BANGKOK, 1 November 2013 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on October 31 deputized for His Majesty the King at a merit making ceremony to mark the seventh day of the passing away of His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch, at Bovoranives Monastery.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, accompanied by HRH Princess Srirasm, the Princess Consort, arrived at Phra Tamnak Phet building at 11.30 a.m. He paid respect to the Triple gems. The 10 monks who performed religious prayers on October 30 continued their duty of chanting prayers today, after which His Royal Highness the Crown Prince offered them with food. After the meal, the monks were presented with alms and 3-piece robes by the Crown Prince, followed by a chanting of holy stanzas which marked the end of the royal merit-making ceremony.
His Majesty the King has already commanded a 30-day mourning in the royal court. Rites and rituals for the Supreme Patriarch’s remains are held in accordance with the ancient court tradition, meant to accord honor to the highly revered monk. His Majesty the King has also commanded that the urn containing the remains of the Supreme Patriarch be ‘Kudan the big urn’, instead of ‘Kudan the little urn’, in order to give higher honor to the Supreme Patriarch on a special case.
The urn is placed under the 3-tiered umbrella befitting the honor and precedence of His Holiness, and situated on a gold-gilded glass jeweled base surrounded by three pairs of multi-tier regalia umbrellas, monastic rank fans, seal, bowl and other monastic accessories. The picture of His Holiness put in the setting was taken by His Majesty the King in 1984.
The 50th day merit-making ceremony for the remains of the Supreme Patriarch has been scheduled for December 11 and 12, 2013. The 100th day merit-making ceremony has been set for January 30 and 31, 2014.
