Suphrom

Suphrom Ruesi (Thai: ฤๅษีสุพรหม), also known as Suphrom Yana (สุพรหมยาน), is a hermit who appears in legends relating to the founding of Khelang Nakhon, the city that later became Lampang, Thailand. According to these traditions, he resided at Doi Ngam near the Wang River in present-day Lampang province.

Legendary accounts

Suphrom appears in legends relating both Hariphunchai and Khelang Nakhon, the city later known as Lampang. In traditions relating to Hariphunchai, he is named alongside Sudeva, Sukkadanta, Anusisa, and Jalita. A version of the legend recorded by Chiang Mai University states that the five men entered the Buddhist monastic order during the lifetime of the Buddha but later left the order and became hermits. They were said to have acquired supernatural attainments and were subsequently associated with traditions concerning Camadevi and Hariphunchai.

The Camadevivamsa also includes Suphrom among the hermits associated with Camadevi. In accounts of the founding of Hariphunchai, the hermits are involved in traditions relating to the establishment of the city and the selection of Camadevi as its ruler.

In traditions relating to Khelang Nakhon, Suphrom is associated with the establishment of the city in present-day Lampang. According to one account, Anantayod, the younger twin son of Camadevi, was advised by Buddhachadil to seek Suphrom's help in founding a new city. Anantayod travelled to Suphrom at Doi Ngam with a hunter named Khelang, and Suphrom helped select a site on the western bank of the Wang River. The city was named Khelang Nakhon after the hunter.

Another account states that Anantayod invited Camadevi to Khelang Nakhon and asked Suphrom to establish a settlement called Alampang to the west of the city for her residence.

Places associated with the legend

A local legend associates Suphrom with the origin of Wat Mon Phaya Chae in Lampang. According to the story, Suphrom was skilled in preparing a medicinal mixture said to restore youth. A ruler named Wuttho, described in the tradition as a Lawa ruler from Khun Mae Raming in present-day Chiang Mai province, came to the hermit seeking the treatment. Wuttho was required to remain immersed in a bath containing the mixture but died during the treatment. The place where he was said to have died became known as Mon Phaya Chae, and a stupa was later built there.

Another local tradition associates several places in Lampang with Suphrom's selection of the site for Khelang Nakhon. A hill identified as Khuang Meng or Sanam Phon is said to have been the place from which he indicated a site on the western bank of the Wang River for the new city. The tradition places the settlement near present-day Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao. Suphrom is also said to have placed a boundary stone at Pha Bong, a site now associated with the abandoned Wat Pha Bong near Wat Chang Taem.