FOUNDATION STONE LAID FOR MON STUDY CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE KINGDOM

 (Mon Unity League: August 9, 2005)

Bangkok -- A foundation stone was laid today for a Study Centre in the compound of the Mon temple near Kaosarn Road in Banglumphu in the heart of the Thai kingdom.  

The ceremony was led by the abbot of Wat Chana-Songkram, Somded Phra Mahar Thirajarn, Police General Chidchai Wanasathit, along with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister. 

The foundation stone ceremony was featured during an event to raise funds for the renovation of Wat Chana-Songkram as well as the building of the new Mon Study Center. 

During the event, volumes of the newly published Mon-Thai Dictionary were distributed to those who donated money to build the new centre.  The 300-page dictionary was compiled by Mon and Thai scholars using as a base work previously carried out by a Thai Mon, Nai Ramarnwong. 

Wat Chana-Songkram was one of the most important monasteries in the early Ratanakosin (Bangkok) period.  Before the Ayuthaya period, it was known as Wat Klangna -- monastery in the middle of rice field -- then it was called Phae Tongpu by the Mon people. 

During the 1780s, Crown Prince Mahasurasinhanat, the younger brother of King Rama the First, mobilized the Mon people throughout Thailand to fight against the enemies of the kingdom.  When Thailand was invaded by a neighboring country, the Mon people bravely assisted in the struggle against the enemy.  After Songkram kao-tharp – the 9 battalion war -- the Crown Prince renovated Wat Klangnar to reward the Mon soldiers who had played their part in winning the war.  The royal family donated the Wat to the Mon Buddhist monks and community and it was renamed Wat Chanasongkram meaning War Victory Temple.  

The Mon civilization flourished before the period of Dwarawaddy.  The Mons are pioneers of civilization in the South East Asia region and many cultures and traditions in the region came from the Mon (Matichon Newspaper, 02 August, 2005).