On 20 October 2026, Venerable Phrakhruvijit Ar-Pha-Korn, ecclesiastical chief of Khlong Luang district and abbot of Wat Sawangphop presided over the opening ceremony of the 2026 Sanam Luang Dhamma Test for Elementary Level at Kaew-Sa-Ra-Phad-Nuek 2 Meeting Hall of Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
In this event, Venerable Phrakhrupaladrattanaveerawat, advisor to ecclesiastical chief of Pathum Thani and abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, acted as associate chairman of Examination Venue Committee to read the message of Most Venerable Somdet Phramahaveerawong, committee member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand and director of the Royal Dhamma Studies Office. He also assigned the Dhamma Studies Department under Dhamma Studies Institution of Wat Phra Dhammakaya to facilitate this Dhamma test arrangement for 384 monks/novices. For this Dhamma test at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Most Venerable Somdet Phramahavachirakhundilok, associate director of the Royal Dhamma Studies for the Central Region and abbot of Wat Sam Phraya, along with Most Venerable Phrathepwachiradhammajarn, ecclesiastical chief of Pathum Thani province and abbot of Wat Prayoondhammaram, visited the test venue at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in order to encourage all examinees and examination committee.
“The Dhamma Studies that the monastic teachers formulated have been the foundation of preserving Buddhism. Dhamma studies not only constitute the basic monastic discipline, required for Buddhist propagation but also have the main purpose of keeping the monastic trainees steadfast in Buddhist principles for training themselves physically, verbally and mentally as the respected religious heirs. “ A part of Most Venerable Somdet Phramahaveerawong’s speech identifies.
The Sanam Luang Dhamma Test originated from Thai monks who held Pali Test at Sanam Luang in 1888 during the reign of King Rama V in order to establish a standardized evaluation of Dhamma knowledge. Later, in 1916, the monastic community considered it necessary for monks and novices to meet the same standard of knowledge in monastic discipline and sermons. The Sanam Luang Dhamma Test has been continuously held since then.
