The Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand ( th, มหาเถรสมาคม; pi, Mahāthera Samāgama; abbreviated SSC) is the governing body of the Buddhist order (
Sangha
Sangha is a Sanskrit word used in many Indian languages, including Pali meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community"; Sangha is often used as a surname across these languages. It was historically used in a political context t ...
) of
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, and is the ultimate authority for all ecclesiastical matters within the Thai Sangha. Its leadership consists of the country's highest ranking monks, who consult the
Supreme Patriarch of Thailand __NOTOC__
The Supreme Patriarch of Thailand or Sangharaja ( th, สังฆราช; ) is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. His full title is ''Somdet Phra Saṅgharāja Sakalamahāsaṅghapariṇāyaka'' ( th, สมเด ...
with respect to administrative and theological matters.
The Sangha Supreme Council was established on 1 January 1963, under the Sangha Act of 1962.
Members of Sangha Supreme Council
President of Sangha Supreme Council
*
Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana IX (Amborn Ambaro), member of the Dhammayuttika order, abbot of
Wat Ratchabophit
Wat Ratchabophit () or formally Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan ( th, วัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร), is a Buddhist temple on Atsadang Road, Bangkok, alon ...
, bestowed the title of Somdet in 2009, was appointed
Supreme Patriarch
Sangharaja (Pāli: ''sangha'' religious community + ''raja'' ruler, king, or prince) is the title given in many Theravada Buddhist countries to a senior monk who is the titular head either of a monastic fraternity ( nikaya), or of the ''Sangha'' t ...
in 2017.
Councilors from Dhammayuttika Nikaya
* Somdet Phra Dhirañanamuni (Somchai Varajāyo), abbot of
Wat Debsirindrawas, bestowed the title of Somdet in 2010.
* Somdet Phra Maha Viravongse (Suchin Aggajino), assistant abbot of
Wat Ratchabophit
Wat Ratchabophit () or formally Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan ( th, วัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร), is a Buddhist temple on Atsadang Road, Bangkok, alon ...
, bestowed the title of Somdet in 2019.
* Phra Phrom Visuddhacarya (Montri Ganissaro), abbot of Wat Kruea Wan.
* Phra Phrom Muni (Bunroeng Puññajoto), abbot of
Wat Phra Si Mahathat
Wat Phra Si Mahathat Wora Maha Viharn ( th, วัดพระศรีมหาธาตุวรมหาวิหาร) is a Buddhism, Buddhist Buddhist temple, temple in the Bang Khen District of Bangkok. Construction began in 20 March 1941 in ...
.
* Phra Phrom Vajracarya (Phoonsak Varabhaddako), abbot of
Wat Ratchapradit
Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram Ratcha Wora Maha Viharn ( th, วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร) is a Buddhist temple in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok. Wat R ...
.
* Phra Phrom Vajirakara (Sunthon Sundarabho), abbot of Wat Ratchaphatikaram.
* Phra Phrom Vajiramedhi (Amorn Ñāṇodayo), abbot of
Wat Pathum Wanaram
Wat Pathum Wanaram ( th, วัดปทุมวนาราม) or Wat Pathum for short is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Pathum Wan District, between the two shopping malls Siam Paragon and CentralWorld, and a ...
.
* Phra Dharmavisuddhacarya (Sawaeng Dhammesako), assistant abbot of Wat Bowon Niwet.
* Phra Debañaṇavisidh (Chaithawee Guttacitto), assistant abbot of Wat Pathum Wanaram.
Councilors from Maha Nikaya
* Somdet Phra Buddhacharya (Sanit Javanapañño), abbot of
Wat Traimit
The Golden Buddha, officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon ( th, พระพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร; sa, Buddhamahāsuvarṇapaṭimākara), commonly known in Thai as Phra Sukhothai Traimit ( th, ...
, bestowed the title of Somdet in 2014.
* Somdet Phra Maha Dhiracarya (Pasarit Khemaṃkaro), abbot of
Wat Yannawa
Wat Yannawa (), commonly known in English as "the boat temple", is a Buddhist temple ( Wat) in Bangkok on Charoen Krung Road, Sathon district. The temple has a long history from the Ayutthaya era to the present. During the rule of King Rama III ...
, bestowed the title of Somdet in 2019.
* Somdet Phra Maha Rajjamangalamuni (Thongchai Dhammadhajo), assistant abbot of Wat Traimit, bestowed the title of Somdet in 2019.
* Phra Phrom Moli (Suchat Dhammaratano), assistant abbot of
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen ( th, วัดปากน้ำภาษีเจริญ, ) is a royal ''wat'' ('temple') located in Phasi Charoen district, Bangkok, at the Chao Phraya River. It is part of the Maha Nikaya fraternity and is the orig ...
.
*
Phra Phrom Pandit (Prayoon Dhammacitto), abbot of
Wat Prayurawongsawat
* Phra Phrom Senapati (Phim Ñāṇaviro), abbot of
Wat Pathum Khongkha
Wat Pathum Khongkha Ratchaworawihan, or simple known as Wat Pathum Khongkha ( th, วัดปทุมคงคาราชวรวิหาร, วัดปทุมคงคา) is a second class royal temple in the Talat Noi area of Bangko ...
.
* Phra Phrom Kavi (Phongsant Dhammasettho), abbot of
Wat Kanlayanamit.
* Phra Phrom Vajiramuni (Choet Cittagutto), abbot of
Wat Suthat
Wat Suthat Thepwararam ( th, วัดสุทัศนเทพวราราม, ) is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. It is a royal temple of the first grade, one of ten such temples in Bangkok (23 in Thailand). Construction was begun ...
.
* Phra Dharmavajiramuni (Boonchit Ñāṇasaṃvaro), assistant abbot of
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit ( th, วัดมหาธาตุยุวราชรังสฤษฎิ์) is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand.Liedtke 2011, p. 58 It is one of the ten royal temples of the highest class ( th, พร ...
.
* Phra Debagunabhara (Sophon Sobhanacitto), abbot of Wat Thewarat Kunchon.
The Sangha Act in Thailand
*The Sangha Administration Act of R.E. 121 (1903 or B.E. 2446)
*The Sangha Act of B.E. 2484 (1941)
*The Sangha Act of B.E 2505 (1962)
*The Sangha Act of B.E 2535 (1992)
*The Sangha Act of B.E 2560 (2017)
*The Sangha Act of B.E 2561 (2018)
References
{{reflist
Buddhist organizations based in Thailand
Organizations based in Nakhon Pathom Province
1963 establishments in Thailand
Religious organizations established in 1963