Ban Pho, who was celebrated for his monastic discipline, mastery of esoteric knowledge, and dedication to monastic education. The revered monk attracted devotees from across the region for his sermons and sacred blessings, with his core teaching emphasizing the Five Precepts as a path to prosperity.
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, villagers commemorated the 51st anniversary of the passing of Luang Por Sri Tho Silavanno, former abbot of Wat Ban Pho and former subdistrict ecclesiastic of Nong Saeng in Wapi Pathum District, Maha Sarakham Province. The late monk, renowned for his exemplary monastic conduct throughout his life, has long been deeply revered by Buddhists both within and beyond the Wapi Pathum area.
Biographical details about Luang Por Sri Tho are scarce, as temple records were not well preserved. According to inquiries made at Wat Ban Pho, he was born in Ban Pho on July 16, 1913, to a farming family. After completing primary education at the village school, he helped with family farming until ordaining as a novice in 1933 at age 20, receiving full ordination at Wat Ban Pho's ubosot. He studied Dhamma and Vinaya, passing the highest level Nak Tham Ek examination at a monastic school in Wapi Pathum District. He also pursued Wichah (esoteric knowledge), becoming a disciple of Luang Pu Sa, then abbot of Wat Ban Pho and a famous Wichah master in the district. Luang Pu Sa transmitted his Wichah knowledge fully, including ancient Khmer and Tham Lao scripts, giving Luang Por Sri Tho expertise in ancient alphabets.
After many rainy-season retreats at Wat Ban Pho, his teacher Luang Pu Sa passed away. Around the same time, relatives from Ban Pho who had migrated to Wat Ban Nong Men in Lam Plai Mat District, Buriram Province, invited him to reside there, impressed by his good conduct. He accepted and stayed there, further studying Saiyasat (occult sciences) from several local masters, all experts in Khmer-lineage Saiyasat.
In 1947, when Wat Ban Pho's abbot passed away, Ban Pho relatives invited him back to his birthplace temple, where he remained until his final days. His annual tudong (forest wandering) practice continued each year after the end of Buddhist Lent, trekking through forests along the Cambodian border, provided the temple had no other ceremonies.
His profound Wichah knowledge and impeccable conduct spread his reputation far beyond the local area. Daily, devotees traveled to hear his sermons and receive his potent sacred water blessings. When he conducted extended blessing ceremonies, they lasted several consecutive days. His core teaching throughout was the observance of the Five Precepts, promising that living within this framework brings prosperity in all aspects of life.
During this period, Luang Por Sri Tho maintained close ties with other renowned Maha Sarakham masters, including Luang Pu Sun of Wat Ban Seua Kok in Wapi Pathum and Luang Pu Thong of Wat Ban Yang in Borabue District, who regularly visited to pay respects to him as a fellow master of attainment.
Beyond his Wichah mastery, Luang Por Sri Tho was dedicated to monastic education, establishing a monastic school where he served as teacher. Wat Ban Pho's school became highly respected, attracting numerous monks and novices from within and outside the district for rainy-season Dhamma-Vinaya studies. Throughout his tenure as abbot of Wat Ban Pho...
