Presiding Patron of Naga Hnakaung Monastery of Tachilek in Shan State (East) State Ovadacariya Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Dr Bhaddanta Dhammasiri passed away at 00:02 am on 8 February (Thursday) in 2024.
The remains of the Sayadaw are being kept at Naga Hnakaung Monastery. Yesterday morning, Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and senior military officers inspected preparations for the successful holding of the final rites and fulfilled the requirements.
The Senior General and his wife viewed preparations to convey the remains of the Sayadaw to the place where the final rites will be held, and they visited the gallery of documentary photos of the Sayadaw.
The Senior General and wife paid homage to the remains of the Sayadaw. They paid homage to the Presiding Patron of Thiladhamma Kontha Tawya Monastery (Wasipeik) Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kovida and venerable Sayadaws and Mongphone Sayadaw Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Agga Maha Kammathanacariya Bhaddanta Ñanasamvara who returned Dhamma gifts.
The Senior General and wife offered alms to Sayadaws and supplicated preparations for the successful holding of the final rites, as well as a plan to showcase the utensils of the Sayadaw at a museum.
The Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air), the Joint Secretary, council members, Union ministers and senior military officers also donated alms to members of the Sangha.
The Senior General and wife paid homage to the remains of the Sayadaw.
The Senior General and wife inspected preparations for the final rite ceremony and the accommodation for monks and nuns who would attend it.
Naga Hnakaung Sayadaw was born of U Haung and Daw Nang Ping in Yangkein Village of Kengtung Township in Shan State (East) on the 9th waning of Nattaw 1290 ME. He was novitiated in Tabaung full moon in 1299 ME. He was ordained on the 13th waxing of Kason 1310 ME. He passed Mula Dhammacariya in Gon Shan language in 1320 ME. He established the Naga Hnakaung Buddhism Learning Centre in 1357 ME with four branches. His centres have been giving lectures on Buddhist literature to Shan monks and novices in the Gon Shan language and have held examinations 50 times. The Sayadaw managed some 2,500 stone plaques bearing Tri Pitakat treatises in the Gon Shan language from 1355 ME and kept them on the platform of Shwedagon Pagoda in Tachilek. Moreover, the Sayadaw donated land plots for basic education schools, the district general hospital, and health buildings in Tachilek, and they established a home for the aged and the orphanage with necessary assistance. Hence, the government offered Agga Maha Pandita title to the Sayadaw in 1992, Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja title in 2001, Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika title to the Sayadaw in 2005 and Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru title in 2021. Thailand also offered religious titles to the Sayadaw. The Sayadaw passed away at age 96 and 77 Vasa. The final rites of the remains of the Sayadaw will take place on 6 April. — MNA/TTA
