Saṅgha Theravāda Dhammayut Indonesia (abbreviated as STDI; ) is a Theravada Buddhist sangha (monastic community) organization in Indonesia which serves as the official branch of the Dhammayuttika Nikāya, a Theravada order from Thailand. STDI functions as the official representative and successor of the Dhammayuttika Nikāya ordination lineage in Indonesia, as well as an institutional umbrella for monks ordained in this tradition. STDI oversees more than 40 viharas and cetiyas across various regions in Indonesia.
History Background
The presence of the Dhammayuttika Nikāya in Indonesia is inseparable from the Dhammadūta (Dhamma envoy) mission sent from Thailand. Since 1969, Thai envoy monks were officially sent to various countries, including Indonesia, to propagate Theravada Buddhism. These envoys originated from the Dhammayuttika Nikāya lineage and were tasked with guiding the laity and training Indonesian monastic candidates.
In 1970, Ven. Somdet Phra Ñāṇasaṁvara directly conferred ordination to Indonesian nationals at Borobudur, which became one of the starting points for the formation of the Theravada community in Indonesia. However, at that time, the monks ordained in the Dhammayuttika lineage did not yet have their own sangha organization, and some joined existing organizations, such as the Sangha Agung Indonesia (Sagin).
On October 23, 1976, Saṅgha Theravāda Indonesia (STI) was formed by five Indonesian monks originating from the Dhammayuttika Nikāya ordination lineage: Bhikkhu Aggabalo, Bhikkhu Khemasaraṇo, Bhikkhu Sudhammo, Bhikkhu Khemiyo, and Bhikkhu Ñāṇavutto. STI was established as an independent sangha organization, separate from Sagin.
In subsequent developments, STDI (Saṅgha Theravāda Dhammayut Indonesia) was established as a sangha organization to specifically accommodate and act as the official representative of the Dhammayuttika Nikāya order in Indonesia, with the support of Dhammadūta from Thailand. Unlike STI, which had been previously established as an independent institutional umbrella for monks who are Indonesian citizens,Based on the Preamble as well as Article I and Article III of the Saṅgha Theravāda Indonesia Charter according to , STI was established as an independent institutional umbrella for Theravada monks who are Indonesian citizens. The supreme sovereignty of the organization lies entirely in the hands of the Grand Assembly (Mahāsaṅghasabhā) of STI's internal monks (Article III paragraph 2), without any administrative subordination or direct hierarchical chain of command from any foreign sangha. This distinction in entity is also explicitly recorded in the Mahāthera Samāgama Resolution No. 173/2010 released by . The document distinguishes two separate agendas: the annual internal meeting of the Dhammayut Sangha Committee at Vipassana Graha Vihara (Bandung), and a "joint meeting" (joint meeting / การประชุมร่วม) between the Dhammayut Sangha () and Saṅgha Theravāda Indonesia () which was held separately at Mendut Vihara (Yogyakarta). STDI is structurally connected to and under the guidance and supervision of the Dhammayuttika Nikāya authority in Thailand.
Recent developments The existence of STDI as an official sangha organization is recognized by the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Walubi, which lists STDI as one of the Buddhist institutional organizations in Indonesia alongside other sangha organizations.
STDI actively participates in various national and international religious activities. In 2024 and 2025, STDI was recorded as the organizer of major observances such as Kaṭhina and Māgha Pūjā in Jakarta, attended by thousands of devotees and participated in by dozens of monks from within the country and abroad.
Organization and leadership STDI comprises monks and samaneras (novice monks) who have been ordained in the Dhammayuttika Nikāya lineage. The organization is also known as Perkumpulan Sangha Theravada Dhammayut Indonesia.
The leadership structure of STDI is headed by a chairman. Based on reports from official Ministry of Religious Affairs sources, the position of Chairman of Perkumpulan Sangha Theravada Dhammayut Indonesia is held by Ven. Bhikkhu Dhammavuddho Thera. STDI is under the guidance of Dhammadūta (Dhamma envoys) from Thailand and maintains a close relationship with the Dhammayuttika Nikāya. One of the key figures who plays a major role in guiding STDI is Ven. Bhikkhu Wongsin Labhiko Mahathera, acting as the Head of Thai Dhammaduta for the Indonesian region.
Activities STDI actively organizes various religious and social activities, both on a national and international scale.
Religious observances STDI routinely organizes major Buddhist observances, including: Kaṭhina Bersama: The annual observance of presenting kaṭhina robes to the Sangha. In 2025, STDI held a Joint Kathina at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, attended by thousands of devotees and over 50 monks. Māgha Pūjā: STDI also organizes the Māgha Pūjā Harmony and Blessing celebration, attended by over 700 Buddhists and led by more than 50 Sangha monks, including senior monks (lungpho) from Thailand.
Social activities STDI demonstrates social concern through various humanitarian actions. In April 2025, STDI distributed humanitarian aid for earthquake victims in Myanmar in the form of 65 boxes weighing a total of 767.1 kilograms, containing blankets, tarpaulins, first aid kits, medicines, clothing, and various other urgent necessities. This aid was dispatched in collaboration with the TNI using a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Spiritual development STDI is also active in guiding monastic candidates through training programs for samaneras (novice monks) and aṭṭhasīlanīs (women observing the eight precepts). Additionally, STDI monks engage in various spiritual activities such as the thudong tradition (spiritual wandering of monks) traversing various regions in Indonesia.
List of viharas The following is a list of viharas and cetiyas under STDI's umbrella in Indonesia, as recorded in the official Dhammayuttika Nikāya directory.
