Former Army Commander-in-Chief, General Apirat Kongsompong, entered the monkhood this morning (Thursday) at Hong Rattan Aram Temple in a simple ceremony attended by relatives and close friends.
Among the attendees were Supreme Commander General Chalermphol Srisawat, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Chartchai Sirvorakhan and Pol Gen Suwat Jaengyodsook, the national police chief.
Hong Rattan Aram Temple, in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, was reportedly built in the time when Ayutthaya was the capital of, was later known as, Siam and then Thailand. It is reputed to have been a training ground for the warriors of King Taksin, who were to fight against the Burman intruders. There is also a well, where water was drawn for use in a ceremony to bless the warriors before going into battle.
The temple has been revered by many members of the Thai military’s top brass, who visit the temple to pay their respects to King Taksin. Several of them have entered the monkhood at this temple after retirement, including those who were involved in the military coup to oust the Government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.
General Apirat, currently Deputy Secretary-General of the Bureau of the Royal Household, will spend one month in the monkhood at the temple. He had earlier announced that he would enter the monkhood to make merit for the late King Bhumibol and the Queen Mother HM Queen Sirikit.
