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Published on October 13, 2007

His Majesty the King yesterday graciously granted a special mortuary urn and funeral decorative items to the late Panyanandha Bhikkhu, abbot of Cholpratan Rangsarit Temple in Nonthaburi, who passed away on Wednesday.

At the royal-sponsored bathing ceremony held at 5pm at Wat Chon Pratan Rangsarit's Kachornprasart Pavilion, the urn and decorative items were set out along with 12 wreaths from Their Majesties the King and Queen and members of the royal family.

His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhacharya, president the executive committee for the Supreme Patriarch, presided over a ceremony to place a yellow robe on the coffin and to chant a requiem with 10 leading Buddhist monks from 10 temples.

With His Majesty the King having graciously taken the bathing ceremony under his patronage, the seven nights of Abitham recitals as well as memorials on the seventh, 50th and 100th days for Phra Panyanandha Bhikkhu, members of the public are welcome to sponsor the religious rites throughout the 100-day period.

A Krung Thai bank account number 123-0-12477-2 for Cholpratan Rangsarit Temple, "Phra Phrommangalajarn Fund" was also opened for the public to make donations.

Earlier yesterday, thousands of followers joined a long, beautifully-decorated procession to move the

revered monk's body from Cholpratan Hospital to the temple's Kachornprasart Pavilion.

Long queues formed when disciples, senior officials, and members of the public went to pay last respects to the monk up till 4.45pm.

Those attending included Privy Councillor Sawat Watanayakorn, Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kachornprasart, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, and National Artist Angkarn Kalayanapong.

Apirak said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would proceed with Luang

Por Panya's plan to build an archive in Wachirabenjathat Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's birth in 2006.

It would also encourage Thais to apply the teachings of both Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and Panyanandha Bhikkhu in their lives.

The Nation

Nonthaburi