Ninety-Five members of the Sangha who passed the 71st Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Examination organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture were honoured yesterday in Yangon.

The ceremony held at the Mahapasana Cave in Thiri Mingalar Kaba-Aye hillock in Mayangon Township was attended by members of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw U Tin Maung Tun, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Kyi Min, members of the Yangon Region Government and their wives, departmental officials, and laypersons.

First, the congregation led by Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay received the Five Precepts from Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pananinsara Bhivamsa.
Afterwards, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara Bhivamsa, Chair of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, delivered the Ovadakahta (Words of advice).

On behalf of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee and Members of the Sangha and laypersons, the Sayadaw expressed his delight to observe the progress of Pariyatti Sasana in Myanmar as the winners of the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida were playing a top role in promoting the Pariyatti standard.

All Members of the Sangha, even though they pass the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida examination, have two duties: Learning and teaching the Buddha Dhamma and practicing the Vipassana, he said, adding that those who passed the exam are to work for the Buddha Sasana by teaching the next generation of monks earnestly.

Afterwards, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko supplicated a report on religious affairs.

In his speech, he said the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Examination is the torch of the Buddha Sasana in Myanmar and Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida sayadaws are in the vanguard of the Buddha Sasana in Myanmar.

He continued to say that he believed that Buddha Sasana will never disappear in Myanmar as far as the Pariyatti examinations at different levels exist in the country.

The first Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Examination was held in 1948 and it turns 71st this year. During the 70 year period, 14 Members of the Sangha won the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title, eight passed the Tipitakadhara examination title and many Members of the Sangha passed the Dwipitaka, two and half of Pitaka and one Pitaka examinations.

In conclusion, Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko said holding the ceremony to honour the winners of the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Examination reflects the good image of the progress and propagation of the Buddha Sasana in Myanmar in the future. This was followed by a presentation session and Vice President U Myint Swe presented the Diga Nikaya Kovida title for winning Dwipitaka to Ashin Jotika Linkara, aged 41 and Vassa 19, and Ashin Einda Linkara, aged 32 and Vassa 12, of Tipitaka Nikaya Monastery in Mingun Moemeik Hill in Sagaing.

Afterwards, Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw U Tin Maung Tun, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Kyi Min and departmental officials presented the titles to remaining winners for respective examinations.

The ceremony came to an end with a concluding sermon delivered by Thanlyin Minkyaung Saydaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Sandima Bhivumsa.

After the ceremony, the congregation led by Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay donated offertories to the Members of the Sangha.
The Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Examination lasts 33 days. —GNLM(Translated by Tun Tun Naing)