Biography of "Phra Phrom Muni," who was elevated to the ecclesiastical rank of "Somdet Phra Rajakhana" on the occasion of the Queen's 4th cycle birthday royal ceremony.
The Royal Thai Government Gazette website published a royal decree issued by His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun on the occasion of the Queen's 4th cycle birthday royal ceremony on 3 June 2026, announcing the elevation of three monks to higher ecclesiastical ranks. Among them was
Phra Phrom Muni, who was elevated to the rank of Somdet Phra Rajakhana. His official title as recorded in the Suphan Bat royal document is Somdet Phra Maha Wachiramu Niwong Maha Chediyapongkhun Thada Dhammathut Phatthanakanalangkan Paisan Sasanakitakari Sri Thammasatharaworankun Wibulsilacharasunthorn Dhammayuttikakhanissara Bowornsangharam Kamwasi Aranyawasi, residing at Wat Phra Si Maha That Woramahawihan, a royal monastery in Bangkok. Ten monks hold this rank.
Phra Phrom Muni (Boonruang) was born on 8 August 1935 in Khok Phra Subdistrict, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province.
His education includes a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies, majoring in Psychology (B.A. in Religious Studies), and a master's degree, Master of Arts inphilosophyHe holds the 4th level Pali Dhamma examination, a first-class Nak Tham certificate, and a certificate from the Foreign Dhamma Missionary Course at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok, completed in 1967.
He was among the first group of Dhamma missionaries trained and sent to propagate Buddhism abroad in countries such as Australia, the United States, and Indonesia. He played a key role in establishing Buddhism firmly in Indonesia today. He also serves as an executive committee member of the Foreign Dhamma Missionary Training Institute (Dhammayut), which conducts annual training to prepare monks for missionary work abroad.
He was ordained as a novice monk on 10 June 1946 at Wat Sawang Por Daeng, Um Mao Subdistrict, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province, with Phra Kru Patipan Thammakhunfrom Wat Khwan Muang serving as his preceptor. He was fully ordained on 26 June 1955, with Phra Thammapitak from Wat Phra Si Maha That Woramahawihan, Bang Khen, Bangkok, as his preceptor. He received the monastic name Punyachoto..
His ecclesiastical ranks progressed as follows: Phra Suweerayan in 1971, Phra Ratchawisuthamuni in 1992, Phra Thepphayanakawi in 2000, Phra Thammachediyacharn in 2007, and Phra Phrom Muni in 2019.
He served as acting abbot of Wat Phra Si Maha That Woramahawihan in 1996, regional ecclesiastical head of Dhammayut Section 8, director of the Dhammayut Sangha School, abbot of Wat Phra Si Maha That Woramahawihan in 1997, and was appointed to the Supreme Sangha Council on 14 October 2019.