A ceremony to confer religious titles was held yesterday afternoon at Sasana Maha Beikman in Uppatasanti Pagoda precinct, Nay Pyi Taw.
The ceremony was attended by State Sangha Maha Nayaka Chairman Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhamo Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Kumara Bhivamsa and State Sangha Maha Nayaka Secretary Thanlyin Min Kyaung Pahtamapyan Monastery Patron Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa together with State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC members and dignitaries.
State Administration Council Chairman and wife and attendees took Five Precepts from State Sangha Maha Nayaka Chairman Bhamo Sayadaw.
Then, Presiding Sayadaw Bhaddanta Tilawka Bhivamsa of the Ywama Pariyatti Monastery in Insein Township, who will be conferred the title of Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru, delivered an oration followed by Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko explained religious affairs.
SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing donated offertories to Bhamo Sayadaw.
Then, the Senior General presented the title of Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru to Presiding Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nyanaindasaya of Mizzimayone Parami Monastery of Yesagyo Township, Magway Region.
SAC Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win presented Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru title to Presiding Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nyanavamsa of Htay Pariyatti Monastery of Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region.
Then, SAC member General Mya Tun Oo conferred the title of Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Tiloka Bhivamsa of Insein Ywama Pariyatti Monastery while Admiral Tin Aung San to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Narasaba Bhivamsa of Waizanyanta Monastery of Monyo Township Bago Region.
Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika title and related accessories were conferred to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Visarainda Bhivamsa of Maha Vizitayne Pariyatti Monastery in Mandalay Region by Mahn Nyein Maung; to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sudhamma Saya Bhivamsa of Mine Kaung Pariyatti Monastery of Ayeyawady Region by Daw Aye Nu Sein; to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pandita of Intha Ashe Monastery of Nay Pyi Taw by U Moung Har; to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Jinawdaya of Tine Tayar Ashe Monastery of Yangon Region by U Sai Lone Saing.
Then, SAC members Dr Banyar Aung Moe presented Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru title and related accessories to Sayadaw Bhaddanta TIkkha of Taung Salin Monastery of Mandalay Region while U Shwe Kyein to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Jotalinkaya of Dekkhinayone Monastery of Yangon Region and Lt-Gen Yar Pyae to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sumana of Setyone Dhamma Yeiktha Monastery of Ayeyawady Region.
Similarly, SAC Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe presented the title of Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Dhamma Piya of Seitta Thukha Monastery of Bago Region while Chief Justice of the Union U Htun Htun Oo to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nayada of Dhamma Thukha Monastery of Mon State.
The Agga Maha Pandita titles were presented to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Akoneya of Mani Yadana Mya Taung Monastery of Mandalay and Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pannava of Phayagyi Monastery of Kyaukpyu Township by the Constitutional Tribunal Chairman U Thar Htay while the Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja titles to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Khanti of Pariyatti Mamaka Dhamma Rakkhita Monastery of Ye Township, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kavidhaja of Zwekabin Monastery of Hpa-an Township and Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nyanavamsa of Kama Kalu Monastery of Khayan Township by UEC Chairman U Thein Soe.
Then, the Union ministers and officials presented the titles of Agga Maha Pandita, Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja, Agga Maha Gantavasaka Pandita and Agga Maha Kammatthanacariya to Sayadaws.
Afterwards, the wife of Senior General presented Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita Title to Nun Daw Aeinda Theingi of the Sasana Beikman Nunnery of Sagaing Township and Daw Aeinsana Vati of Daw Vizanandi Kantha Nunnery of Sagaing Township, while the wife of Vice-Senior General presented Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita title to Dr Daw Sekavati of Chan Myae Gone Wai Pariyatti Paripatti Parahita Nunnery of Mayangon Township.
Then, the Senior General gave Agga Maha Thiri Thuddhama Mani Jotadhaya title to U Sai Mon.
The wife of Senior General presented Agga Maha Thiri Thuddhama Theingi titles to Dr San San Yi and Dr Khin Mya Win.
Then, the Senior General and his wife and the audiences listened to the sermon of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Thanlyin Min Kyaung Pahtamapyan monastery patron Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa and shared merit for the donations made.
During the ceremony, a total of 9 Sayadaws were conffered with the title of Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru and 8 Sayadaws with Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika, 18 Sayadaws with Agga Maha Pandita, 23 Sayadaws with Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita, 3 nuns with Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita, 41 Sayadaws with Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja, 6 monks with Agga Maha Kammatthanacariya while one person with Agga Maha Thiri Thuddhama Mani Zawtadhaya and two persons with Agga Maha Thiri Thuddhamma Theingi for the year 2022.
The remaining recipient Sayadaw, Nuns and persons were also presented by the officials of Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, Regions and States.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife paid homage to Sayadaw Venerable Metarenba Hemaratana Nayaka Thero of Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya, Galle of Sri Lanka who won the Agga Maha Pandita title and Director Venerable Medawachchiye Dhammajothi Thero Sayadaw of University of Kelaniya of Sri Lanka who won Agga Maha Gandhavasaka Pandita title.
Then, he reported on the conferring of religious titles to Sayadaws and other efforts to ensure the sustainable development of Theravada Buddha Sasana.
The Sayadaw also talked about the religious titles, the bilateral relationship between Myanmar and Sri Lanka, more than 300 monks who are attending the University of Kelaniya and other plans to develop MoU with Sitagu Buddhist Academy of Myanmar.
The Senior General also said the government will support Myanmar monks who are studying in Sri Lanka. The foreign monks and nuns also join the Buddhist university of Myanmar including the Sitagu Buddhist Academy. The efforts of Sayadaws from other countries are effective measures for the propagation of Theravada.
He then highlighted the construction of the world’s biggest stone Buddha Statue called Maravijaya Buddha Image and the work process to publish the Tri Pitaka treatises in Romanized language with the use of modern machinery.
Finally, the Senior General and wife donated to Sayadaws and received the Dhamma presents from Sayadaws. — MNA
