Maha ghosananda biography books

Prominent Buddhist monk, known for his annual peace marches in Cambodia

Maha Ghosananda (full title Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda - Khmer: សម្តេចព្រះមហាឃោសានន្ទ; Pali: Mahāghosānanda; May 23, 1913 – March 12, 2007)^{[note 1]} was a highly revered Cambodian Buddhist monk^[2] in the Theravada tradition, who served as the Patriarch (Sangharaja) of Cambodian Buddhism during the Khmer Rouge period and post-communist transition period of Cambodian history.^[1] His Pali monastic name, 'Mahā Ghosānanda', means "great joyful proclaimer".^[3] He was well known in Cambodia for his annual peace marches.^[2]

Early life and education

He was born Va Yav in Takéo Province, Cambodia in 1913 to a farming family in the Mekong Delta plains.^[4][5] From an early age he showed great interest in religion, and began to serve as a temple boy at the age of eight years old.

He was greatly impressed by the monks w