There have been five former abbots here, three of whom were Supreme Patriarchs. The abbots after King Mongkut were:

2.) His Holiness Prince Pavares Variyalongkorn. (Thai title:  Somdet Pra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Pavares Variyalongkorn (birth title: Phra Ong Chao Rerk), the second abbot from 1851 – 1892.

3.) His Holiness Prince Vajiranyanavarorassa. (Thai title: Somdet Pra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Vajiranyanavarorassa (birth title: Phra Ong Chao Manussanagmanop), the third abbot from 1892 – 1921,

4.) His Holiness Somdet Pra Sangharaj Chao Krom Luang Vajiranyanavongse (birth title: Mom Rajawong Chuen Nopavongse), fourth abbot from 1921 – 1958, and

5.) Phra Prommuni (Pin, Suvaco), fifth abbot from 1958 – 1961.

6.) His Holiness Somdet Pra Sangharaj Chao Krom Luang Vajiranyanasamvara (birth name: Charoen Ghotchawat, Suvaddhano), 19th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, sixth abbot from 1961-2013.

7.) Somdet Pra Vanarat (Jund, Brahamagutto), seventh abbot from 2015-2022.

8.) Phra Dhamvajiranyan (Jirapol) eighth abbot March 9, 2023 – present.

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Prince Pavares Variyalongkorn (1809-1893)

Second Abbot (1851-1893)

Birth: 14 September 1809

Abbot: 1851-1893

Death: 28 September 1893

Prince Pavares Variyalongkorn was born Thursday, September 14, 1809. He was the twenty-first child of Prince Jui, and first child of Noi Lek. As he was born at the commencement of the coronation ceremonies, King Rama II named him “Rerk”, or “Auspicious Time”. Subsequently, Prince Jui was appointed to the position of Viceroy during the reign of Rama II, under the title of Maha Senanurak.

When Maha Senanurak passed away, Princess Thepayavadee, Prince Pavares’ paternal aunt, took him to live in the Grand Palace, with Prince Mongkut (Rama IV) as his protege. Therefore, Prince Mongkut and Prince Rerk were well acquainted since their youth. 

Prince Pavares was ordained as a novice in 1822, and went to reside at Wat Mahadhatu with his preceptor, the 3rd Supreme Patriarch (Mee). He studied the fundamentals of the Pali language with Phra Nyanasombodhi (Rod) Chamnichamnan, and later passed an oral exam, conducted in the presence of Pali teachers convening at the Former Palace. In 1826, he contracted small pox and had to return to lay life in order to regain his health. After he regained his health, Maha Sakdi Phol Sep, the Viceroy during the Third Reign, wanted him to ordain as a novice again, which he did. The prince remained a novice until he was fully twenty years of age, in 1829. In preparing for the higher (bhikkhu) ordination ceremony, King Rama III had Prince Pavares disrobe first, to partake in a pre-ordination celebration, along with the king’s younger brother, Celestial Prince Abhorn, who was preparing for novice ordination. Prince Pavares’ preceptor was the 5th Supreme Patriarch (Don), Prince Paramanuchitchinorot and Phra Vinayarakkhita were his teachers.

Prince Mongkut received higher ordination in the traditional Thai Order in 1824, however, due to his concerns relating to the Monastic Code, he subsequently received ordination in the Mon lineage and moved to Wat Samorrai (Wat Rajadhiwat). Prince Pavares followed his example and was re-ordained in a water boundary, with Phra Sumedhacariya (Buddhavamso, Sai) acting as his preceptor, and Prince Mongkut as his teacher. He was given formal Dhamma training under the tutelage of Phra Vichienprecha (Poo), a royal scholar. 

Later, after King Rama III had conferred an ecclesiastical title upon Prince Mongkut, the king gave the fan formerly used by Prince Mongkut to Prince Pavares. The embroidered fan, made of linen with silver threads, was equal in level to those held by Pali scholars. 

