Thailand is mourning the Supreme Patriarch
The nation and the entire Buddhist community are mourning the loss of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, who passed away at Chulalongkorn Hospital yesterday evening.
The Supreme Patriarch celebrated his 100th birthday on October 3. He was appointed by His Majesty the King at the head of the Buddhist clergy in 1989 becoming the 19th Supreme Patriarch since the beginning of the Chakri dynasty. Born in 1913 in Kanchanaburi province, he was ordained as a novice at Wat Devasangaram (Wat Nua) in Kanchanaburi province.
His Majesty the King recognized the death of His Holiness with deep sadness and instructed that the Supreme Patriarch’s body should lie in state at Phra Tamnak Petch at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok where people can pay respects. As a sign of mourning, the palace officials will wear black for 30 days, starting today. Many Bangkok residents will do the same. The government declared a mourning period of 15 days for His Holiness. The flags will fly at half-mast for three days. Government officials across the country have also been ordered to wear black for 15 days.
