Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

The Supreme Patriarch or Sangharaja ( _th. พระสังฆราช) is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. The position is formally appointed by the King of Thailand, although the actual selection is made by senior clergymen. It was first established in 1782 at the founding of the Chakri dynasty by King Rama I.

The Supreme Patriarch has legal authority to oversee both of Thailand's Theravada sub-orders, the Maha Nikaya and the Thammayut Nikaya, as well as the small minority of Mahayana Buddhists in the country. He is assisted by a Supreme Sangha Council, which is led by the "Sangha Nayaka" (literally "director of the sangha"). In the event that the position of Supreme Patriarch is vacant, the Sangha Council also nominates candidates for a successor to the king. 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.

The incumbent Supreme Patriarch is Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, who has served in this position since 1989. He is currently aged 93 and suffers from increasingly serious health problems. In 2003, because of questions about the Supreme Patriarch's ability to fulfill his duties, the government of Thailand appointed a special committee to act in his stead. In early 2004, Somdet Kiaw (also known as Buddhacharya) was appointed acting Supreme Patriarch.

Recent news of the Supreme Patriarch's worsening condition has led to considerable speculation in the Thai media about the identity of his eventual successor, similar to the speculation that surrounds the Pope at the end of his life. By tradition, the Supreme Patriarchate alternates between members of Thailand's two main Theravada Buddhist orders. Because Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana is of the Thammayut Nikaya, this implies that the next Supreme Patriarch will come from the Maha Nikaya. The acting Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Kiaw, is seen as a favorite, but he is actively opposed by Venerable Maha Bua, an influential monk. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/03/04/headlines/data/headlines_16618614.html] [http://www.dhammatimes.com/archives/2005/03/050306-thaimonastic.htm]

List of Supreme Patriarchs

ee also

*Buddhism in Thailand

External links

* [http://www.sangharaja.org/en_main.asp English website] of the Supreme Patriarch
* [http://mahamakuta.inet.co.th/english/somdet01.html A website] with information about each Supreme Patriarch
* [http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Somdet%20Phra%20Nyanasamvara Entry on the current Supreme Patriarch] at Everything2
* [http://www.mcu.ac.th/mcu_eng/article/Buddhism_in_Contemporary_Thailand/002.html Buddhism in contemporary Thailand] , information from Mahachulalongkornrajvidyalaya University
* [http://www.dhammathai.org/e/thailand/ratanakosin.php Buddhism in Thailand] , information from Dhammathai.org
* [http://www.wb-university.org/research/article-tavivat.htm A Review of Reform Movements in Thai Buddhism] by Dr. Tavivat Puntarigvivat