Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

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The Supreme Patriarch or Sangharaja (Thai: 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 a Roman Catholic 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.[1][2]

[edit] List of Supreme Patriarchs

Ceremonial name	Secular name	Tenure (Buddhist Era)	Tenure (common era)
1. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsayana	Sri	BE 2325 -BE 2337	1782-1794
2. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsayana	Suk	BE 2337 -BE 2359	1794-1816
3. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsayana	Mee	BE 2359 -BE 2362	1816-1819
4. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsayana	Suk	BE 2363 -BE 2365	1820-1822
5. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsayana	Don	BE 2365 -BE 2385	1822-1842
6. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsayana	Nak	BE 2386 -BE 2392	1843-1849
7. Somdet Phra Paramanujit Jinorasa	Prince Vasugree	BE 2394 -BE 2396	1851-1853
8. Somdet Phraya Pavares Variyalongkorn	Prince Rurk	BE 2396 -BE 2435	1853-1892
9. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Sa Pussadeva	BE 2436 -BE 2442	1893-1899
10. Somdet Phra Vajirananavarorasa	Prince Manusanagamanob	BE 2443 -BE 2464	1900-1921
11. Somdet Phra Luang Jinavorasirivattana	Momchao Bhuchong	BE 2464 -BE 2480	1921-1937
12. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Pae Tissadevo	BE 2481 -BE 2487	1938-1944
13. Somdet Phra Luang Vajirayanavangsa	Momrajavong Chuen Noppavong	BE 2488 -BE 2501	1945-1958
14. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Plod Kittisobhana	BE 2503 -BE 2505	1960-1962
15. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Yoo Yanodayo	BE 2506 -BE 2508	1963-1966
16. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Juan Utthayi	BE 2508 -BE 2514	1965-1971
17. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Pun Punnasiri	BE 2515 -BE 2516	1972-1973
18. Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana	Vasana Vasano	BE 2516 -BE 2531	1973-1988
19. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana	Charern Gajavatra	BE 2532 -present	1989-present