A CEREMONY to confer titles and certificates on Dighanikay-akovida, Vinayakovida and Ubha-tovibhingakovida title recipient monks who passed the written test of 73rd Tipitakadhara Tipi-takakovida selection examination sponsored by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture of the Republic of Union of Myanmar took place at Maha Pasana Ordination Cave at Kaba Aye hillock, Mayangon Township, Yangon Region at 8 am yesterday.
Present were Sayadaws led by Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddham-majotika Principal of Bhamo Monastery in Mandalay Dr Bhaddanta Kumara Bhivamsa, Ovadacariya Sayadaws of 73rdTipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection examination board, Tipitaka Dhammabhandagari-ka Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Sayadaws, Tipitaka Pucchaka Sayadaws, supervisory Sayadaws, invited members of the Sangha, Dighanikayakovida, Vinayakovida and Ubhatovibhin-gakovida title recipient monks who passed the written test of 73rd Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection examination, Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, SAC Member U Moung Har and wife, Union Minister for Information U Chitt Naing, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko and wife, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win and wife, Chairman U Hla Soe of Yangon Region Administration Council (YRAC) and wife, Lt-Gen Thet Pon and senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), the commander of Yangon Command, officials, Sasana Nuggaha title holder donors, donors of meals for monks who took part in the religious examination and guests.
First, students of Fine Arts high school sang a religious song and 108 bells around the cave were rung for nine times.
The congregation led by the Vice-Senior General received the Five Precepts from Vice-Chair of Ovadacariya of Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection exami-nation board Principal Sayadaw of Moegaung Monastery, Hinthada, Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Suddhamasara Bhivamsa.
Dr Bhaddanta Kumara Bhivamsa read out the Saraniya Ovada of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee.The Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture supplicated on religious matters. The Vice-Senior General presented Dighanikayakovida title and certificate to Ashin Visud-dha of Tipitaka Mahagandawin Nikaya Monastery, Dagon Myothit (East) Township, Yangon Region and Ashin Pantavalankara of Mingunmoemeik Konmyay Tipitaka Nikaya Monastery in Sagaing.U Moung Har, Union ministers, the chairman of YRAC, Lt-Gen Thet Pon, the Yangon command commander and officials presented Dighanikayakovida title and certificate to Ashin Ananda Panditalankara of Mingun Tipitakanikaya Monastery, Sagaing, Vinayakovida titles and certificates to Ashin Mingalacara of Mingun Tipitakanikaya Monastery, Sagaing, Ashin Nandi Malankara and Ashin Sumangala of Tipitaka Mahagandawin Nikaya Monastery, Dagon Myothit (East) Township, Yangon Region and Ubhatovibhingakovida titles and certificates to Ashin Obhasa (Wetlet), Ashin Pannasiri (Hsisai), Ashin Mantalalankara of Mingun Tipitakanikaya Mon-astery, Sagaing, Ashin Pannasira (Hsisai), Ashin Mantalalankara, and Ashin Cadimalankara and Ashin Pannasamilankara of Tipitaka Mahagandawin Nikaya Monastery, Dagon Myotthit (East) Township, Yangon Region.
Secretary of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Principal Sayadaw of Thanlyin Minkyaung Pathamabyan Learning Centre Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa delivered a sermon and the congregation led by the Vice-Senior General shared the merits gained. Offertories were presented to the title recipient Sayadaws.
The annually held Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection examination emerged in 1948 when the country regained independence as the idea to raise religious scholars who could memorize the Three Pitaka was conceived at the Sixth Buddhist Synod. Candidates can enter the written test of the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection examination only after passing the oral test. Only monks or novic-es who have already passed the Pali Pahtamapyan (First Grade) examination or Vinayavidu level or Samanaekyaw (Third Grade) or Cetiyingana or Sakyasiha examination can sit for the Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection examination. During the 73 times of the examination, fifteen Sayadaws including the first Tipitakadhara Dhammab-handagarika Mingun Sayadaw Ashin Vicittasara Bhivamsa passed it. Eleven living Tipi-takadhara Tipitakakovida title recipient Sayadaws and seven Sayadaws who have memorized the Three Pitaka are serving the interest of the Sasana.
MNA
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