Paramanuchitchinorot

Paramanuchitchinorot (Thai: ปรมานุชิตชิโนรส, RTGS: Paramanuchitchinorot or Poramanuchitchinorot; also spelt Paramanujita Jinorasa, Paramanujit Jinoros, etc.; 11 December 1790 – 9 December 1853) was a Buddhist writer and a prince of the Chakri dynasty. One of his well-known epic poems is Lilit Taleng Phai.[1] In 1851 he was appointed the Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin kingdom and remained in that position until his death.

Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krommaphra Paramanuchitchinorot
Statue of Paramanuchitchinorot at Wat Pho
Title	Supreme Patriarch of Siam
Personal
Born	Prince Wasukri 11 December 1790 Grand Palace, Bangkok, Siam
Died	9 December 1853 (aged 63) Wat Pho, Bangkok, Siam
Religion	Buddhism
Nationality	Thai
School	Theravada
Dharma names	Suvaṇṇaraṃsi
Senior posting
Predecessor	Ariyavangsayana (Nag)
Successor	Pavaresh Variyalongkorn

Life

Prince Wasukri (Thai: วาสุกรี) was a child of King Rama I and Lady Chui (Thai: จุ้ย), born at the Grand Palace he was the king's twenty-eight child. In 1802, he became a Samanera or novice monk at the age of 12 years old, eight years later he was ordained a Bhikkhu monk. As a monk he resided at Wat Pho and studied to become a religious scholar there. He was also learned in the Khmer and Pali languages. Two years later he was made the abbot of the temple.[2]

King Rama III, who was his nephew, frequently called upon him to write, translate, and compile books. During his reign the king gave his uncle the ecclesiastical rank equivalent to that of a deputy patriarch, in which he was put in charge of all the temples within Bangkok. The prince abbot was also a prolific poet and composed many religious and sacred verses. Many of these verse were made into inscriptions which can be found all over Wat Pho today, making the temple a place of worship and a place of learning.[2]

In 1851, the new monarch, King Rama IV, appointed the abbot as the Supreme Patriarch of the kingdom, and he was given the official title Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phra Paramanuchitchinorot. Unfortunately, this honour was briefly held, as he died on 9 December 1853. His body lay in state for a full year before his cremation.[2]

His residence at Wat Pho, Tamnak Wasukri, also called the poet's house, was built by Rama III as a gift, it is open once a year on his birthday.[2][3]

References

1. "Paramanuchit". Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
2. Matics, Kathleen I. (1971). "Homage to the Abbot Prince Paramanuchit Chinorot" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society.
3. "Wasukri Residence, Wat Phra Chetuphon". Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.