Supreme Patriarch of Thailand


The Supreme Patriarch of Thailand or Sangharaja is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. His full title is Somdet Phra Saṅgharāja Sakalamahāsaṅghapariṇāyaka.

Ancient history

As early as the Sukhothai period, there were city-dwelling and forest-dwelling orders, and there was more than one Supreme Patriarch appointed. In modern times, however, only one position is responsible for all fraternities and orders. From 1992 to 2016, the Supreme Patriarch was chosen from the most senior member of the Supreme Sangha Council and officially endorsed by the King. the Supreme Patriarch was formally appointed by the King of Thailand and co-signed by the Prime Minister, with consultation of the Sangha Supreme Council, an administrative body of the Thai Sangha. The Supreme Patriarch has legal authority to oversee both of Thailand's Theravada fraternities, the Maha Nikaya and the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, as well as the small minority of Mahayana Buddhists in the country. He is also the President of the Sangha Supreme Council.

Developments since the 2000s

There has been recent discussion about reforming the Thai Sangha's leadership structure, including a 2002 proposal which would have moved many of the Sangha Council's and the Supreme Patriarch's powers to a new executive council. However, in 2015, it seemed the junta was not pushing for new Sangha legislation after all, after the proposals led to many organized protests and heated debate.
The Supreme Patriarch was Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, who had served in this position since 1989. After suffering from increasingly serious health problems, died on 24 October 2013, aged a hundred years. In 2003, because of questions about the Supreme Patriarch's ability to fulfill his duties, the government of Thailand had appointed a special committee to act in his stead. In early 2004, Somdet Kiaw Upaseṇo was appointed acting Supreme Patriarch, an office that he held until his death in 2013.
After the death of Somdet Kiaw, Somdet Chuang Varapuñño of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen became the next acting Supreme Patriarch. Despite a nomination from the Supreme Sangha Council, his official appointment as Supreme Patriarch was stalled due a refusal of the Thai secular government to forward his nomination to the King. In December 2016, the junta passed an amendment to the Sangha Act changing the rules for appointment of the Supreme Patriarch to bypass the Supreme Sangha Council and allow the King of Thailand to appoint the Supreme Patriarch directly, with the Thai Prime Minister countersigning. While proponents considered the amendment a good way for politicians to solve the problems the Sangha had not been able to solve, opponents described the amendment as "sneaky". Chao Khun Prasarn Candasaro, vice-rector of the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University and assistant-abbot of Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, stated the amendment showed a grave lack of respect for the Sangha Council's authority, because the council had not been involved in the amendment at all. He argued that the Monastic Act had always given the final decision to the King anyway, and pointed out that all conflicts about the appointment were caused by the junta's National Reform Council, not by the Sangha itself. Finally, on 7 February 2017, Somdet Amborn Ambaro was appointed by King Rama X to serve as the next Supreme Patriarch out of five names given to him by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha. The appointment ceremony was held on 12 February at Wat Phra Kaew, Grand Palace.

List of Supreme Patriarchs

No.PortraitNameBirth nameDharma nameTenure fromTenure untilOrderTemple
1Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsanana I
'
Sriunknown1782/83
2325 BE
1794/75
2337 BE
Wat Rakhangkhositaram
2Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsanana II
'
Sukunknown1794/75
2337 BE
1816/87
2359 BE
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit
3Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsanana III
'
Meeunknown1816/87
2359 BE
1819/20
2362 BE
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit
4Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsanana IV
'
Sukunknown1820/21
2363 BE
1822/23
2365 BE
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit
5Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsanana V
'
Donunknown1822/23
2365 BE
1842/43
2385 BE
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit
6Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsanana VI
'
Nagunknown1843/44
2386 BE
1849/50
2392 BE
Wat Ratchaburana
7Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao
Kromma Phra
Paramanuchitchinorot
'
Prince VasugriSuvaṇṇaraṃsi1851/52
2394 BE
1853/54
2396 BE
Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm
8Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao
Kromma Phraya
Pavares Variyalongkorn
'
Prince RurkPaññāaggo1853/54
2396 BE
1892/93
2435 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Bowonniwet Vihara
9Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana II
'
SaPussadevo1893/94
2436 BE
1899/1900
2442 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram
10Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao
Kromma Phraya
Vajirananavarorasa
'
Prince ManusyanagamanobManussanāgo1910/11
2453 BE
1921/22
2464 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Bowonniwet Vihara
11Phrachao Worawong Thoe
Kromma Luang
Jinavorn Sirivaddhana
Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao
'
Prince Bhujong JombunudSirivaḍḍhano1921/22
2464 BE
1937/38
2480 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram
12Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana III
'
Phae PhongpalaTissadevo1938/39
2481 BE
1944
2487 BE
Maha NikayaWat Suthat Thepphaararam
13Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao
Kromma Luang
Vajirananavongs
'
Mom Rajavongse Chuen NavavongsSucitto1945
2488 BE
1958
2501 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Bowonniwet Vihara
14Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana IV
'
Plod KetuthatKittisobhaṇo1960
2503 BE
1962
2505 BE
Maha NikayaWat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram
15Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana V
'
Yoo Changsopha Ñāṇodayo1963
2506 BE
1965
2508 BE
Maha NikayaWat Saket
16Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana VI
'
Chuan SirisomUṭṭhāyī1965
2508 BE
1971
2514 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Makut Kasattriyaram
17Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana VII
'
Pun SukcharoenPuṇṇasiri1972
2515 BE
1973
2516 BE
Maha NikayaWat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm
18Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao
Kromma Luang
Jinavajiralongkorn
'
Vasana NilpraphaVāsano1973
2516 BE
1988
2531 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram
19Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao
Kromma Luang
Vajirañāṇasaṃvara
'
Charoen KhachawatSuvaḍḍhano1989
2532 BE
2013
2556 BE
Dhammayuttika NikayaWat Bowonniwet Vihara
20Somdet Phra
Ariyavongsagatanana IX
'
Amborn PrasatthaphongAmbaro2017
2560 BE
PresentDhammayuttika NikayaWat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram