Looking back at the histories of nearly every country in Asia, one observes a shared experience: colonial subjugation by Western imperial powers. Among them, Thailand stands alone—the sole nation in the region to have preserved its sovereignty throughout the colonial era. Though the kingdom was compelled to relinquish certain territories, its independence remained intact, a phenomenon deeply understood and proudly acknowledged by generations of Thai people. This collective pride in national independence would scarcely exist were it not for the wisdom and foresight of His Majesty King Mongkut (Rama IV)—a monarch of extraordinary intellect and statesmanship.

King Mongkut was endowed with remarkable aptitude for learning, nurtured over the twenty-seven years he spent as a Buddhist monk prior to his accession to the throne. Through years of dedicated study and contemplation, he accumulated deep knowledge, which he later applied in the realm of statecraft. His strategic diplomacy, rooted in understanding the global balance of power, enabled Siam to withstand the pressures of colonialism and avoid the fate that befell many neighboring nations. Simultaneously, he laid the foundation for modernization, positioning Siam as a nation worthy of respect in the eyes of the international community.

One of the most profound expressions of King Mongkut’s intellectual brilliance was in the realm of religious scholarship. In 1824 (B.E. 2367), he entered the monastic order at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, following royal tradition. His monastic name, “Vajiranano”, meaning “One with diamond-like clarity and capability”, reflected the luminous depth of his insight. He resided primarily at Wat Samorai (later renamed Wat Ratchathiwat), where he devoted himself to the study of Vipassanā (insight meditation). He later undertook scriptural studies (kandhadhura) at Wat Mahathat, becoming fluent in the Pali language—reading, speaking, and writing with scholarly precision.

He became the first royal prince to pass formal examinations in Buddhist doctrine, eventually attaining the rank of Parian Ek (Senior Ecclesiastical Scholar), equivalent to nine levels in the Dhamma examinations. His deep mastery of the Tipiṭaka (Pali Canon), Atthakatha (commentaries), and Ṭīkā (sub-commentaries) enabled him to discern that many monastic practices then observed had drifted from the original Vinaya (discipline) prescribed by the Buddha. He thus initiated a reform of the Sangha, restoring strict discipline and revitalizing religious observance.

King Mongkut personally instructed and preached to both monks and laypeople, emphasizing the true essence of the Dhamma. He not only promoted scriptural study and monastic discipline, but also composed numerous Pali chants and liturgical verses that remain in use to this day. These include the Morning and Evening Chanting (Tam Wat Chao–Kham), Praise to the Triple Gem, the Eight-Fold Homage (Namo 8 Bot), the Ovada Patimokkha, Invocation of the Triple Gem, The Way to Liberation from Suffering, Sharing of Merits, Requesting the Dhamma, Uposatha Proclamation, and the Chant for the Full Moon and New Moon Days.

His royal compositions reflect not only literary elegance but also profound religious devotion and pedagogical intent, helping shape the spiritual consciousness of the nation.