State Ovadacariya Sayadaw passes away

Presiding Sayadaw of the Ponnamayama Zay Monastery in Ward 4, Nyaungdon in Maubin District, Ayeyawady Region, State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Bhaddanta Osadha Bhivamsa (Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru, Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika), aged 104, vasa 84, passed away at 10:45 am, on Monday, 16 February 2026, 1st Waxing of Taboung, 1387 ME, according to the Department of Religious Affairs.

Profile of Sayadaw

Sayadaw-to-be was born in Sanni Chaung Village, Myanaung Township, Hinthada District, Ayeyawady Region, to U Bo Chain and Daw Mal Thin, on the 5th Waxing of Kason, 1284 ME, on Sunday.

Ordination

In 1298 ME, at Sanni Chaung Zeyatheingi Monastery in Sanni Chaung Village, Myanaung Township, he entered the novice life under the patronage of Sayadaw Bhaddanta Aggavamsa, receiving support from his grandfather U Bo Hlaing and grandmother Daw Khin. Later, on the 10th Waxing of Tabaung, 1303 ME, under the preceptorship of Sayadaw Bhaddanta Aggavamsa, and with the support of U Bo Hlaing, Daw Khin, and Daw Thae Hlaing, he was ordained into a noble monkhood.

Learning Pariyatti

Sayadaw studied Pariyatti under distinguished Sayadaws – Bhaddanta Aggavamsa of Zeyatheingi Monastery in Sanni Chaung Village, Myanaung Township, Bhaddanta Paññabala, Bhaddanta Atula, Bhaddanta Ketu, and Bhaddanta Vinayaka of Wailuwun Monastery in Kyonpyaw, Bhaddanta Sundara and Bhaddanta Kusala of Zay Monastery in Nyaungdon, Bhaddanta Vamsika of Poppa Monastery, Bhaddanta Sudassana of Htonebo Monastery, Bhaddanta Kheminda Bhivamsa of Kyaunggyi Monastery in Thabyu Village, Bhaddanta Suriya Bhivamsa of Zawtika Yone Monastery, Htilin Taik in Mandalay, Bhaddanta Kalyana of Weyanbontha Taik Aungnan Sayadaw, and Bhaddanta Okkamsa and Bhaddanta Narada of Phayagyi Taik. Through his studies, he obtained the titles Sasanadhaja Siripavara Dhammacariya, Ahbhivamsa Suddhamma Pariyatti Dhammacariya.

Religious efforts

To promote religious knowledge and moral conduct within the township, he opened and taught religious literature classes, Mingala courses, Abhidhamma classes, and Dhammacakka courses on auspicious days. For the advancement of Pariyatti Sasana, he served as Maha Nayaka of the Myanmar Suddhamma Pariyatti Pahtamapyan Examination Association, as Patron Nayaka and Maha Nayaka of the Nyaungdon township Nagani Shin Samanera Examination, and taught Pariyatti from 1319 ME to 1342 ME. He participated in the Sixth Synod as a member of the Suddhamma Nikaya Pali Bhanaka group. Starting with the first multi-Sangha organization elections in 1342 ME, he served successively as member and joint secretary of the State Sangha Central Working Committee and the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, and from 1366 ME to 1372 ME as joint secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee. He also served as Ovadacariya executive member of the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, Chairman of the Central Administrative Board of State Pariyatti Sasana Universities, and carried out revisions and edited the Sangha Nayaka Handbook and Vinicchaya Handbook, and served as State Ovadacariya from 2024 to date.

Receiving religious titles

In recognition of his diligent efforts in serving the Buddha Sasana, and being endowed with virtues attributes, the government offered him the title “Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru” in 2004 and “Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika” in 2007.

Passing away

While devotedly exerting the duties for the benefit of the Sasana, the Venerable Sayadaw passed away at the age of 104, 84 vasa, on the 1st Waxing of Tabaung, 1387 ME (16 February 2026), Monday, at 10:45 am, according to the Department of Religious Affairs.

MNA/KTZH

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