Final rites event: Cremation of the remains of late BhamoSayadaw

Chairman of the State SanghaMahaNayaka Committee and Presiding Sayadaw of Bhamo Monastery DrBhaddanta Kumara Bhivamsa, 94 years old, vasa 74, peacefully passed away at Bhamo Monastery in MahaAungMyay Township in Mandalay on 25 May.

The final rites event of late BhamoSayadaw was held at the monastery on Tuesday afternoon. The ceremony was graced by Sanghas and monks led by Secretary of the State SanghaMahaNayaka Committee and Presiding Sayadaw of Thanlyin Min KyaungPahtaMapyan Teaching Monastery DrBuddhantaSandimaBhivamsa , the State Ovadasariya ShweKyinSasana Sayadaw Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist AcademiesDr. AshinNyanissara, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Joint Secretary of the SAC Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo,Council member Lt-Gen YarPyae, Union Ministers, Mandalay region Chief Minister, senior military officers, lay persons, monks and nuns, religious associations and locals.

First, the Prime Minister and congregation took the Five Precepts from Thanlyin Min Kyaung Sayadaw. The Prime Minister, Union Minister for Religious Affairs U KoKo, Mandalay Region Chief Minister and the Commander of Central Command then covered the remains of late Sayadaw with a diamond velvet cloth.

After that, Secretary of the State SanghaNayaka Committee Thanlyin Min KyaungSayadaw read out Sanwaiga message of the State SanghaNayaka Committee. The Union Minister then read out condolence message of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

Officials read out messages of condolences sent by Sri Lankan Prime Minister and the Chairman of the AmrapuraSangha Council of Sri Lanka among the condolences sent by Heads of State from local and abroad and religious organizations, condolences sent by Pope Francis, All Myanmar Islamic Religious Organization and the Buddhist Association of China respectively.

The Prime Minister and wife donated offertories to Thanlyin Min KyaungSayadaw and the congregation offered donated items to Sayadaws and monks. Later, the congregation listened to Dhamma Samvega verses from Mandalay Ma SoeYein Monastery Maha Nayaka Sayadaw and they then shared merits gained.

Then, a brief biography of the Chairman of the State SanghaMahaNayaka Committee BhamoSayadaw was read out. The congregation led by the Prime Minister paid final obeisance to the late Sayadaw.

It was followed by the conveying ceremony of the remains of late Sayadaw to the cremation field in Chan MyaThazi Township. 8 disciple monks, 8 senior officials led by the Prime Minister, 8 persons from the Leading Committee and 8 relatives conveyed the remains of late Sayadaw to the decorated float from respective designated places to carry the cremation field.

In the conveying the remain of the Late Sayadawgyi, the decorated float carried the remain of the Late Sayadawgyi is accompanied by the logistic vehicle, vehicles of most senior venerable Sayadawgyis, vehicle carried the image of the late Sayadawgyi, vehicles carried Sasana flag and triangle gong by the lay men disciples, 500 monks in front of the decorated float, 500 monks at the rear, relatives of Sayadawgyi, Wut Association, 50 men disciples in white dress at each left and right sides.

The third part of final ritual was continued by conveying the remain of the Late Sayadawgyi from the decorated float to the cremation tower decorated with the tiers by 8 monk disciples and responsible officials.

The Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister paid homage to the remain of the Late Sayadawgyi. Then, the members of Sangha recited Samvega verses and paid final obeisance asking forgiveness.

After saying "Sadhu" three times, the remain of the Late Venerable Sayadawgyi was cremated by pressing the auto button by the disciple monks.  The ritual of floating the ashes of the remain of the Late Venerable Sayadawgyi will be held in the morning on June 7 at Mayangyan jetty at Ayeyawady River.