Commemorating 166 Years Since the Birth of Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa
A merit-making ceremony in Bangkok commemorated the 166th anniversary of Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa, a son of Rama IV who pioneered Buddhist education and the monastic curriculum still used today.
On Sunday, April 12, 2569, Somdet Phra Maha Veerawong (Suchin Akkachino), a committee member of the Maha Therasmakom and director of Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang, presided over a merit-making ceremony dedicated to Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa on the 166th anniversary of his birth, along with offerings to former leaders of Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang. The ceremony took place at the Conference Room of the Education Council Building at Maha Makut Rajvidyalai in Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok.
Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang arranged the merit-making ceremony with dedicatory offerings to Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa and former masters to show gratitude to him as a pioneer in establishing Buddhist education and the lineage of senior monks who have continuously managed Pali scriptural studies to the present day.
Foundation manager Thang Thong Chantarangsuk of Maha Makut Rajvidyalai Foundation under Royal Patronage and foundation staff participated in this merit-making ceremony dedicated to former leaders of Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang.
Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa was a son of Rama IV and served as the 10th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, as well as the 3rd Abbot of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.
Phra Ajarn Man Phuritatto recounted that the most venerable figure of Rama IV's reign was Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa, the King's own son, who was the first to begin this path. He commenced studying Pali language at the age of eight, eventually becoming able to translate Buddhist texts. When Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Pawesvarig Langkorn, the 8th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, passed away in 1891, King Rama V graciously appointed Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa to continue administering Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, making him the 3rd Abbot.
Later, in 1893, King Rama V graciously promoted his monastic rank to Somdet Phra Rajakhana, Chief of the Thammayut Order. He then began developing Buddhist activities by supporting newly ordained monks and novices in studying Thai Buddhist doctrine and establishing this as an educational curriculum for the Sangha called 'Nak Tham' studies, which remains the foundational monastic education curriculum to the present day.
He established Maha Makut Rajvidyalai in 1893 as a pioneering initiative in new monastic education—combining Pali scriptural studies with other practical subjects conducive to Buddhist teaching—and designated it as an educational institution for both monks and novices.
In 1894, he published the journal 'Tham Chaksu' and expanded monastic education throughout the kingdom by making temples into schools with monks as teachers. This represented the establishment of Thailand's primary education system. Later, in 1910, he was graciously appointed as Somdet Phra Sangkharaj, the 10th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok.
Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa suffered from tuberculosis and passed away on August 2, 1921, at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok at the age of 61. Through his exceptional wisdom and immeasurable contributions, UNESCO recognized him as an important figure of the world in the fields of education, public service, humanities, and religion in 2021.
