The Thao Suranari Commemorative Medal: The Maharaj Edition Consecrated by Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, 1989

This article examines the Thao Suranari Commemorative Medal: “Maharaj Edition” (1989), created by the Thao Suranari Foundation to honor the heroic deeds of Thao Suranari (Khun Ying Mo) and to raise funds for Maharaj Hospital Nakhon Ratchasima as well as other public welfare projects. Two principal designs were issued: the oval-shaped medal and the radiant halo type, both featuring the sacred monogram “ญส” (Yanasangvara) of His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the 19th Supreme Patriarch of Rattanakosin. The grand consecration ceremony took place at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Bangkok, presided over by the Supreme Patriarch and attended by renowned monks such as Luang Pho Phraep, Luang Pu Du, Luang Pho Khun and others. The findings highlight that the 1989 Maharaj Edition medal holds multifaceted significance: artistic and cultural value, spiritual merit associated with protection and benevolence, and symbolic importance as a timeless emblem of local faith and pride in Nakhon Ratchasima.