Thathanabaing

Thathanabaing (Burmese: , ALA-LC: Sāsanāpuiṅ‘, ), is the Burmese term for a head of a religious order. ordinaries (archbishops and bishops) in Anglican Christianity and Catholic Christianity, as well as for the Supreme Patriarch (Pali: Saṅgharāja) of Buddhism from other countries.

Etymology Thathanabaing in Burmese, (ALA-LC: Sāsanāpuiṅ‘) , is the native Burmese rendition of Sangharaja, or formally Mahāsaṃgharājā , which is typically rendered into English as 'Primate', 'Archbishop' or 'Supreme Patriarch.'

The term "Saṃgharājā" was popularly used from the 1300s to 1400s, but lost currency in subsequent centuries. Each of the nine legally sanctioned monastic sects has a Thathanabaing in Burmese Pali. The sects often use their names with the word Thathana (, Pali: Sāsanā) or regional subordinate bodies.

Incumbent

9th State Saṃgha Mahā Nāyaka Committee 5th Chairman of the State Saṃgha Mahā Nāyaka Committee Thanlyin Mingyaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Candimābhivaṃsa 9 March 2024 Gaṇādhipati (Head of Sect) as old as the Early Pagan kingdom; the chief queen of King Htun Kyit made the Saṅgharājā from 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: Sāsanāpuiṅ) 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.

Mahādvāra Sect

The following are the Sayadaws who have served as Mahādvāra Sect Thathanabaing.

+Serial numberTitlePopular nameMonk nameStart of dutyEnd of duty Pathama (First) Hngettwin Sayadaw Baddhanta Paṇḍava 1888 1910 Dutiya (Second) Gaṇādhipati Kungyangon Sayadaw Baddhanta Jotābhidhaja 1910 Dutiya (Third) Nanyaw Sayadaw Baddhanta Jāgara 1969 Catuttha (Fourth) Zidaw Sayadaw Baddhanta Āsabha 1969

Mahāyin Sect

The following are the Sayadaws who have served as the Nikāyādhipati Sammuti Saṃgharājā of the Dhammayutti Nikāya Mahāyi Sect.

+Serial numberTitlePopular nameMonk nameStart of dutyEnd of duty Pathama (First) Mahāyin Sayadaw Baddhanta Buddhavaṃsa Dutiya (Second) Baddhanta Ñānasīri Tatiya (Third) Baddhanta Moggaliputta Catuttha (Fourth) Muyitgalay Sayadaw Baddhanta Nālāgīri Pañcama (Fifth) Baddhanta Mahinda Chaṭṭhama (Sixth) Winyawzeikgyi Tawya(Forest) Sayadaw Baddhanta Jotipāla