Somdet Thit Uthayo
Somdet Phra Wanrat was a Somdet Rachakhana in Thailand. He served as abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam and later Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, and also as Supreme Ecclesiastical Head of Southern Thailand.
Biography
Early life
Somdet Phra Wanrat was born as Khong in Ban Rua Yai, Bang Pa-in District, Ayutthaya Province, on Sunday, 6 August 1837, during the reign of King Rama III. His father’s name was Im, and his mother’s name was Sing.Ordination
At age 14, he ordained as a novice at Wat Kamphaeng, Bang Pa-in, and later studied Buddhist scriptures at Wat Sam Phraya. At age 21, he was fully ordained at Wat Sam Phraya in 1860. His preceptor was Phra Niroth Rangsi. His given monastic name was Uthayo.Education
After ordination, he studied Pali and Dhamma in several monastic schools, including under Ajahn Thong at Wat Bowonniwet, Somdet Phra Wanrat at Wat Suthat, and Phra Horathibodi at Wat Phra Kaew. The latter teacher renamed him Thit.In 1866, he passed the Pali examination and later achieved Parian Tham 4.
Abbotship
On 12 March 1882, he was appointed abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam. On 29 April 1888, he was transferred to be abbot of Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, where he served until his death in 1923.Ecclesiastical Titles
- 1881 – Elevated to Phra Srisomphot
- 1887 – Elevated to Phra Thep Moli
- 1892 – Elevated to Phra Thamma Chedi
- 1895 – Elevated to Phra Phimon Tham
- 1900 – Elevated to ''Somdet Phra Wanrat''