Senior Buddhist Monk Dharmavarothom Remembered Nine Years After Death
Buddhist community marks nine years since the death of Venerable Dharmavarothom, a highly respected senior monk who served as abbot of Thinkorn Nimit Temple in Nonthaburi and held key roles in Thai Buddhist education and administration.
Saturday, September 12, marks the ninth anniversary of the death of Venerable Dharmavarothom (Somkiat Kittiwattano), former abbot of Thinkorn Nimit Temple in Nonthaburi province and former advisor to the Sangha Council Region 9. A highly respected senior monk, he was deeply revered by Buddhists throughout the lower northeast and Nonthaburi, and was originally from Isan.
Born April 18, 1932, as Somkiat Kongchatphorn at Ban Samnak Takhao in Nakhon Ratchasima province, he attended primary school in his youth but could not continue his education due to family poverty.
At age 15, he ordained on March 18, 1946, at SaraThong Temple in Khon Kaen province, with Venerable Ratchasathammuni as his preceptor.
He studied Buddhist doctrine extensively, earning his first-grade teacher's certificate in 1946, then transferring to Mongkolthapkhlao Temple in Phichit province in 1947, where he earned his second-grade certificate.
Later, he moved to Thinkorn Nimit Temple in Nonthaburi to pursue advanced Buddhist studies and was fully ordained on July 9, 1954, with Venerable Theeranyanmuni as his preceptor.
He pursued Buddhist studies with dedication, earning his highest teacher's certificate in 1954 and his special pedagogy certificate from the Ministry of Education in 1959. In 1972, he passed his examinations in nine Buddhist scriptural sections.
He served as a teacher of Buddhist doctrine at Suthat Thepvaravihara Temple in Bangkok, strengthening education in both Dharma and Pali studies for monks and novices.
His contributions to Buddhist education include serving as a Pali examination committee member in 1962 and 1975, and organizing Pali scripture examinations across provinces from 1978 onward.
He was appointed a Buddhist missionary for Nonthaburi province in 1971 and served on the sermon council of Phrachetuphon Vimolmangkhalaram Temple in Bangkok from 1972.
In 2005, he was appointed to the committee overseeing the construction of a Buddhist monastery in his province for the King's 60th jubilee celebration. In 2006, he was appointed to organize activities for the King's 80th birthday celebration in December 2007.
In his administrative roles, he became abbot of Thinkorn Nimit Temple in 1964, district sangha leader of Bang Bua Thong in 1973, deputy regional sangha leader in 1974, and full regional sangha leader in Region 9 in 1988.
He received successive ecclesiastical ranks, including Phra Sivisuddhi Molee in 1973, Phra Racha Molee in 1981, Phra Tepphosop in 1990, and Phra Dharmapariyatti Molee in 1996.
