In a glittering centuries-old meeting at the Royal Temple of the Emerald Buddha, his Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn traded his red military uniform for the basic yellow robe of a Buddhist monk on November 6, 1978.
He then became known as” Vajiralonggarano Bhikku” and served 15 days at Wat Bovornnives, where his father was also a monk.
The ceremonies were watched by Their Majesties the King and Queen, members of the Royal Family, secret councillors, the excellent minister and his case, the Policy Council, regional assemblymen, commanders- in- chief of the armed forces, and Thais watching on tv.
One of the honoreee guests was visiting Foreign evil top Teng Hsiao-ping, who presented his fingers in a “wai” to the previously ordained priest.
Clad in a black” Mao” suit, Mr Teng was greeted with applause from the crowd. When he was about to provide the temple, he was met by former prime minister Kriangsak Chomanan, deputy interior minister Prem Tinasulanonda, and supreme chief Serm na Nakhon.
The 26- yr- ancient Crown Prince’s locks had been reverently cut by his parents, his mother and his parental grandmother, after which an expert barber shaved his head.
While the majority of people gathered at the sanctuary from their residence television sets, including community scouts from various parts of the nation, there were several thousand people gathered at the temple.
ROYAL SPLENDOUR
After a meeting in the Paisal Taksin Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, the royal family made their way to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at around 2.15 p.m.
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, donned a red coat and military garb. Her Majesty’s family, all in profound orange, Her Royal Highness The Princess Mother in yellow bright, Her Majesty the Queen in deep crimson royal fabric, Her Majesty the Queen in deep crimson royal velvet, and Her Majesty the Queen in deep crimson royal fabric, as well as Her Majesty the Queen’s Highness, all in deep blue, and Her Royal Highness The Princess Mother in pale yellow, created the lavish surroundings of the Emerald Buddha Temple to be filled
His Majesty the King lit candles in honor of Rama I and II, the two rulers of the Chakri Dynasty, and the statue of the Emerald Buddha. The statue is pictured here.
The Crown Prince and Their Majesties retired to a specially constructed room at the back of the temple so that the Crown Prince could have his head shaved. The monk’s robes were brought by a Royal Page.
As usual during an ordination ceremony, the King, as father of the monk- to- be, cut a ceremonial lock of hair, followed by Her Majesty the Queen. The Crown Prince’s hair was placed on a special pahn tong or golden tray, where the locks were placed. This ceremony is performed with an ordinary pair of scissors, but for this special occasion a special sword was used to cut the ceremonial hair locks.
The Crown Prince entered the blaze of brilliant candlelight reflected by the gold ornamentation as deep-toned gongs sounded and monks chanted. He was dressed in dazzling white and gold robes, in contrast to the plain white of the typical initiate.
This was indeed a great occasion, unique in Thailand’s history: For the first time, a royal ordination was televised so that millions could see it, a “once- in- a- lifetime ceremony”, as the television commentator put it at the time.
Nai Choon Yaen-eka, a skilled barber, conducted the head-shave ceremony. Afterwards, His Royal Highness took a ceremonial bath for purification. King Bhumibol Adulyadej used the customary three white dots of paste to decorate his son’s forehead.
Meanwhile, in the specially red- carpeted area of the temple outside the Crown Prince’s special room, then- prime minister Kriangsak Chomanan arrived with his guest of honour, vice premier Teng Hsiao- ping of China. Their counterpart, the Chinese ambassador, and an interpreter who spoke faultless Thai to vice premier Teng explained everything that had happened.
GLIMPSE OF GREATNESS
A large and orderly crowd had gathered outside the temple grounds and were patiently waiting for a glimpse of the adored Royal Family after the ceremony. If needed, boy scouts were present to provide their services.
Everyone took their places for the ceremony. The King and Queen are seated in special chairs beautifully decorated with the Royal Garuda emblem and sat facing the chapter of 30 senior monks led by His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch.
To the right of the Royal Family sat the government dignitaries, all in white uniforms, and their guests from China in dark blue.
Through the front door, the Crown Prince entered the chapel while shaving his head and wearing a pale gold robe above a white lower garment. He presented the traditional dork mai, toob, tian flowers, joss-sticks, and candle to the King, Queen, and Princess Mother. He then performed the same offerings to the statue of the Emerald Buddha, lighting candles in homage to the Triple Gem, and performing the five-point prostration while music from and conch-trums.
After saluting His Majesty the King, the monk- to- be or nahk ( serpent ) as he is called in Thai, received his set of robes from his father and went to kneel before his preceptor, the Supreme Patriarch, from whom he asked permission to become a monk.
Every layman, be he Crown Prince or pauper, must go through an identical ceremony to become a monk.
He must first be declared a samanera or novice. In a follow-up to the same ceremony, only those over the age of 20 can become full monks. The entire procedure was conducted in the ancient Pali language, and His Royal Highness, like every nahk, had to master some 40 lines of Pali word- perfectly before the ceremony.
After His Holiness had enlightened the Crown Prince about the significance of his coming monkhood, he decided to drape the monk’s upper robe over His Royal Highness ‘ neck.
Once more the trumpets and conch shells blew as the Crown Prince departed to don the saffron robes for the first time in a row, accompanied by His Majesty the King. During the course of doing this, the entire distinguished assembly stood. The tone of the music was that of a piphat, or Thai classical band.
The Crown Prince came back in a sarong and striped robe. Barefooted, he knelt and touched his head at his father’s feet in filial obedience. His robe revealed that he was a novice. He made fresh offerings to the Supreme Patriarch and asked in Pali to be given the precepts while being accompanied by his attendant.
This was done by His Holiness from a large, elaborately decorated, pear-shaped fan, known as a talabhat. With the glittering and distinguished audience, it was a scene of unforgettable splendour.
