A wonderful expression of a sister's adulation

A GIFT OF LOVE

A wonderful expression of a sister's adulation

Story by NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN

A colossal pagoda being built in a lower northern province is a wonderful expression of love from an elder sister to her younger brother.

The sister was the late HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, who initiated a project to build a pagoda resembling the sacred Bodh Gaya in India's Bihar state for her younger brother, His Majesty the King.

The pagoda, also named after the famous Indian structure, is a square cone-shaped structure 28 metres tall and reddish-brown in colour. It stands on the hillside of Khok Phen mount in Tha Tako district.

The project was initiated to mark the King's 60th year on the throne in 2006 and his 80th birthday last year, and the late Princess did not hesitate and pushed ahead with the plan.

"I'll do it for my brother," Sumana Aphinorachet, the chairperson of the committee overseeing the project, quoted the Princess as saying.

Ms Sumana recalled that while she spoke, the Princess had a smile on her face and tears swelled in her eyes.

The Princess then asked how much money would be needed to complete the project, and offered to donate the entire amount, which was more than 150 million baht, to get it done.

The committee refused to take all the money from the Princess, as they expected contributions from the public.

In the end, the Princess donated one million baht and kindly accepted Wat Pa Siriwattanawisuth where the pagoda is situated under royal patronage.

"That's her religious masterpiece left for the country, and the last mission she did for her beloved brother," said Ms Sumana.

The Princess always asked about progress on the project. She was concerned that there would not be enough funding. When the committee held royal kathin ceremonies to raise funds, the Princess always made contributions.

Every step of the construction process was recorded on video so the Princess could watch its progress, said Ms Sumana.

"When the pagoda was almost finished, the Princess teased us, saying that the temple belonged to her [it was under her patronage], but the pagoda was built for the King and she looked forward to handing this gift to her brother," Ms Sumana recalled.

Before the Princess became terminally ill, she told the committee she would visit the temple, adding that she would stay at the foot of the hill if she was not allowed to go up because of health reasons. The committee then agreed to prepare a helicopter for her visit.

The pagoda's inauguration ceremony was held on Dec 19, 2007, after the Princess had been hospitalised, and it fell to Ms Sumana to conduct the ceremony. On the same day, the committee also presented a model of the pagoda to His Majesty the King when he visited the Princess at Siriraj hospital in Bangkok.

"With that, her mission [to build the pagoda for the King] was complete," said Ms Sumana.

Phra Kru Vijitsilaphorn, the abbot at the temple, said Princess Galyani Vadhana was a great contributor to the temple. Even though she was not a regular visitor, her kindness was always felt by the eight monks who lived there.

"I was told that the Princess was concerned about everyone here. She often asked how her monks had been living," said the abbot.

To express gratitude to her, the temple held a group ordination of 85 monks last year to celebrate her 84th birthday.

Supatorn Chantarakul, one of the 85 monks, said that before getting ordained the Princess had urged all of them to behave well, sleep in the place provided, perform their duties and come back to tell her of their experiences.

"When we went out to receive alms in the morning, I was overwhelmed to see people waiting for us and calling us the 'monks of the King's sister'," he said.

Last September the temple started building a pavilion for the Princess. Construction was still under way when the Princess passed away on Wednesday.

"Even though she will never come, we will arrange the place in a way as if to accommodate her stay," said the abbot. "There will be a living area for the Princess to sit, relaxing and reading books. The pavilion will also serve any members of the Royal Family who visit the temple."

An exhibition on the Princess' life and works will be held at the pavilion for visitors to study and acknowledge her devotion to the kingdom.

The temple also plans to build a day-care centre for pre-school children in the area to fulfil the Princess' dream.

"The Princess loved to be a teacher. We heard that she often taught small children while she went on missions with the Princess Mother. The centre will respond to her wishes to educate and care for small children," said the abbot.

When the Princess' condition deteriorated, the temple invited monks in the province and lay people to pray for her from Dec 31, and the activity continued even after her passing. The prayers start at 11pm every day and will carry on until the cremation ceremony.

"We're monks and we have nothing except prayers and merit to give to her," said the abbot.