In appreciation and memorial of his Holiness Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaj, who died in the age of more than 100 years yesterday.
His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja passed away Thursday evening at Chulalongkorn Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for various ailments in recent months.
He turned 100 on October 3 and is the longest living Supreme Patriarch in Thai history.
The government has announced that the national flag will fly at half-mast from October 25 to 27 to commemorate his departure. Meanwhile, all civil servants and government employees are ordered to wear unadorned black clothing for 15 days, starting from today, October 25.
From 8am on October 25, Buddhist followers will be allowed to pay respect to His Holiness. At noon, his body is being moved from Chulalongkorn Hospital to Wat Bovoranives, via Rajdamri Road towards the expressway (Rama IV entrance). From the Urupong exit, the motorcade will turn left into Phetchaburi Road, towards Rajadamnoen Klang Avenue, Democracy Monument and Phra Sumain Road where the temple is located.
The departure of the revered 19th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin Kingdom brings great sadness to his devout followers, who have been anxiously monitoring updates on his health.
Chulalongkorn Hospital confirmed that His Holiness passed away at 7.30pm last night.
The late Supreme Patriarch underwent intestinal surgery for a bacterial infection on October 14 at the Hospital.
Phra Nyanasamvara was the mentor of His Majesty the King during his 15-day ordination from October 22 to November 5, 1956. Ordained as a novice when he was 14 and entering the monkhood proper when he turned 20, he held several prominent ecclesiastical positions and was appointed Supreme Patriarch in 1988.
According to his secretariat office, His Holiness always reminded his followers about the "Three Marks of Existence" - impermanence, suffering and non-existence.
Wat Bororanives, which was his official residence, marked the Supreme Patriarch’s centennial with an exhibition of major historical events over the past 100 years.
Ñanasamvara, Somdet Phra (Ehrw. Suvaddhano Bhikkhu, HH der Supreme Patriarch of Thailand) (1913-2013)
SH Somdet Phra Ñanasamvara wurde in der Provinz von Kanchanburi, ungefähr 130 Kilometer nordwestlich von Bangkok, im Jahr 1913 geboren. Im Alter von dreizehn Jahren wurde er Novize und im Jahr 1933 erhielt er die höhere Ordination. Als er nach Bangkok zurückkehrte, um seine Studien fortzusetzen, wurde ihm im folgenden Jahr als Ehrw. Bhikkhu Suvaddhano im Wat Bovornives Vihara erneut Ordination gegeben, mit dem höchsten Patriarchen Vajiranyanavong als Mönchsvater. Nachdem er seine Dhamma- und Pali-Studien weitergeführt und mit dem höchsten Grad (dem neunten Grad) abgeschlossen hatte, folgte er dem Ehrw. Chao Khun Phra Brahmamuni als Abt nach. Ihm wurde der geistliche Titel Somdet im Jahr 1972 zugesprochen, und er hielt verschiedene Positionen in der Administration der Thai-Sangha. Im Jahr 1989 wurde er zum höchsten Patriarchen von Thailand ernannt. [Quelle: Ein Führer zur Gewahrsamkeit (Bangkok: Mahamakut Rajavidyalaya Press, 1997).]
Ñanasamvara, Somdet Phra (Venerable Suvaddhano Bhikkhu, HH the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand) (1913- 2013)
HH Somdet Phra Ñanasamvara was born in Kanchanaburi Province, about 130 kilometers northwest of Bangkok, in 1913. At age thirteen he became a novice and in 1933 he received the higher ordination. On going back to continue his studies in Bangkok he was given new ordination as venerable Bhikkhu Suvaddhano, with the Supreme Patriarch Vajiranyanavong as Preceptor, at Wat Bovornives Vihara the next year. After furthering and completing his Dhamma and Pali studies to the highest grade (grade nine), he succeeded venerable Chao Khun Phra Brahmamuni as abbot in 1960. He was awarded the ecclesiastical title of Somdet in 1972 and has held various positions in the administration of the Thai Sangha. He was made supreme patriarch of Thailand in 1989. [Source: A Guide to Awareness (Bangkok: Mahamakut Rajavidyalaya Press, 1997).]