Bhumipon Adunyadet (ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช)

Thai-Pali. Name of the ninth King of the Chakri dynasty in Thailand, with the crown title Rama IX. He was born in Massachusetts (USA) on Monday 5 December 1927, the second son (fig.) to Prince Mahidon Adunyadet (fig.), the Krom Luang of Songkhla Nakarin, and Princess Sri Sangwahn. He succeeded his older brother Ananda, who was found shot dead in his bed. In 2006, the Thai nation celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his accession to the throne (fig.), though he was only formally crowned King after his marriage to Sirikit Kitthiyagon, on 5 May 1950 (fig.). The anniversary of the King's reign is celebrated annually throughout the Kingdom on December 5th and is in Thai called Wan Chaleum Phra Chonma Phansa. His personal flag (fig.) consists of a yellow field, the colour of his birthday (see sih prajam wan), with the initials B.P.R. (ภ.ป.ร.), that stand for Bhumipon Adunyadet Parama Rajatiraat (ภูมิพลอดุลยเดชปรมราชาธิราช) and can be translated as ‘Bhumipon Adunyadet, great king of kings’. Note that the word Parama (ปรม) is pronounced Pa-ra-ma, but may also be enunciated Po-ra-ma, and that the name Bhumipon Adunyadet is derived from Sanskrit, and could be translated as ‘Benefit of the Earth, Incomparable Influence’ or ‘Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power’ (see bhumi). On 22 October 1956, when the King was 30 years old, he was ordained as a bhikku at the ordination hall of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Sahtsadahrahm (fig.) and given the Pali name Bhumibalo (fig.). Besides this king's personal flag and the official Royal Standard (fig.), there are numerous other flags dedicated to the king, especially commemorative flags for birthday celebrations, etc. (see Vexillology & Heraldry). In addition, the King has —amongst others— a Bangkok street, a bridge (fig.) and a water dam (map - fig.) named after him. King Bhumipon Adunyadet passed away on 13 October 2016, at the age of 88, and has been the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history (fig.), serving for 70 years and 126 days. At his funeral, his successor King Maha Vajiralongkorn participated in a rite in which his father’s ashes were washed and the charred bones were placed on a white cloth, laid out in the figure of a man (fig.), prior to placing them as relics in reliquary urns. Also transliterated Bhimiphon Adunlayadet and Bhumipol Adulyadej, and pronounced Phumiphon Adunyadet. His full title was Phrabaht Somdet Phra Paraminthra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitalathibet Ramathibodi Chakrihnareubodin Sayaminthrathiraat Borommanahtbophit (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร สยามินทราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร) . See also list of Thai kings. 回