In 1836, King Rama III invited Prince Mongkut to become abbot of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, having him moved from Wat Rajadhiwat to Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in a large boat procession. Prince Pavares came to Wat Bowonniwet Vihara at that time, accompanying Prince Mongkut in the flotilla.

In 1849, King Rama III conferred an ecclesiastical title upon Prince Pavares, complete with fan, robes and other regalia. The fan, known as “thom pat” in Thai, consisted of a copper frame, painted with multi color enamel—unusual when compared to the ubiquitous, embroidered fan. King Rama III passed away in 1851, and was succeeded by Prince Mongkut (Rama IV). In that same year, the king conferred upon Prince Pavares the title of Krom. The abbreviated version of his name was: kroma muen bowonransi suriyapan. However, the long version, as recorded on a gold plate, is as follows:

phra chao varavong ter kroma muen bowonransi suriyapan piya bhromacariyadhammavarayut patibat sudhaghananayaka buddhasasana dilokpavaraybanpajit sabbadhammikakiccakosol suvimolpricha pannyaagga mahasamanudom borombopit

On that occasion, the king offered Prince Pavares two fans: the first, the handle and finial were made of ivory, the finial was carved in the form of a crown. The fan body was  embroidered with gold thread, a crown motif visible in the middle. The second fan was made up entirely of ivory. Phraya Sudhammontri (Boonsri Buranasiri) created this fan for Rama IV, to offer to Prince Pavares. This fan reflected his position as head of the Dhammayut Order.

When Prince Chulalongkorn (Rama V r. 1868-1910) was ordained as a novice on July 19, 1866, Prince Pavares acted as his preceptor, and again, seven years later, when King Chulalongkorn received the higher ordination as a bhikkhu, on October 3rd, 1873. (cont…)

Prince Vajiranyanvarorasa (1860-1921)

Third Abbot (1893-1921)

Birth: 12 April 1860

Abbot: 1893-1921

Death: 2 August 1921

Prince Vajiranyanavarorasa was born Thursday, April 12, 1860. He was the forty-seventh son of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and fourth child of Pae, a first-class consort. His father named him Manusyanagmanop, or ‘young man who is a Naga amongst human beings’. The reason for this unusual name was due to the prince being born during a downpour, and nagas (supernatural serpents) are associated with water.

The following year, the prince’s mother died after giving birth to her fifth child. Her five children were: Princess Ying Yaowalak, Princess Pak Pimonphan, Prince Kasemsan Sopak, Prince Manusyanagmanop, and Princess Banjopbenjama. Princess Vorasetsuda (Phra Ong Chao Putri), a daughter of King Rama III and Tao-song-kandan and was a relative of Pae,  took in all five children. 

Prince Vajiranyana’s preliminary education was conducted by the ladies of the inner court. Ms. Nok, daughter of Phra Sri Virot, taught the Siamese alphabet and reading, while Princess Vorasetsuda taught math. At the age of eight, he undertook the study of Pali language and Khmer script with Phraya Pariyatti Dhammatada (Piam), along with many of his half siblings, at the Suddhaisawan hall, in the Grand Palace. He could translate the Dhammapada before he was ordained as a novice. Furthermore, he studied English and French with Francis Patterson, as well as other contemporary subjects. 

Prince Vajiranyana was ordained as a novice at the age of fourteen along with several of his half brothers, in the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha on August 7, 1873. Prince Pavares Variyalongkorn was his preceptor, while Prince Thammunhisa administered the Refuges and Precepts. He resided at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara for two and a half months before returning to lay life.

At the age of twenty, the prince received higher, bhikkhu ordination at the Emerald Buddha Chapel on Friday, June 27, 1879, with the monastic name Manusanago, given to him by his preceptor, Prince Pavares Variyalongkorn. His teacher (kammavacacariya) was Phra Candara Gocarakhun (Yim, Candavamso).

