Famous religious exam underway: 5-Day long 117th Thakkyathiha Examination holding

117thThakkyathiha Examination of Mandalay Pariyatti SasanaHita Association is being held from 22nd to 26th of May. It is significant as the difficult one among the Sasana exams, and has been annually sat by Sanghas from local and international.

236 members of Sangha from regions and states siting the exam this year including 170 members of Sangha for Santintan and 51 for Sarchatan at present while they all have to sit for all 5 days but Sarchatan will be only 3 days. 160 members of Sangha sat Sartintan last year and 10 Sanghas passed the exam. 40 members of Sangha sat Sarchatan last year also and only 7 Sanghas secured Abiwuntha title.

Chairman, Pariyatti SasanaHita Association, Thein Tun (SarrTaung), said " The normal ones couldn’t able to answer this exam. For the Sanghas who passed the Sarchatan exam, they become Presiding Nayaka Sayadaws at the respective monasteries. If they reside within Mandalay Municipal, they become the one of veneration of our association. And monthly donation is made including rice, cooking oil and salt. We have age limit; over 27 years will not be allowed for Sarchatan. During 125 years of period, there are 9 Sanghas who passed both Sartintan and Sarcahtan continuously without taking a break. Special title is also conferred for them. The exam passed monks and Sayadaws are well worthy of veneration."

The association is holding 3 types of examination annually and has held Thakkyathiha exam for 116 times, Thamanay exam for 72 times and Nikal exam for 53 times successfully till 1384 ME since its establishment in 1260 ME.