Nay Pyi Taw December 18
Sasanwunhsaung Association sponsored the 31st Sasanawunhsaung Thamanekyaw oral exam which is being held at the Tatmadaw Dhammayon, Shinthamane Dhammayon and Mingalabyuha Dhammayon at the eastern stairway of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon from 17 to 19 December with the aim of enhancing Sila and general knowledge and promoting the the Sasana. Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and family offered day meal to monks, novices and nuns from the various parts of Myanmar today.
Present on the occasion were Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Myo Zaw Thein of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Thet Pon and officials.
First, the Senior General and party observed the monks, novices and nuns sitting for the exam. They then offered day meal to the monks led by Dwipitakadhaja Pali Paragu Bhaddanta Vajiya Panilankarabhivamsa of Maha Withokdayon monastery in Bahan Township.Then, the Senior General and wife and family members and senior military officers offered alms to candidate monks and novices and day meal to nuns.
In the oral exam, the contestants sat for Viniya Pali on the first day, Ingoakhto Pali on the second day and Athakahta on the third day. A total of 2,848 monks, novices and nuns from across the country sat for the oral exam—1,373 in the first grade, 978 in the second grade and 497 in the third grade. They need to sit for a written examination only after taking an oral exam.
Monks, novices and nuns have to take the oral exam step by step. They need to take the exam for first-grade Viniya Pali, Ingoakhto Pali and Dhamapada Pali, second-grade Viniya Pali, Ingoakhto Pali and Dhamapada Pali and third-grade Viniya Pali, Ingoakhto Pali and Dhamapada Pali. They will be conferred on Sasana Linkara title only after passing the third grade. After the answer papers have been checked in detail by lecturer Sayadaws from the teaching monasteries across the country, the result will be announced. The first-grade and second-grade exam are for monks, novices and nuns at the age of less than 20. The third-grade exams is for those aged up to 23.
The monks, novices and nuns who win the first-grade and second grade exams will be presented with awards and certificates on 12 February 2019 (Union Day). The monks, novices and nuns who win the third-grade exam will be conferred on Sasana Linkara title. Those Pali oral exams are conducted by religious associations in townships across the country as soon as the month of Thadingyut ends.