+ List of Dhammayuttika Temples in Indonesia No Name (Thai) Name (Indonesian/Latin) Location (City/Regency) Province DKI Jakarta 1 วัดพุทธเมตตา Vihara Buddha Metta Arama Central Jakarta DKI Jakarta 2 วัดพุทธธรรม Vihara Buddha Dhamma Citaviriyo North Jakarta DKI Jakarta 3 วัดเฮมาทิโร เมตตาวตี Vihara Hemadhiro Mettavati West Jakarta DKI Jakarta 4 วัดสามัคคีธรรม Vihara Samakkhidham West Jakarta DKI Jakarta 5 วัดปัญญาสิกขา Vihara Pannasikkha West Jakarta DKI Jakarta 6 สำนักสงฆ์ รูมาฮ์ เกอซาดารัน Cetiya Rumah Kesadaran West Jakarta DKI Jakarta 7 สำนักสงฆ์ติรตนะ ปารมี Cetiya Tiratana Parami North Jakarta DKI Jakarta 8 สำนักสงฆ์สารีปุตตา มหากิตติคุณาราม Cetiya Sariputta Maha Kittikunaram East Jakarta DKI Jakarta 9 สำนักสงฆ์อนาถะ ปิณฑิกะ Cetiya Anathapindika West Jakarta DKI Jakarta Banten 10 วัดสิทธัตถะ Vihara Siddharta South Tangerang Banten 11 วัดเนกขัมมาราม Vihara Nekkhamma Forest Meditation Centre Tangerang Banten 12 สำนักสงฆ์ธรรมทายาท Cetiya Dhammadayada Tangerang Banten 13 สำนักสงฆ์มหากุสลา โปริส Cetiya Maha Kusala Poris Tangerang Banten 14 สำนักสงฆ์พุทธชัยมงคล Cetiya Buddha Jaya Manggala Tangerang Banten West Java 15 วัดวิปัสสนาคราหะ Vihara Vipassana Graha West Bandung West Java 16 วัดปอนด่อก เมดิตาซี อัสรี จากาสัมปูรนา Vihara Pondok Meditasi Asri Jakasampurna West Bekasi West Java 17 วัดเวสสันดร Vihara Vessantara Bekasi West Java 18 วัดพุทธชยันตี Vihara Buddha Jayanti Bekasi West Java 19 วัดมหาวิริยะอารามะ Vihara Maha Viriya Arama Bogor West Java 20 วัดสันติสุขอารามะ Vihara Santi Sukha Arama Bogor West Java 21 สำนักสงฆ์สวนมิตรภาพ Kebun Persahabatan Purwakarta West Java 22 สำนักสงฆ์สังฆเมตตา อารามะ Cetiya Sangha Metta Arama Bogor West Java Central Java 23 วัดวิสมาภิกขุ จายาวิชยะ Vihara Wisma Bhikkhu Jayawijaya Temanggung Central Java 24 วัดเอกะธรรมโลกา Vihara Eka Dhammaloka Jepara Central Java 25 วัดปอนด่อกภันเตวิญญ์ Vihara Pondok Bhante Win Magelang Central Java 26 วัดธรรมกุสุมา Vihara Dhammakusuma Cilacap Central Java East Java 27 วัดพุทธวิริโย Vihara Buddhaviriyo Surabaya East Java Bali 28 วัดวิสมาสมณะ Vihara Wisma Samana (not specified) Bali North Sumatra 29 วัดลาภิโก บุดดิส เซ็นเตอร์ Labhiko Buddhist Centre Medan North Sumatra 30 วัดโบโรบุดูร์ Vihara Borobudur Medan North Sumatra 31 วัดศากยมุนี Vihara Sakyamuni ITBC Deli Serdang North Sumatra 32 วัดพุทธสุชาตา Vihara Buddha Sujata Medan North Sumatra 33 วัดรักขิตะวนา บุดดิส เซ็นเตอร์ Rakkhitavana Buddhist Centre Deli Serdang North Sumatra 34 วัดอโศการาม บุดดิส เซ็นเตอร์ Asokarama Buddhist Centre Langkat North Sumatra 35 วัดชาติศากยะ เมติตาซี เซ็นเตอร์ Jatisakya Meditation Centre Deli Serdang North Sumatra 36 วัดสวาร์นา ดุวิปะ Vihara Swarna Dwipa Asahan North Sumatra 37 สำนักสงฆ์บุดดิส เมดิเตชั่นเซ็นเตอร์ (บีเอ็มซี) Buddhist Mediation Center (BMC) Medan North Sumatra Riau 38 วัดธรรมเมตตา Vihara Dhamma Metta Arama Pekanbaru Riau Jambi 39 วัดวิมุตตระ Vihara Vimuttara Jambi Jambi Bangka Belitung Islands 40 วัดบังก้าธรรมาราม Vihara Bangka Dhammaram Bangka Bangka Belitung Islands 41 สำนักสงฆ์ปุสดิกัส พุทธเบอลิตุง Pusdiklat Buddha Belitung Belitung Bangka Belitung Islands North Sulawesi 42 วัดธรรมทีปะ มานาโด Vihara Dhammadipa Manado Manado North Sulawesi Gorontalo 43 วัดพุทธธรรม โกรอนตาโล Vihara Buddha Dharma Gorontalo Gorontalo Papua 44 วัดธรรมชัย ปาปัว Vihara Cycloop Dhammajaya Sentani Jayapura Papua
See also Dhammayuttika Nikāya Saṅgha Theravāda Indonesia Sangha Agung Indonesia Majelis Agama Buddha Theravada Indonesia
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