The final rites of the late Chanmyay Sayadaw Bhaddanta Janaka Bhivamsa, Presiding Patron of Chanmyay Yeiktha Monastery in Mayangon Township, State Ovadacariya, Shwegyin Nikaya Maha Nayaka, Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Aggamaha Kammathanacariya Buddhist missionary Sayadaw, aged 99 and 79 vasa, took place at Chanmyay Yeiktha Monastery yesterday afternoon.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Sangha led by State Ovadacariya Shwegyin Nikaya Adhipati Ukkatha Maha Nayaka Dhammasenapati 16th Shwegyin Sangharaja Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika Maha Dhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara Sitagu Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nyanissara and Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Aggamaha Pandita Shwebo Sayadaw Bhaddanta Candavamsa Lankara Bhivamsa, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing, Union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of the Yangon Command, disciples of the Chanmyay Sayadaw at home and abroad, religious associations and guests.
The President and congregation paid homage to the remains of the Sayadaw and took the Five Precepts from the Vice-Chairman Sayadaw.
President U Min Aung Hlaing, Union Minister at the President’s Office U Khin Maung Yi, Union Minister for Religious Affairs U Tin Oo Lwin, Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Aung Naing Thu, the chair of the Chanmyay Yeiktha Monastery Chores Group and disciples covered the remains of the Sayadaw with a diamond-studded velvet.
The President donated offertories to Sitagu Sayadaw, while Union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of the Yangon Command and officials from the Yangon Region government offered alms to members of the Sangha.
Chanmyay Thazi Sayadaw Ashin Aggañana read out the brief biography of the late Chanmyay Sayadaw, and Presiding Patron of the Sishin Monastery from Maha Withokdayon Taikthit of Mandalay Ashin Vannita Lankara Bhivamsa presented the Maha Thera Gunapuja Gatha.
Joint Secretary of SSMNC Aggamaha Pandita Dvipitakadhara Vinaya Paliparagu Pitakattaya Paragu Bhaddanta Sirikancana Bhivamsa, the Secretary-General of the Shwegyin Nikaya, the Union minister for Religious Affairs and the chair of the Chanmyay Yeiktha Monastery Chores Group read out the messages of condolence from SSMNC, Shwegyin Gana Centre, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Chanmyay Yeiktha branches at home and abroad.
Sitagu Sayadaw delivered a Dhamma Samvega Katha and shared merits gained. Disciples led by Chanmyay Yeiktha Monasteries Presiding Patron Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita Bhivamsa, paid homage as a final apology to the late Chanmyay Sayadaw, asking for forgiveness for any faults they may have committed.
Members of the Sangha, the President, Union ministers and disciples conveyed the remains of the Sayadaw onto the Karaweik-decorated float leading to Suvanabhummi Event Park.
The remains of the Sayadaw were conveyed onto the cremation pyre. The Union minister for Religious Affairs and the Yangon Region chief minister paid homage to the remains. Later, the remains of the Sayadaw were cremated.
The late Chanmyay Sayadaw obtained the Pariyatti Sasanahita Dhammacariya and Sasanadhaja Siripavara Dhammacariya titles. He gave lectures on Pariyatti literature to student monks and novices at monasteries in Mandalay and Taungdwingyi. He served as a Pali Patisodhaka at the 6th Buddhist Council. The Sayadaw compiled 34 books in Myanmar and 10 in English. He established branches of Yangon’s Chanmyay Yeiktha monastery in Hinthada, PyinOoLwin, Hmawby, Aungban, Taunggyi, Lewe and Tamu and meditation centres in Bangkok of Thailand, Durban of South Africa and Springfield of the United States of America. The Sayadaw made 70 missionary trips to many countries and gave lectures on meditation at foreign universities such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and the University of Illinois, the University of Hawaii, the University of Vancouver, and Oberlin College in the United States. The Sayadaw served as State Ovadacariya Sayadaw from 2019 until his passing.
The Government offered the Aggamaha Kammathanacariya title to the Sayadaw in 1995 and the Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja title in 2009. The Sayadaw passed away at 11.03 am on Saturday, 19 September 2026.
The ceremony to pay homage by floating the cremated ashes of the late Chanmyay Sayadaw on the water will be held at the Pansodan Health Jetty on 26 September. — MNA/ TTA
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