Wat Bowonniwet is the national head-quarters for the Thammayut monastic sect, the minority sect Mahanikai Buddhism. King Mongkut, founder of the Thammau\yuts, began a royal tradition by residing here as a monk; but in face, he was the abbot of this wat for several years. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, as well as several other males in the royal family, have temporarily ordained as monks here. The temple was founded in 1826, when it was known as Wat Mai.