King Presides Over Royal Fan Ceremony for Senior Monk

His Majesty the King graciously bestowed flowers, incense, candles, lotus buds, robes, and Dhamma books to Somdet Phra Vajiraratanamoli on the occasion of the Royal Fan Presentation Ceremony and merit-making for his 72nd birthday anniversary on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 09:00 hrs at the Ubosot of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, Bangkok. Ms. Udomporn Ek-iam, Director of the National Office of Buddhism, presided over the Sangha side, along with paying respects, presenting the royal fan and Sangha rank regalia as graciously granted by His Majesty the King to Somdet Phra Vajiraratanamoli. On July 14, 2026, the Royal Gazette published the Royal Command appointing Phra Prommoli as a Royal Sangha Noble with the title inscribed in the royal fan as Somdet Phra Vajiraratanamoli Sri Pariyatti Vithan Vises, Vithesasanakichapathan, Wimalasilacharanawithi, Wichitthammakathasathaka, Tripitakabandit, Mahakanisara, Bawarasangharam, Kamawasi, Aranyawasi, residing at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, Bangkok, with ten established bases of merit. The announcement was made effective from July 12, 2026, and proclaimed on July 14, 2026. Currently, Somdet Phra Vajiraratanamoli (Suphat Dhammaratano), aged 72 with 50 years in the monkhood, holds positions as a member of the Supreme Sangha Council, Chief of Region 5, Head of the Sanam Luang Pali Examination Committee, and Abbot of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen. His former lay name was Suchat Sotsi, born on Saturday, October 23, 1954 (Year of the Horse) in Wang Wa Subdistrict, Sri Prachan District, Suphan Buri Province. In his youth, he completed Grade 4 at Wat Ko School in Wang Wa, Sri Prachan, Suphan Buri. Later, his parents brought him for novice ordination on April 5, 1965, at Wat Ko, with Phra Kru Waranatarangsi as preceptor. He diligently studied Dhamma, passing the Nak Tham Tri, Tho, and Ek levels successively from Wat Don Chedi School, Suphan Buri, in 1967. He then traveled to Bangkok to study Pali at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, applying great effort and ability, passing the Parian Tham 9 levels sequentially from his novice years. According to tradition, a novice who passes Parian Tham 9 becomes a Nak Luang and proceeds to higher ordination. He received Upasampada on July 4, 1976, at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, with Somdet Phra Buddhakhosa (Phueng Chutintharo) of Wat Sam Phraya as preceptor, Somdet Phra Maha Theerachan (Niyom Thanisaro) of Wat Chana Songkram as Kammavachacharya, and Somdet Phra Maha Rajamangalachan (Chuang Warapunyo) of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen as Anusavanacharya. He contributed greatly to the Sangha of Wat Paknam, especially in education, serving as a Dhamma studies teacher at Wat Paknam Dhamma School, a Nak Tham examiner at Sanam Luang, a Pali examiner at Sanam Luang, and a Pali examination controller for P.Th.5 at Wat Paknam. Additionally, in 1994 he taught at the Sangha's Parian Tham School levels 7, 8, 9 at Wat Sam Phraya, and in the same year was appointed Secretary of the Sanam Luang Pali Examination Committee. Regarding Dhamma propagation, he gave sermons, lectures, and Dhamma talks to the public observing precepts on Buddhist holy days, and served as Vice President of the Dhamma Preachers Association.