Dr Ashin Nandamala Bhivamsa

On the full moon day of Tabaung, March 22, 1939, a Saturday, he was born in Nyaung Pin Village, Sintgaing Township, Mandalay Region, to U San Hla and Daw Khin.

At the age of five, he began learning Myanmar language and Buddhist literature under U Kelatha, Sayadaw of Pawtawmu Monastery in Nyaung Pin Village.

At the age of ten, he became a novice at the Vipassana Gandhayon Monastery compound on Sagaing Hill, with the great Sankin Sayadaw as preceptor.

With the great Sankin Sayadaw as preceptor, he received higher ordination at the Sasanamanjari ordination hall of Maha Subodhayon Monastery.

At the age of thirteen, he first passed the three levels of the Abhidhamma examination.

He passed the government Dhammacariya examination with distinction in two texts and received the Sasanadhaja Siripavara Dhammacariya title.

He received the Sasanalankara Samanekyaw title and, together with senior monks, established Maha Subodhayon Monastery in Sagaing.

He received the Yangon Cetiyangana Abhivamsa title, the Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya Vinaya Pali Paragu title, and the Mandalay Sakyasiha Abhivamsa title.

At Zambudipa residence in Yangon, he served in the Tipitaka Pali-Myanmar dictionary project and also began studying English.

He wrote and compiled Dhamma literature and published books in both Myanmar and English.

He began serving as a member of the Sagaing Township Sangha Nayaka Committee and carried responsibilities in examination, curriculum, Vinaya, and Sasana committees.

He taught Myanmar language, Pali, Abhidhamma, and Buddhist literature in India, Sri Lanka, the United States, and other countries.

He received an M.A. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka.

He received a Ph.D from Magadh University in India with the dissertation A Study of Jainism According to Buddhist Literature.

He served as Rector of the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University in Yangon.

He served as Sasana Vamsa Ganadhipati Mahanayaka of Maha Subodhayon and established CBS Sagaing, Dhammavijjalar Subodhayon Monastery, and Saddhammajotaka Subodhayon Monastery.

He founded the Institute of Dhamma Education, a Dhamma Sahaya Sasana Center, at Aung Chan Thar Village in Pyin Oo Lwin.

He founded the Dayananda Foundation to support improvements in health and education for people in his native region.

He built and donated Mettananda Hospital and established IDE Yangon and Saccananda Dhamma Center in the Yangon highway area.

He established additional Dhamma centers in Pyin Oo Lwin, Nay Pyi Taw, Pennsylvania in the United States, and the Soe Moe Eain area.

The State conferred the Aggamaha Ganthavacaka Pandita title on him.

He received the Aggamaha Pandita title conferred by the State.

He was appointed Vice-Chairman Mahanayaka of the Shwegyin Nikaya, and the State and the Cetiyangana Association conferred honorary titles on him.

The State conferred the Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru title on him.