After having spent his first rains retreat at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Prince Vajiranyanavarorasa went to reside at Wat Makutkasatriyaram, to study the Dhamma with Phra Candara Gocarakhun and he studied the Pali language with Phra Brohmmuni (Fang, Kittisaro). While there, he underwent a reaffirmation of his ordination (dalhikamma) on a raft in front of Wat Rajadhiwas, as per Dhammayut tradition for royals, on January 3, 1879. His preceptor was Phra Candara Gocarakhun (Yim, Candavamso), while his teacher was Phra Trailokacariya (Dej Thanacaro), abbot of Wat Thepsirintarawat, was his teacher. 

After the prince had been in the Order for three years he applied for the Pali oral exams, which took place in the Green Room of the Phra Borom Rajasathit Maholarn. The committee was made up of ten senior monks under the direction of Prince Pavares Variyalongkorn. Prince Vajiranyanavarorasa passed the Fifth level of Pali studies at that time, translating the Dhammapada Commentary, Mangalatthadipani, and the Saratthasamgaha.

King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) bestowed the title of Kroma Muen Vajiranyanavarorasa upon his younger brother in 1881, giving him a senior ecclesiastical rank, designating him a secondary leader (chao gana rong) of the Dhammayut Order. (Cont…)

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H.H. Somdet Phra Sangharaj Chao Kroma Luang Vairanyanavongse (MR Chuen Nopavongse)

Fourth Abbot (1921 – 1958)

Birth: 22 November 1872

Abbot 1921-1958

Death: 11 November 1958

Somdet Phra Sangharaj Chao Kroma Luang Vairanyanavongse was born Friday, November 22, 1872, the son of His Serene Highness (Mom Chao) Thnom and Hmom Aim. His paternal grandfather was Prince Kroma Muen Mahesvara Sivavilas (Phra Ong Chao Nopavongse), the first-born son of King Mongkut, before he ascended the throne. MR Chuen was born in his father’s residence in the Nopavongse palace, which once stood on the eastern side of the Banglampoo canal, opposite of Wat Bowonniwet. The palace no longer exists. 

 His Holiness studied the rudiments of Thai language in the Nopavongse Palace, in his youth, prior to his ordination as a novice (samanera). At an appropriate age, he turned his attention towards royal service and became a royal page to HRH Prince Vajirunhis,  Crown Prince of Siam, during the reign of Rama V. He was employed in the Horse Infantry, of the security detail for the Crown Prince and his assignment was to accompany the crown prince when he was on duty. He resided in the Grand Palace at the residence of Princess Srinagsawat, his tutor and benefactor. 

Lower Ordination (Pabbajja)

After achieving an appropriate age for novice ordination in 1885, and taking leave of HRH Prince Vajirunhis, His Holiness was ordained as a novice (samanera) at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Phra Brommuni (Meun, Sumitto) of Wat Boromniwas was his preceptor. At that time, His Holiness Kroma Praya Pavares was advanced in years and had stopped acting as preceptor, but allowed other qualified monks to give ordination, and the ordinand to reside in the monastery. According to one oral story, His Serene Highness, Thanom, His Holiness’ father, brought him to Prince Vajiranyanvarorasa, while still holding the rank of Kroma Muen, requesting him to act as his son’s teacher and benefactor. When Prince Vajiranyanavarorasa went to reside at Wat Makutkasatriyaram, His Holiness Vajiranayanavongse went along as well. With Prince Vajiranyanavarorasa’s guidance, as well as that of Hmom Chao Phra Pabhakorn, and Phra Suddhasilasamvorn, he passed the 5th grade of Pali studies while still a novice. 

Higher Ordination (Upasampada)

His Holiness received higher ordination at Wat Bowonniwet on June 27, 1892, with Phra Brommuni (Kittisaro, Fang), of Wat Makutkasatriyaram, as preceptor, and Prince Vajiranyanavarorasa as teacher (kammavacacariya). Her Majesty, Sri Savarindhira, the Queen Mother (later, Queen Grandmother to Rama VIII and IX) was his patron.

Buddhaavaasa –

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