Chonburi is celebrating the 100th birthday of
Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch by organizing three days of events at all
provincial temples to promote the Buddhist dharma.
Gov. Khomsan Ekachai leads
ceremonies to mark the 100th birthday of Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch.
Gov. Khomsan Ekachai ordered the implementation of a
Culture Ministry-mandated “morality awareness project” to take place
Sept. 29-Oct. 3. The events mark the centennial of Charoen Khotchawat,
or Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara as he was ordained.
The activities aim to spread dharma to increase unity and harmony based
on Buddhist principals.
Events consisted of dharma practices for up to five days, Sarira
worshipping, alms offerings to 101 monks per district, ordination
ceremonies, recitation of the Tripitaka, dharma recitation, and prayers.
Somdej Phra Nyanasamvara was born Charoen Gajavatra in Kanchanaburi Oct.
3, 1913. He was ordained at Wat Devasangharam in 1933. He subsequently
moved to Wat Bovoranives Vihara in Bangkok to further his studies. It
was here that he was ordained in the Dhammayut movement with the then
Supreme Patriarch Somdej Khrom Luang Vajiranyanavangsa as his preceptor.
He passed the exam for level 9 in Buddhist theology in 1941 and in 1972
was bestowed the title “Somdej Phra Nyanasamvara” by HM the King.
He devoted himself to the service of religion. He preached at many
locations and has authored many academic books and papers on Buddhism
which are highly valued. In 1956 Khrom Luang Vajiranyanavangsa chose him
to be HM the King’s mentor during his time in the monkhood at Wat
Bovoranives Vihara. Somdej Phra Nyanasamvara has kept to the ways of the
Buddhist religious precepts of behavior, wisdom and mindfulness. He is
pure and holy.
As a result of all his good works he was finally bestowed the title of
His Holiness Somdej Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of Thai
Sangha on April 21, 1989, the 19th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin
Era. (CPRD)
