A CEREMONY to honour 97 members of the Sangha who passed the 77th Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Examination organized by the Department of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture was held in conjunction with the certificate-offering ceremony at Maha Pasana Cave on Thirimingala Kaba Aye Hill in Yangon yesterday morning.
Before the ceremony, the congregation led by Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win took the Five Precepts from Presiding Patron of Moegaung Monastery from Hinthada Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Sudhammacara Bhivamsa who is Vice-Chair of the Ovadacariya Board of the selection examination.
Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Presiding Patron of Thanlyin’s Minkyaung Buddhism Learning Centre Aggamaha Pandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa delivered a Saraniya Ovadakatha.
Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin supplicated the religious affairs.
The Vice-Senior General offered the title and certificate of passing the exam to Ashin Setthañana Lankara from Tipitaka Maha Gandawin Nikaya Monastery of Dagon Myothit (East) Township who won the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title due to passing the oral and written exams of all Tri Pitaka tratises.
SAC Member Dr Ba Shwe also offered the Dighanikayakovida title and certificate of passing the exam to Ashin Paññadhaja Lankara from Tipitaka Nikaya Monastery from Dagon Township of Yangon Region and Ashin Candobhasa Lankara from MahaWithokdayon Shwegyin Taikthit from Dagon Township of Yangon Region and the Dighabhanaka title and certificate of passing the exam to Ashin Janappiya Lankara and Ashin Tiloka from Tipitaka Nikaya Monastery from Momeik Hill of Mingun in Sagaing, Sagaing Region, respectively.
Union Ministers U Maung Maung Ohn, U Tin Oo Lwin and Dr Thet Khaing Win, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command and officials presented Dighabhanaka title to nine monks, Vinayakovida title to one monk, Vinayadhara title to 29 monks, Ubhato Vibhangakovida title to seven monks and Ubhato Vibhangadhara title to 46 monks respectively.
Abbot of Dhammathameikdi Monastery from New Masoeyein Monastery Aggamaha Pandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Maha Dhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara Bhaddanta Vasettha Bhivamsa, who is Secretary of SSMNC, delivered a sermon, and the congregation led by the Vice-Senior General shared merits gained.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, and well-wishers donated alms to examination winner monks.
A total of 97 members of the Sangha passed the 77th examination. They were one Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title winner, two Dighanikayakovida title winners, 11 Dighabhanaka title winners, one Vinayakovida title winner, 29 Vinayadhara title winners, seven Ubhato Vibhangakovida title winners and 46 Ubhato Vibhangadhara title winners.
The Tipiṭakadhara Tipiṭakakovida Selection Examination was held to identify outstanding individuals within the Buddha’s dispensation who possess exceptional ordination merit, profound wisdom, and complete knowledge to honour and promote the Pariyatti Sāsana, to confer the highest recognition on those who contribute to the Sāsana; and to identify and venerate distinguished individuals who uphold the Piṭaka treatises dedicated to Dhamma Ceti. Up to the recently completed examinations during these 77 years, a total of 17 venerable members of the Sangha have been honoured with the prestigious title of Tipiṭakadhara Tipiṭakakovida. Furthermore, upon completing five years after receiving the Tipiṭakadhara title, these venerable members of the Sangha are conferred with the Tipiṭakadhara Dhammabhandāgārika title by the State. So far, 15 Tipiṭakadhara Dhammabhandāgārika Sayadaws have received this higher distinction. It is expected that more Tipiṭakadhara Tipiṭakakovida title winner members of the Sangha will continue to emerge in the future.
The ceremony was also attended by members of SSMNC, Ovadacariya Sayadaws from the Selection Examination Board, Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandāgārika title winner Sayadaws and Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Sayadaws.
After the ceremony, the Vice-Senior General and party inspected the painting at the Maha Pasana Cave, repair of sound-proof walls and pipelines, installation of a 630-kilogramme elevator and fixing the lightning conductor and left necessary instructions. — MNA/TTA
