Hundreds of area residents lined the street as a procession of monks paraded through Pattaya to herald the promotion of Chaimongkol Temple’s abbot.
Banglamung Cultural Council Chairman Surat Mekavarakul and Education Ministry Secretary Chanyuth Hengtrakul joined Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome for the flower-laden procession along the full length of Central Road Dec. 15.
Surat Mekavarakul joins local Buddhists in a parade to honor the royal proclamation bestowing Abbot Panyaratanapon with the title “Phra Racha Khana Chan Saman”.
Itthiphol read the royal proclamation bestowing Abbot Panyaratanapon with the title “Phra Racha Khana Chan Saman” (Clerical Royal Title Rank ‘Ordinary’). This rank places Abbot Panyaratanapon seven levels from the top, with Supreme Patriarch being the highest level. Only 394 monks in Thailand have achieved this rank. His duties will involve looking after monks in this region.
The royal proclamation reading was followed by chanting by 49 monks. The proclamation was made on the occasion of HM the King’s 86th birthday Dec. 5.
Panyaratanapon, 50, was formerly known as Anan Boonchuaylua. He was born Oct. 3, 1964 in Rayong and was ordained in June 1979 at Chagkhunwisid Temple. He had done good deeds in his entire priesthood and has been the third abbot of the royal temple Chaimongkol since 1998.
