Revered Thai Buddhist spiritual leader Somdet Phra Thera Yanamuni and a delegation pays a courtesy visit to Chief Minister

Gandhinagar :  Thailand’s revered Buddhist spiritual leader Somdet Phra Thira Yanamuni paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar.

A Thai spiritual and cultural delegation from Thailand, under the leadership of the supreme patriarch Somdet Phra Thera Yanamuni, is on a 7-day visit to India and will spend 5 days in Gujarat.

During this meeting with Chief Minister, the delegation expressed condolences for those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad.

The delegation includes seven citizens from Thailand, including two senior monks from the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand and the Abbot of Wat Debsirindrawas. Professor Tongthong Chandransu, advisor to the Prime Minister of Thailand, is also visiting Gujarat with the delegation. Actor Gagan Malik, who played a key role in TV serials based on the Ramayana and the life of Lord Buddha, is also part of this delegation.

During his recent visit to Thailand, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the sending of the sacred relics of Lord Buddha found at Devni Mori in Gujarat’s Aravalli district to Thailand for an exhibition.

The Prime Minister of Thailand also assured cooperation in expanding the Buddhist Circuit in India. Sites from Gujarat have also been included in this Buddhist Circuit.

In this context, the revered Buddhist spiritual leader Somdet Phra Thera Yanamuni is visiting India with his delegation from June 16 to June 22. During this visit, from June 17 to June 21, he will visit Vadodara, the Statue of Unity, and Dwarka.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel expressed confidence that the visit of the revered Thai Buddhist leader Somdet Phra Thera Yanamuni to Gujarat will serve as a message of peace and harmony. He also stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this visit would also help further strengthen the bridge of India-Thailand relations.

The Chief Minister referenced the shared cultural unity, peace, and values of “Dhamma” between India and Thailand. He also recalled Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message at the UNGA in 2019, where he said, “We belong to a country that has given the world Buddha, not war.”

Tourism Secretary Dr. Rajender Kumar gave the delegation a detailed briefing on Gujarat’s rich Buddhist heritage. He shared information on the heritage of Buddhist stupas, viharas, and rock-cut cave series found in Gujarat, and the historical legacy spanning from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th CE.

The delegation showed deep interest in the Buddhist heritage of Vadnagar and its connection to Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang). They were particularly eager to learn about the history of Devni Mori and the relics of Lord Buddha discovered there. The delegation was also informed about the efforts of the state government and the grand plan envisioned by the Prime Minister to develop Devni Mori into a global Buddhist pilgrimage destination, including a replica of the submerged stupa.

During the meeting with the Chief Minister, Somdet Phra Thera Yanamuni referred to the statue of Swami Vivekananda in the Chief Minister’s chamber and mentioned that he had spent time at Belur Math in Kolkata. He also spoke of his deep connection with Swami Vivekananda.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel honored the revered Buddhist spiritual leader Somdet Phra Thera Yanamuni with a memento. The Buddhist leader also presented the Chief Minister with Buddhist literature publications, statues, and other commemorative gifts.

The meeting was also attended by Tourism Minister Shri Mulubhai Bera, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri M. K. Das, and Additional Principal Secretary Smt. Avantika Singh and Tourism Secretary Dr. Rajender Kumar.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat