The
Supreme Patriarch or
Sangharaja () 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 aged 96 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.
List of Supreme Patriarchs
See also
