Somdet Phra Wanrat (Thai: à ¸ªà ¸¡à ¹Âà ¸Âà ¹Âà ¸Âà ¸Âà ¸£à ¸°à ¸§à ¸±à ¸Âà ¸£à ¸±à ¸Â; born Khong, later known as Thit, dharma name Uthayo) was a Somdet Rachakhana in Thailand. He served as abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam and later Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, and also as Supreme Ecclesiastical Head of Southern Thailand (Chao Khana Yai Fang Tai).
Somdet Phra Wanrat was born as Khong in Ban Rua Yai, Bang Pa-in District, Ayutthaya Province, on Sunday, 6 August 1837 (Rattanakosin Era 56), during the reign of King Rama III. His fatherâÂÂs name was Im, and his motherâÂÂs name was Sing.
At age 14, he ordained as a novice at Wat Kamphaeng, Bang Pa-in, and later studied Buddhist scriptures at Wat Sam Phraya. At age 21, he was fully ordained at Wat Sam Phraya in 1860 (some sources say 1861). His preceptor was Phra Niroth Rangsi (Rueang). His given monastic name was Uthayo.
After ordination, he studied Pali and Dhamma in several monastic schools, including under Ajahn Thong (Parian 7) at Wat Bowonniwet, Somdet Phra Wanrat (Daeng Silavatthano, Parian 8) at Wat Suthat, and Phra Horathibodi (Chum) at Wat Phra Kaew. The latter teacher renamed him Thit.
In 1866, he passed the Pali examination (Parian Tham 3) and later achieved Parian Tham 4.
On 12 March 1882, he was appointed abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam. On 29 April 1888, he was transferred to be abbot of Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, where he served until his death in 1923.
He restored and developed Wat Mahathat, supervised the editing of the R.S. 112 edition of the Tripitaka, and was a key figure in organizing monks for the establishment of Wat Benchamabophit.
Somdet Phra Wanrat passed away of old age on 14 August 1923, at the age of 86. His royal funeral was held in 1926 at Wat Saket.