LUANGPUNUAN
Prakhru Pohthisarakhun (Nuan Thammatharo), previous surnamed Sudjaijam, was born on 26th July 1889 (B.E.2432) in Bangkantaek subdistrict, Muang district, Samutsongkram province. He was the eighth of ten siblings of Mr.Plu and Mrs. Sup Sudjaijam. When he was young, he graduated secondary levels from Wat Suthat Secondary School in Bangkok. Then, he was appointed as Senior Sergeant Major, serving in the army as an Artillery platoon leader in the Royal Guard Units. In 1928 (B.E.2471), he had an illness so he went to have it cured at the Luangpu Parn’s, Bangnomkoh temple, Sena district, Ayutthaya province. After his recovery, he became a disciple of Luangpu Parn, learning Buddhism and Buddhist sacred mantra. Later on, he resigned from the army and ordained at Poh Bangramat temple on 19th July 1931 (B.E.2474) with Prakhru Phavanapirom (Ploy) the abbot of Ratchada Thisathan Ratchaworawihan temple (Nguen Bangprom temple) as his preceptor, Pra-arjarn Nim buddhasaro of Poh temple as his first ordination teacher, and Phra Athikan Pard Thummachoto, the abbot of Thong (Bangramat) temple as his second ordination teacher. He was named ‘Thummatharo’.
During his priesthood, he was studying with great effort until he earned Pali-study Dhamma scholar elementary level (Nak Thamm Tree), intermediate level (Nak THamm Toh), and advanced level (Nak Thamm Ayk) from Sanam Luang National Dhamma Studies Examination, Kanjanasinghas school (Tong Bangprom temple) in B.E.1938, 1940, and 1944 respectively. He had four divine states of mind with compassion to everyone. He produced medicine, according to Luangpu Parn’s teaching and recipe, for nearby villagers until he established the primary health center (second level) at Poh (Bangramat) temple with his own money and donations from people. In 1935, he was appointed to be the acting abbot of Poh temple, then became the abbot there in 1939. He had established a Buddhist religious school in both Dhamma and Pali in 1939 to facilitate monks and novices in his temple and temples nearby to study Pariyattidhamma from his teaching. In 1941, some Pali teachers were assigned by the District Dean of Talingchan, the most vulnerable Phra Mongkolthepmuni from Anongkaram temple to come to teach Pali. There were monks and novices who joined the classes and three of them passed the high level of Sanam Luang National Dhamma Studies Examination. In 1945, he was appointed to be the examination checker of Sanam Luang National Dhamma Studies Examination.
Regarding general education, he supported the local school, located in the temple. He was appointed to the school’s board of education in 1940. Then, in 1956, a piece of land adjacent to the temple of about 4.5 rai (2,400 sq.m.) was donated to establish a secondary school which has developed into ‘Potisarnpittayakorn School’.
His ecclesiastical peerages were earned as following:
1939 – Phrakhru Samu as the Thananukrom of Phra Mongkolthepmuni Anongkaram temple, District Dean of Talingchan, Thonburi province
1940 – Phrakhru Sangkarak at the previous Thananukrom
1953 – Phrakhru Sanyabat (first level) named Pohthisarakhun , the abbot of Rath temple (Pho temple)
1964 – Phrakhru Sanyabat (second level) named Pohthisarakhun , the abbot of Rath temple (Pho temple)
In 1966, he travelled to Chanthaburi province with his student novice to worship sacred objects and visit ancient places. When he was staying at his student’s house in Bangkaja subdistrict, Muang district, Chanthaburi province, he had a heart attack and passed away on 9th April 1966, at the age 77, with 36 years of monkhood, and 31 years as an abbot of Pho temple.