Thathanabaing (Burmese: , ALA-LC: SÃÂsanÃÂpuiá¹ âÂÂ, ), is the Burmese term for a head of a religious order. The title was historically used for the Supreme Patriarch of Buddhist Clergy (Burmese: áÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂá¶áÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂá¬, Pali: MahÃÂsaá¹ÂgharÃÂjÃÂ) in Burma until 1938. It is still used in Myanmar as the title for the heads of sects (Burmese: áÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂ, Pali: Gaá¹ÂÃÂdhipati) in TheravÃÂda Buddhism, and the episcopal ordinaries (archbishops and bishops) in Anglican Christianity and Catholic Christianity, as well as for the Supreme Patriarch (Pali: Saá¹ gharÃÂja) of Buddhism from other countries.
Thathanabaing in Burmese, (ALA-LC: SÃÂsanÃÂpuiá¹ âÂÂ) , is the native Burmese rendition of Sangharaja, or formally MahÃÂsaá¹ÂgharÃÂjà(), which is typically rendered into English as 'Primate', 'Archbishop' or 'Supreme Patriarch.'
The term "Saá¹ÂgharÃÂjÃÂ" was popularly used from the 1300s to 1400s, but lost currency in subsequent centuries. By the Konbaung dynasty, Thathanabaing and Thathanapyu (áÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂá¼á¯) were frequently used. But both the Samgharaja and Thathanabaing were used in the official title of the supreme patriarch, MahÃÂsaá¹ÂgharÃÂjàThathanabaing Sayadaw ().
Nowadays, the term Thathanabaing () is still used for the head of a religious order. Each of the nine legally sanctioned monastic sects has a Thathanabaing who is also called a Gaá¹ÂÃÂdhipati (áÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂ) in Burmese Pali. The sects often use their names with the word Thathana (, Pali: SÃÂsanÃÂ) in Burmese to refer to the whole sect or regional subordinate bodies.
Burmese chronicles mention the office of the Sangharaja (Burmese:, Pali: Saá¹ gharÃÂjÃÂ) as old as the Early Pagan kingdom; the chief queen of King Htun Kyit made the Saá¹ gharÃÂjàfrom Popa leave the monkhood so that he could be crowned as the King Popa Sawrahan (613-640).
The first monk recorded with the title Thathanabaing (Burmese: , ALA-LC: SÃÂsanÃÂpuiá¹ ) is Shin Panthagu who succeeded Shin Arahan as the primate of Pagan kingdom. Burmese Encyclopedia argues that the title might have been used for Shin Arahan before Shin Panthagu. In the same way, British historians recognize a lineage of primates beginning with Shin Arahan.
The MahÃÂsaá¹ÂgharÃÂjàThathanabaing Sayadaw (), served as the head of the Buddhist Saá¹Âghà(order of monks) in Burma until 1938 when the Thathanabaing Taunggwin Sayadaw died and the Thudhamma, the only remaining group under his authority decided not to elect a new one. The Thathanabaing was responsible for managing the monastic hierarchy and education at monasteries. The Thathanabaing resided in a royal monastery near the kingdom's capital. However, appointees were usually commoners born in the villages, with no blood relationship with the royal house. Their appointments were made on the basis of their mastery of Buddhist knowledge and literature.
The office, in its last incarnation, was established by King Bodawpaya in 1784, after the constitution of the Sudhamma Council, a council of four elder monks (thera), of which the Thathanabaing was its head. Subsequent monarchs expanded the council, which varied from 8 to 12 members called sadaw. Council members were appointed by the king and styled Dazeitya Sayadaw (, 'Teachers Possessing the Seal').
The Thathanabaing was appointed by the king and granted supreme authority with regard to religious doctrine and ecclesiastical administration. The Thathanapaing was responsible for the kingdom's religious affairs, including appointment of monastery abbots, monk orders according to the Vinaya, management of breaches of discipline, preparation of an annual report of the order, and administration of Pali examinations.
The Thathanabaing was charged with managing the functions of two government officials, the Mahadan Wun (, Ecclesiastical Censor), who oversaw the king's charitable functions, ensured monk compliance with the Vinaya, and submitted registers of all active novices and monks, and the Wutmye Wun (), who managed the wuttukan-designated religious properties (), including donated land and pagodas. The Burmese kingdom was divided into ecclesiastical jurisdictions, each of which was overseen by a gaing-gyok. Underneath each gaing-gyok was a number of gaing-ok, who were in turn assisted by a number of gaing-dauk. Ecclesiastical disputes were settled by the gaing-gyok and decisions for appeal were made by the Sudhamma Council. Since the breakaway of Shwegyin Sect (which appointed its own Shwegyin Thathanabaing), the Thathanabaing of Burma had power only on the Thudhamma Sect.
In 1895, soon after the abdication of the country's last king, Thibaw Min, the Taungdaw Sayadaw, then the Thathanapaing of Burma, died. A subsequent election elected the Pakhan Sayadaw as Thathanabaing-elect, although the British refused to acknowledge or recognize his title.
In 1903, the lieutenant-governor of British Burma, Hugh Shakespear Barnes, reinstated the title by sanad charter, giving the Thathanapaing nominal authority over internal administration of the Sangha in Upper Burma and over Buddhist ecclesiastical law. (Lower Burma, which had been annexed in 1852, remained without a religious head.) The Taunggwin Sayadaw was appointed, but the position was abolished after his death and no successor was ever appointed. The authority of Thathanabaing, which had already been limited only on the Thudhamma Gaing, was carried on by the Maha Nayaka Sayadaws. Other sects has continued to appoint their own Thathanabaings.
The Chairman of the State Samgha Maha Nayaka Committee (Burmese: áÂÂáÂÂá¯áÂÂáºáÂÂá¶áÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá¶áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂá¡áÂÂá½á²á·áÂ¥áÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂá¹áÂÂ, ALA-LC: Nuiá¹ á¹ aá¹Âtoâ Saá¹Âgha MahàNÃÂyaka Aphvai' Ukkaá¹Âá¹Âha, ') is the supreme head of Buddhist monks in Myanmar.
On May 24, 1980, the State Saá¹Âgha MahàNÃÂyaka Committee was formed as an official agency of the Government of Myanmar, tasked with essentially the same roles and responsibilities as those of the pre-schism MahÃÂsaá¹ÂgharÃÂjàThathanabaing Sayadaw to lead the Saá¹Âgha of all sects and orders. The Chairman of SSMNC also has to serve as the Gaá¹ÂÃÂdhipati of Thudhamma Gaing.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as the Shwegyin Thathanabaing (Shwegyin Gaá¹ÂÃÂdhipati/ Shwegyin NikÃÂyÃÂdhipati Ukkaá¹Âá¹Âha MahàNÃÂyaka) from the time of King Mindon.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as MahÃÂdvÃÂra Sect Thathanabaing.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as Mà «ladvÃÂra MahàNÃÂyaka Thathanabaing.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as NÃÂyaka the head of sect.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as Veḷuvan Sammutti Thathanabaing.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as the Gaá¹ÂÃÂdhipati of the Catubhummika MahÃÂsatipaá¹Âá¹ÂhÃÂn Hngettwin Sect.
The following are the Sayadaws who have served as the NikÃÂyÃÂdhipati Sammuti Saá¹ÂgharÃÂjàof the Dhammayutti NikÃÂya MahÃÂyi Sect.