Rich family legacy
Wayne Ajahn Sripanyu, the only son of Malaysian billionaire Anand Krishnan, was born into a world of extraordinary wealth and privilege. According to a report by the South China Post, Anand Krishnan, popularly known as AK, is a prominent figure in the global business arena with a net worth of over Rs 40,000 crore. Krishnan’s empire spans a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, satellite, media, oil, gas, and real estate. His interest also extends to sports as he previously owned Aircel, the sponsor of the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.
Sripanyu’s mother, Momojarongse Saparanda Chakraban, is a member of the royal family of Thailand.
How did Sripanyu adopt the monastic lifestyle?
At the age of 18, during a visit to Thailand to visit his mother’s family, Sripanyu participated in a temporary arrangement at a Buddhist retreat. This incident ignited a spiritual flame within him, prompting him to abandon his opulent lifestyle in favor of a monastic life.
Ajahn Sripanyu’s choice was entirely his own, and is respected in the family,” said a report in the South China Morning Post.
He devoted his life to monasticism.
Sripanyu has spent the last two decades as a forest monk. He is currently the abbot of Datau Dum Monastery, located near the Thailand-Myanmar border. As a monk, he has lived a simple and austere life, seeking alms and owning few possessions.
At times, he reconnects with his past.
While Sripanyu chooses a life of renunciation, he occasionally returns to his former life. He makes time to visit his father because one of the tenets of Buddhism emphasizes the value of family love. He is known to travel by private jet to visit his father and attend spiritual retreats in exotic locations.
Sripanio grew up with his two sisters in London, where he attended school and is fluent in at least eight different languages.