Nay Pyi Taw March 11
With the aim of conveniently holding religious ceremonies in Yangon North District, a ceremony to inaugurate Thiri Mingala Maha Sasana Beikman built by collective contributions of families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and wellwishers took place in the precinct of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image in Insein Township in conjunction with the auspiciously successful completion to mark the merit-sharing ceremony this morning, attended by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present at the ceremony were members of the Sangha led by State Obadacariya Presiding Nayaka of Ywama Pariyatti Monastery in Insein Township Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Tilokabhivamsa and Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abbot of Minkyaung Pahtamapyan Monastery in Thanlyin Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Candimabhivamsa, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San, senior military offi cers from the Offi ce of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Thet Pon, offi cers, other ranks and families of Yangon Station, well-wishers, invited guests, members of religious associations and guests.
First, Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Thet Pon, Head of Yangon Region Religious Affairs Department U Sein Maw and U Pyae Phyo Teza, on behalf of the well-wishers, cut the ribbon to open the Beikman. The Senior General unveiled the title of the Beikman and stone inscriptions and sprinkled scented water on them. Then, they posed for documentary photo.
The Senior General offered alms in the alms-bowl, fruits, fl owers and water to the Buddha Image upstairs of the Beikman. Then, the Senior General and congregation took the Five Precepts from State Obadacariya Presiding Nayaka of Ywama Pariyatti Monastery in Insein Township Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Tilokabhivamsa.Members of the Sangha recited Metta Sutta.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla in person offered the Sasana Beikman to Bhaddanta Tilokabhivamsa for the Buddha Sasana. The Senior General and wife together with those present donated alms to members of the Sangha.
The Commander of Yangon Command supplicated on the purpose of building the Sasana Beikman. Quartermaster-General Lt- Gen Nyo Saw handed over documents related to the Sasana Beikman to the Head of Yangon Region Religious Affairs Department. Then, the Senior General presented cash award to Htoo Group of Companies which built the Sasana BeikmanAfterwards, the Senior General and wife together with the congregation shared merits gained for all donations after taking a sermon delivered by Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abbot of Minkyaung Pahtamapyan Monastery in Thanlyin Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Candimabhivamsa.
Then, the Senior General and wife performed the rituals of golden and silver showers in commemoration of the successful opening of the Beikman and merit-sharing ceremony and offered day alms to members of the Sangha.
The Sasana Beikman was built starting from 1 March 2017 with more than Ks-1,900 million collective donations of families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and wellwishers to be able to annually hold the religious examinations for members of the Sangha and organize the Dhamma ceremonies and other religious ceremonies in Yangon North District in a smooth process.
A plan is underway to install one lift at the building for enabling Maha Thera Sayadaws to easily reach the upstairs of the Beikman where religious ceremonies will be held. In accord with the guidance of the Senior General, the Directorate of Military Engineers created the designs for the Beikman and supervised construction of Htoo Group of Companies.
The 168 feet long and 72 feet wide Beikman is a reinforced concrete twostorey facility decorated with Myanmar handicraft. The Beikman can give seats to about 500 members of the Sangha to take the religious examinations at the same time and it can accommodate 1,500 members of congregation to attend the Dhamma ceremonies and religious ceremonies.
