Thai Chief Royal Brahmin

Chief Royal Brahmin is the title given to the head of the Brahmin clergy at the Royal Devasathan Temple in Bangkok. Serving as the highest leader of Brahmanism in Thailand, the Chief Royal Brahmin oversees the performance of sacred rites that have been part of the Thai royal court for centuries. The office is traditionally passed down through hereditary lines of families whose ancestors were Indian Hindus who migrated and settled in Thailand.
Today, seven Brahmin families continue to serve in royal ceremonies. These lineages—Sayompop, Komolvetin, Nakavetin, Wutthipram, Phawangkanan, Rattanapram, Buranasiri, and Rangsipramanakul—are known collectively as the royal Brahmins. A number of other families once played important roles, but no longer have ordained Brahmins to carry on the tradition, such as the Kurukul, Siripramanakul, Wasuparam, Sattavetin, Sawasdivetin, Setapram, and Charusen lineages. Although these families identify as Buddhists, they also preserve elements of Hindu worship and devotion to deities like Shiva and Vishnu.

Appointment

The Chief Royal Brahmin, formally called Phra Ratchakhru Wam Thep Muni, is appointed by the King of Thailand. Candidates are usually chosen from among families with close ties to the previous office holder. In the modern Thai state, royal Brahmins are officially recognized as part of the Royal Ceremonies Division under the Bureau of the Royal Household.
The current holder of the office is Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi Si Wisutthikhun (Chawin Rangsipramanakul), who has served since 1999. Another senior Brahmin role is the Phra Maharatchakhru Atthachan, the head of the Brahmin council.

Ceremonial Role

The Chief Royal Brahmin plays a central role in Thailand’s state and royal ceremonies. Among the most important are:

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, which blesses the beginning of the agricultural season.
The Swing Ceremony, once held annually to honour Shiva and mark the sun’s movement.
State coronations, where the Brahmin leader conducts Hindu rites for the monarch’s investiture.
Royal funerals, performing sacred invocations for deceased kings and senior royals.
Ceremonies marking the King’s birthday and other auspicious events.

These rites, performed mainly at the Devasathan and other royal sites, embody a unique blending of Brahmanical and Buddhist traditions within the Thai court.

List of Office Holders

A record of Chief Royal Brahmins has been kept since the reign of King Rama I.

Reign	Name	Notes
Rama I	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi
Rama II	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi
Rama III	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi
Rama IV	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi
Rama V	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi
Rama VI	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi
Rama VII	Phra Ratchakhru Wam Thep Muni (Huang Rangsipramanakul)
Rama VIII	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi (Sawat Rangsipramanakul)
Rama IX	Phra Ratchakhru Wam Thep Muni (Somchit Rangsipramanakul)
Rama IX	Phra Maharatchakhru Atthachan (Liat Rattanapram)
Rama IX	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi Si Wisutthikhun (Chawin Rangsipramanakul)
Rama X	Phra Maharatchakhru Phithi Si Wisutthikhun (Chawin Rangsipramanakul)