The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

124 John P, Ferguson and Sbalardchai Ramitanoodh
the area which so far have tended to control the administration of the
Sangha. When a monk becomes abbot of one of these, he is in a
favorable position to bid silently for power. Often we found that when
monks were appointed as abbots of such monasteries, they were given
administrative posts at the same time or shortly after.
Some of these
monasteries can be very impressive establishments, with huge worship
halls (wiharn), pagodas (chedi), libraries (ho trai), ordination balls (bot),
bell towers (ho rakhang), and many modern monks dwellings (kuti),
equipped with all the modern conveniences lavished upon the Sangha by
the faithful. Some have Land Rovers or manicured automotive museum
pieces such as a 1952 Chevrolet Sedan. Other monasteries are historical
landmarks and are visited by a steady stream of tourists or, on holidays,
by bus loads of merit-making Thai from Bangkok or by throngs of
pilgrims, as at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. These abbots thus have
their monasteries at the center of their sacred realm, but it is the hierarchy
position that defines the boundaries of their mandalas.
The Provincial Head (Chao Khana Cbangwat)
Before the 1963 Sangha Act, the Provincial Head (Chao Khana
Changwat) was responsible for four areas which he was required to
delegate to subordinates. The Departments were as follows : (1) Government
(administration), (2) Education, (3) Propagation of the religion
(including missions to hill tribes, etc.), and (4) Public Welfare (development,
building construction). Today the Provincial Head by law is
required to watch all of these areas by himself, delegating specific jobs
as necessary, but in practice, some degree of specialization still occurs,
the Provincial Head retaining areas J:1:
1 and # 3, delegating to his first
deputy area # 2 and to his second deputy# 4. It is interestiag that the
second deputy once held the same duties under the old law, and under
the new law be was given the same job but a new title. Also aiding the
Provincial Head is a provincial secretary who keeps the records and is
himself the abbot of the monastery formerly run by the Provincial