Maha Khananam Thianthuek

Phra Maha Khananam Tham Panyadhiwat (birth name: Thanom Areekoonchai, Dharma name: Thian Thuek) was a senior Annam Nikaya (Vietnamese Mahayana) Buddhist monk and the former Supreme Patriarch of the Annam Nikaya. He also served as Abbot of Wat Kusolsamakorn (Pho Phueak Tue), and formerly of Wat Lokanukroh (Tue Te Tue) and Wat Sunthornpradit (Khan Ang Tue). He was one of the highest-ranking members of the Annamnikaya Sangha in Thailand.

Phra Maha Khananam Tham Panyadhiwat was born as Thanom Areekoonchai on 17 June 1936 in Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. His parents were Mr. Aui Areekoonchai and Mrs. Siew Areekoonchai.

He was ordained as a monk on 14 May 1959 at Wat Thaworn Wararam, Ban Nua Subdistrict, Mueang Kanchanaburi District, with Phra Sammanan Wutthacharn (Phong Phongdiaw) as preceptor, Ong Sutabod Bowon (Yak Mieng) as kammavācācariya, and Maha Khananam Kinchiew as instructor. He received the Dharma name Thian Thuek.^[1]

• 1989 – Wat Sunthornpradit was selected as a Model Development Temple by the Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture.
• 1992 – Received the Golden Dhammacakra Boundary Post Award in the category of “Promoting Dharma Practitioners” from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
• 1992 – Received the “Temple Development Fan” from Thai Supreme Patriach Vajirañāṇasaṃvara.
• 1994 – Conferred an honorary Master of Buddhist Studies in Social Science from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.
• 1995 – Achieved the Nak Tham Ek (Advanced Buddhist Studies) certification at Wat Mai Songplueay, Udon Thani.
• 2012 – Conferred an honorary Doctorate of Buddhist Studies in Social Work from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

• 1970 – Assistant Abbot, Wat Lokanukroh, Bangkok.
• 1975 – Deputy Abbot, Wat Sunthornpradit, Udon Thani.
• 1979 – Abbot, Wat Sunthornpradit, Udon Thani.
• 1987 – Right Secretary of the Annamnikaya Order.
• 1989 – Director, Kusolsamakorn College (Pariyatti Dhamma School, General Education Division).
• 1991 – Manager, Sunthornpradit College (Pariyatti Dhamma School, General Education Division).
• 1993 – Assistant to the Left Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Annamnikaya.
• 1994 – Abbot, Wat Lokanukroh, Bangkok.
• 1994 – Acting Abbot, Wat Sunthornpradit, Udon Thani.
• 2007 – Appointed Preceptor of the Annamnikaya Order.
• 2010 – Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Annamnikaya.
• 2018 – Acting Supreme Patriarch of the Annamnikaya.
• 2018 – Acting Abbot, Wat Kusolsamakorn, Bangkok.
• 2018 – Officially appointed Supreme Patriarch of the Annamnikaya.
• 2019 – Abbot, Wat Kusolsamakorn, Bangkok.
• 2019 – Acting Abbot, Wat Lokanukroh, Bangkok.

On Sunday, 23 January 2022, at 5:55 PM, Phra Maha Khananam Tham Panyadhiwat died peacefully at Chulalongkorn Hospital due to lung infection and sepsis, aged 85 (63 vassa).^[2]

On Wednesday, 9 February 2022, at 5:00 PM, Ariyavongsagatanana (Amborn Ambaro), Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, assigned Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong (Suchin Akkachino), Secretary of the Supreme Patriarch and Assistant Abbot of Wat Ratchabophit, as royal representative to preside over the royal bathing ceremony.^[3]

• 1975 – Appointed "Ong Palat Khananukrom" (clerical secretary) under Phra Sammanan Wutthacharn Paisal Khanakit, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Annamnikaya.
• 1987 – Granted the royal ecclesiastical title Phra Anon Phan Mathuros (Royal Ecclesiastical Title, equivalent to Phra Khru).
• 1993 – Promoted to Phra Anamphrot Methacharn Paisal Udon Silp Khanakit (Royal Ecclesiastical Title, equivalent to Phra Ratchakhana).
• 1996 – Elevated to Phra Sammananthiracharn Pariyattithammavaralangkan Paisal Khananusak (Royal Ecclesiastical Title, equivalent to Rajakhana).
• 1999 – Promoted to Phra Sammanan Rajavudhacharn Anam Buriharn Udomkhet Nites Tham Anusit (Royal Ecclesiastical Title, higher Rajakhana rank).
• 2010 – Granted the title Phra Khananam Thammethacharn Buriharn Phutthasamakom Anamvinet Witheth Thamm Pracha Boromnarit Sanuwat (equivalent to Thep rank).
• 2019 – Received the highest title Phra Maha Khananam Tham Panyadhiwat Phutthasamakom Anamvinet Nites Anam Pariyattikosol Wimon Tham Anusak Mahakanit Boromnarit Sanuwat — a royal conferment of the special *Dhamma* class, allowing the appointment of six subordinate monks.