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Published on October 12, 2007

His Majesty the King has graciously taken under his patronage the funeral and religious rites for Panyanandha Bhikkhu, abbot of Cholpratan Rangsarit Temple in Nonthaburi, the National Buddhism Office said yesterday.

Montree Bumrung, director for Sangha Affairs, said the Royal Household Bureau reported that His Majesty would sponsor today's bathing ceremony, the seven nights of Abitham recitals as well as the memorials on the seventh, 50th and 100th days.

Assistant Abbot Phra Theppariyatmethee said Luangpor Panya's body would be transported to the temple's Kachornprasart Pavilion this morning before the royal-sponsored bathing ceremony is held at 5pm followed by the first night of Abitham recitals.

Phra Theppariyatmethee also urged those interested in participating in the funeral rites to donate cash instead of wreaths. The funds would be used to sponsor merit-making activities during the 100-day period starting today and to complete the revered monk's unfinished mission to build a study hall on Mahachulalongkornrajavidayala University's campus for monks in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district.

Many admirers signed an album and paid last respects to Luangpor Panya at Cholpratan Hospital.

They included Khunying Chomsri Kamphu, wife of ML Chuchart, who invited Luangpor Panya to become the abbot of Cholpratan Rangsarit Temple; Nonthaburi Governor Cherdwit Ritthiprasart and his wife along with local politicians; and Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kachornprasart and his wife.

Professor Wirun Tangcharoen, president of Srinakharinwirot University, praised Luangpor Panya as a great educator and said a fund would be established in his name to support Cholpratan Hospital.

Recalling that he had last met Luangpor Panya in August before the hospital was transferred under Srinakharinwirot, Wirun said the monk had instructed the university to support the hospital and Cholpratan Wittaya School, as both were fruits of his labours.

Praising the Buddhist monk as an author whose books were pure and practical Dhamma with no superstitious content, Wirun said Luangpor Panya related Dhamma to all aspects - social, political, educational, environmental and health - for the people.

Luangpor Panya's death was a great loss for Thailand, he said.

Luangpor Panya, who was conferred an honorary doctorate in education in 1991 by Srinakharinwirot, also helped people in other countries to better understand the meaning of Buddhism, he said.

Srinakharinwirot was setting up the Luangpor Panya Fund to raise Bt100 million to support the hospital and would set up a Dhamma Studies Centre at the hospital or the university's Ongkharak campus.

A 50-centimetre-tall statue of Luangpor Panya was also in the making to be installed at the hospital for public prayers.

The Nation

 Nonthanburi