Thero (commonly appearing in the masculine and feminine forms thera and therī respectively) is an honorific term in Pali for senior bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Buddhist monks and nuns) in the Buddhist monastic order . The word literally means "elder". These terms, appearing at the end of a monastic's given name , are used to distinguish those who have at least 10 years since their upasampada (higher ordination). The name of an important collection of very early Buddhist poetry is called the Therigatha , "verses of the therīs ".
6-527: Mahanayaka (also spelled as Maha Nayaka , Maha Nayake) theros are high-ranking Buddhist monks who oversee and regulate the Buddhist clergy in Theravada Buddhist countries. The title Maha Nayaka translates to English as 'Great Leader' and it is considered to be a very important position held by a monk in a Theravada Buddhist country. It is usually bestowed upon the senior Buddhist monks who are appointed
12-536: The Sri Lankan Government as the head of the Buddhist clergy in the country. As such certain state privileges have been extended since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948. These include state provisions for official residences (aramayas), official vehicles and state funerals . With the formation of Supreme Mahanayaka post of Amarapura nikaya in 1969, state patronage has been extended to the Mahanayaka theros of
18-489: The chief prelates of monastic fraternities known as Nikayas . In Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition , the title Mahanayaka is held by the heads of the chapters of all three main sects, Siam Nikaya (Estd. 1753), Amarapura Nikaya (Estd. 1803) and Ramanna Nikaya (Estd. 1864). Appointment of senior Buddhist monks to the Mahanayaka position in Sri Lanka began with the re-establishment of Upasampada higher ordination in 1753 on
24-409: The initiatives taken by Sangharaja Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero during the reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy . The deputies of mahanayaka theros are known as Anunayaka theros (also spelled as Anu Nayaka ), who generally succeed to the Mahanayaka position, after a death of an incumbent monk. Next in the hierarchy are Chief Sanghanayaka theros (also spelled as Sangha Nayaka ), who have
30-554: The jurisdiction over monks in a region, province or a district, while the Nayaka theros have the precedence in a temple or a group of connected temples. Prominent Mahanayake theros who are presently in office and their immediate predecessors are listed below. Some of the former mahanayke theros who have passed away in recent years are listed below. The Mahanayaka theros of the Malwatta chapter and Asgiriya Chapter were traditionally referred by
36-548: The other nikayas as well. Thero The terms mahāthera and mahātherī (the prefix mahā meaning 'great' in both Sanskrit and Pali) are used to refer to very distinguished elderly and venerable monks and nuns considered to have reached a higher level of spiritual development. Usage of these terms varies according to the Buddhist tradition and culture. In Sri Lanka , these terms are widely used. Some prominent theras and therīs: This Buddhism -related article
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