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30 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

to understand better the role of Buddhism in your Karmayōgī Tējabanta Mahāsthabīra (1868 - 1942);
country’s early history? (vi) the 6th Saṅgharāj, Dharmakathika Dharmānanda
Mahāsthabīra (1873 - 1957); (vii) the 7th Saṅgharāj,
There are plenty of Buddhist cultural sites in Saddharmakīrtī Abhaẏatisya Mahāsthabīra (1884 -
Bangladesh. Similar to local Buddhists, I believe 1975); (viii) the 8th Saṅgharāj, Sāhityaratna Śīlālaṅkāra
foreigners and interested researchers may take a tour Mahāsthabīra (1900 - 2000); (ix) the 9th Saṅgharāj,
of fascinating historical Buddhist sites, such as the Dharmācārya Nāgasēna Mahāsthabīra (1908 - 1992);
Sōmapura Mahāvihāra at Pahārpur; Netswer Buddhist (x) the 10th Saṅgharāj, Biśbanāgarika Nāgarika
sites; Mainamoti Shalban Vihāra; Kanakstūpa Vihāra; Mahāsthabīra (1914 - 2002); (xi) the 11th Saṅgharāj,
Pandit Vihāra; the Sitākot Vihāra; the birthplace of Atīśa Śāasanaśrī Mahāsthabīra (1921 - 2003); (xii) the 12th
Dīpaṃkaraśrījñāna; Ramkot Buddhist monastery. Saṅgharāj, Dr. Dharmasen Mahāthērō (1928–2020) and
(xiii) the 13th Saṅgharāj, Dr. Gyanaśrī Mahāsthabīra
I understand most Bangladeshi Buddhists follow (1925- present).
the Theravāda tradition but there are two monastic
orders. How do two separate monastic orders affect In the Mahāsthabīra Nikāya tradition, the 29 supreme
the lay Buddhist community in terms of providing patriarchs (Saṅganāyaka) are as follows: (i) the 1st
them with effective leadership? Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Cā’indā Mahāsthabīra; (ii) the 2nd
Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Nā’indā Mahāsthabīra; (iii) the 3rd
Even though Bangladesh has a proud history of Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Abhaẏacāna Mahāsthabīra; (iv) the
Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions in the early to the 4th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Kāṅgālā Mahāsthabīra; (v) the
medieval period, Theravāda Buddhism is a dominant 5th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Suriẏa Mahāsthabīra; (vi) the
school in present-day Bangladesh. Presently, Buddhists 6th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Aṅkhā Mahāsthabīra; (vii) the
in Bangladesh are led by the Saṅgha of the Theravāda 7th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Lōhāna Mahāsthabīra; (viii)
tradition. Since the majority of Buddhist devotees the 8th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Jhālā Mahāsthabīra; (ix) the
reside in the Southern part of Bangladesh, the Saṅgha 9th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Rādhācaraṇa Mahāsthabīra;
(Buddhist monks) within the different monasteries (x) the 10th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Rāmadāsa
of the Chattogram division provide Dharma and Mahāsthabīra; (xi) the 11th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Titāna
community guidance. There are approximately one Mahāsthabīra; (xii) the 12th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Kēśarī
thousand Buddhist monasteries throughout Bangladesh. Mahāsthabīra; (xiii) the 13th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat
Based on the Saṅgha from the Chattogram district, there Praññāsāra Mahāsthabīra; (xiv) the 14th Saṅganāyaka,
are two principal fraternities of modern Theravāda Śrīmat Abhaẏacaraṇa Mahāsthabīra; (xv) the 15th
Buddhism in Bangladesh: Saṅgharāj Nikāya and Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Amaracāna Mahāsthabīra; (xvi) the
Mahāsthabīra Nikāya traditions. In Bangladesh, the 16th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Rāmadhana Mahāsthabīra;
supreme patriarch from the Saṅgharāj Nikāya is known (xvii) the 17th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Dyubarāja
as Saṅgharāj or Saṅgharāja, whereas the supreme monk Mahāsthabīra; (xviii) the 18th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat
from the Mahāsthabīra Nikāya is known as Saṅganāyaka. Agrasara Mahāsthabīra; (xix) the 19th Saṅganāyaka,
Śrīmat Jaẏasumana Mahāsthabīra; (xx) the 20th
In the Saṅgharāj Nikāya tradition, the previous supreme Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Sumanātisya Mahāsthabīra;
patriarchs (Saṅgharāj or Saṅgharāja) are as follows: (xxi) the 21st Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Prajñālaṅkāra
(i) the 1st Saṅgharāj, Mahādham’mārājādhirāja Mahāsthabīra; (xxii) the 22nd Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat
Guru Sāramēdha Mahāthērō (1801 - 1877); (ii) the Candrajyōti Mahāsthabīra; (xxiii) the 23rd Saṅganāyaka
2nd Saṅgharāj, Ācārya Pūrṇācāra Dham’madhārī : Śrīmat Dharmadarśī Mahāsthabīra and Śrīmat
Candramōhana Mahāsthabīra (1834 - 1907); (iii) the Dharmapāla Mahāsthabīra; (xxiv) the 24th Saṅganāyaka,
3rd Saṅgharāj, Jñānalaṅkāra Mahāsthabīra (1838 - Śrīmat Biśud’dhānanda Mahāsthabīra; (xxv) the
1927); (iv) the 4th Saṅgharāj, Śāsanadhajja Barajñāna 25th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Jñānalōka Mahāsthabīra;
Mahāsthabīra (1867 - 1936); (v) the 5th Saṅgharāj, (xxvi) the 26th Saṅganāyaka, Śrīmat Priẏānanda