Phuthachan (Thai: พุฒาจารย์, Buḍhācārya, lit.
'Senior Master'), formerly Phutthachan (Thai: พุทธาจารย์, Buddhācārya, lit.
'Awakened Master'), is an ecclesiastical title given to senior members of the Thai sangha, the community of Buddhist monks in Thailand.
[1] In the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the title Buddhācārya was preserved for Buddhist monks who were patriarchs of the sect of araṇyavāsī (Thai: อรัญวาสี; RTGS: aranyawasi; lit.
[1] In 2394 BE (1851/52 CE), the title Buddhācārya was modified to Buḍhācārya by King Rama IV, who gave it to Son (Thai: สน), the abbot of Wat Saket.