Rāmañña Nikāya in Myanmar

• Total monasteries: 1,177
• Monks (bhikkhus): 6,608
• Novices (sāmaṇeras): 4,675
• Total monastics: 11,283

While the Rāmañña Nikāya is not officially recognized as a separate legal entity in Myanmar, it is the largest of the three major monastic sects in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Rāmañña Nikāya was established by the Venerable Ambagahawatte Indrasabhawara Ñāṇasāmi Mahā Thera, who received his higher ordination at Ratana Punna Vihara in Myanmar before returning to Sri Lanka in 1864.

History

Historical records indicate that during the reign of King Dhammazedi, who ruled over the three Mon provinces, the Sangha (monastic community) was divided into six different sects. Seeking to purify the religion, King Dhammazedi sent a group of monks to the Mahāvihāra tradition in Sri Lanka to receive new higher ordination at the Kalyani Sīmā. Upon their return, these monks re-ordained the clergy throughout the Mon regions. This unified the Mon monastic orders into a single lineage known as the Mahāvihāra-Kalyani Nikaya. Therefore, the modern Rāmañña Nikāya can be traced back to the Sri Lankan Mahāvihāra lineage of King Dhammazedi’s era. In the Mon language, this sect is colloquially called “Goin Jnor ဂိုဏ်ဇၞော်” (“The Great Sect”).

After Mon territories fell under Burmese control, Mon monks performed ecclesiastical acts (kamma) together with other monks and were categorized under the Sudhammā Sect.

Following the First Anglo-Burmese War, the Martaban region (then Tenasserim) came under British rule. Mon monks who had fled to Thailand returned to revive the Mon religious tradition. In 1852 (B.E. 1214), at the request of Mon monks, the British government formally recognized the Rāmañña Nikāya for the first time. The first Supreme Leader (Gaing-oke) was the abbot of Sakkaw Village in Bilu Kyun (Chaungzon).

In 1920 (B.E. 1282), Mon monks held the Rāmañña Nikāya Association meeting at Maha Waiyan Bon Monastery in Kawhnat Village, Mawlamyine. They sent a formal letter to the British governor stating that they did not wish to be under the authority of the Thathanabaing (Supreme Patriarch) appointed in Upper Burma.

On December 27, 1946, a major conference was held in Panga Village. The Venerable Abbot Kesara of Veluvana Monastery in Pa-auk Village was appointed as the Supreme Leader.

On May 6, 2018 (B.E. 1380), the sect appointed the Most Venerable Bhadanta Tejawanta as its leader. At the time of his appointment, he was 96 years old, with 76 years in the monkhood, and was recognized for his seniority, discipline, and wisdom.

In 2021–2022, prominent Mon sayadaws and the New Mon State Party petitioned the State Administration Council for official recognition as an independent sect.