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47-483: The position of sangharaja has been assigned according to various methods in different countries and time periods. In some cases, the sangharaja is determined by absolute monastic seniority; the sangharaja is the monk who has spent the most rains retreats ( vassa ) as a monk. In other cases, royal appointment may play a role--the sangharaja may be appointed by the king, particularly in Southeast Asian countries where

94-483: A cave at Alagalla and the villagers provided him with alms food. During that time, almost all the Buddhist clergy were known as Ganinnanses or as Samaneras , as there was no way of them receiving the upasampada , to qualify as a fully ordained Bhikku. Higher ordination Upasampada became defunct in the era as a result of the decline of Buddhism due to colonial invasion of the maritime provinces of Sri Lanka. Education of

141-457: A monk is not bound to follow the orders or recommendations of another monk - even a senior monk. While in practice, the respect accorded to a senior monk and the standards of the local community often provide a significant impetus for requests from senior monks to be obeyed, there is no traditional or scriptural demand for such attitudes. Most monasteries – even in areas where a sangharaja has been appointed – remain primarily self-governing or, at

188-561: A practice also observed in Tibetan Buddhism . Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month, which is the day after Asalha Puja or Asalha Uposatha ("Dhamma day"). It ends on Pavarana , when all monastics come before the sangha and atone for any offense that might have been committed during Vassa. Vassa is followed by Kathina , a festival in which the laity expresses gratitude to monks. Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for

235-449: A teacher as well as a preacher. In addition to his skill as a scholar he was also known for his austere practices, kindness, purity of thought and attachment to religious life, which were rare qualities. His habit to help the poor earned him the epithet Asarana Sarana , the one who helps the helpless. Although the Buddhist clergy known as Ganninnanse were living like laymen and forgotten their sacred calling, they were getting their alms to

282-630: Is Thanlyin Mingyaung Sayadaw . In Sri Lanka, from the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (13th century) the title of Sangharaja has been created by the king Parakramabahu the great . In the beginning, this title of Sangharaja was also known as Mahasami , the head of the Sangha community of the whole country. The first Sri Lankan Buddhist monk to hold this title was Dimbulagala Maha Kassapa Maha Thero. However some sources suggests that Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera , who

329-504: Is also called Rains Retreat . While Vassa is sometimes casually called " Buddhist Lent ", others object to this terminology. For the duration of Vassa, monastics remain in one place, typically a monastery or temple grounds. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation . Some Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking. In Thailand,

376-537: Is currently defunct in Sri Lanka , as no Buddhist monk was appointed to this position in the last two centuries. Mahanayaka theros who act as the chief prelates of three main sects Siyam Nikaya , Amarapura Nikaya and Ramanna Nikaya are considered to be the highest ranked Buddhist monks in the country. In pre-colonial Burma, the office of Sangharaja was known as the Thathanabaing ( သာသနာပိုင် , literally 'Keeper of

423-479: Is traditionally appointed by the king, Rama I having appointed the first of modern times in 1782. Since passage of the Sangha Act of 1902 in the reign of Rama V , the office has tended to alternate between ordained monks of the majority order of Maha Nikaya , and of the minority order of Dhammayuttika Nikaya . The latter began as a reform movement within the larger order, established by Prince Mongkut , while he

470-522: The Munigunalankara , a Sinhalese poem in praise of Buddha, the Sarartha Sangraha , a treatise on various doctrinal teachings of Buddhist philosophy and Abhisambodhialankara , a Pali poem on the life of Bodhisattva from the times of Dipankara Buddha up to his enlightenment are some examples for his religious literary work. The Madhurartha Prakasini , which is a Sinhalese commentarial paraphrase to

517-642: The Poth Gula of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy. Though his parents initially opposed his idea to enter the Buddhist monastic order, later he was granted permission by parents and was ordained as a Samanera at the age of 16 under the scholar monk. His teacher, Suriyagoda Rajaguru thera, who had received upasampada ordination from the Arakanese monks (Burmese) in 1679, exercised considerable influence within

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564-519: The Sāsana ') or formally Mahāsaṅgharājā ( မဟာသံဃာရာဇာ ), typically rendered into English as 'Primate', 'Archbishop' or 'Supreme Patriarch.' The Thathanabaing of Burma served as the head of the Buddhist order of monks ( bhikkhu ) in pre-colonial Burma , until its abolishment in 1938 by the British authorities in colonial Burma . When Started Supreme Patriarchy at 1980. Currently Fifth Supreme Patriarch of Myanmar

611-521: The Buddha), to the laymen who assembled to hear the discourses on Dhamma . The main reason for the decline of Buddhism during this period was mainly due to the infiltration of Catholicism , which spread because of the tolerance of the kings, who gave a free hand to the missionaries to spread their faith. This decline further increased with the division of the Buddhist monks into two groups as 'Silvats' and 'Ganinnanses'. The Portuguese and Dutch influence in

658-775: The Dhammayuttika order, returning Cambodia to the two-patriarch system. As the monarchy no longer has government status in Cambodia, the two fraternities are now officially equals. The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Maha Nikaya is Samdech Preah Sumedhādhipati , while the full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya is Samdech Preah Sugandhādhipati . The Sangharaja ( Thai : พระสังฆราช ; RTGS :  Sangkharat ) of Thailand

705-551: The Kandyan Kingdom and had the patronage of King Vira Narendrasinghe (1707–39). He was the last Sinhala king, after whom Nayakkar dynasty succeeded to the throne of Kandyan kingdom . In 1715, Suriyagoda thera was charged with treason by the king and executed. Thus young Saranankara Samanera left on his own, took up residence in the mountainous region of Alagalla (Kadugannwa) a few miles away from Kandy and devoted his early years to learning Pali language. Saranakara Samanera lived in

752-570: The Kandyan Kingdom over the Sinhalese were such that the Sinhalese began to assimilate foreign customs, ways of life, dress and language resulting in transformation of their local life style. It was inevitable that these foreign customs seeped into the Buddhist monks as well. During this period Weliwita Sri Saranankara Samanera, who led the Silvat monks (monks who behaved according to the monastic discipline)

799-512: The age of 16, he was ordained as a samanera at the sooriyagoda temple in kandy ,by the name Weliwita saranankara. Weliwita Sri Saranankara Samanera received the 'upasampada' and qualified as a higher ordained monk on the Esala poya day in 1753 at the Malwatu Maha Viharaya. King Kirti Sri Rajasinha and his ministers proceeded to Malwatta Viharaya and presented Weliwita Sri Saranankara thera with

846-414: The age of 55, Weliwita Sri Saranankara Samanera received the 'upasampada' and qualified as a higher ordained monk on the Esala poya day in 1753 at the Malwatu Maha Viharaya. King Kirti Sri Rajasinha and his ministers proceeded to Malwatta Viharaya and presented Weliwita Sri Saranankara thera with the insignia of the office of Sangharaja in a grand assembly of Buddhist monks. Welivita Sri Saranankara thero

893-511: The age of 80 on the full moon poya day in July 1778. He died at the forest hermitage near Hantana, while observing 'vas' (retreat). It was his favourite forest abode, which is situated a few miles from Kandy. He was listening to the “Sathipattana” with right mindfulness, recited by Malinbada Gunarathana thero at the time of his death. The activities of Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero led to the re-establishment of Upasampada (higher ordination) and restored

940-440: The civil government. The central religious hierarchy is responsible for issues of national and regional importance- such as the curriculum of monastic schools, the creation of authoritative forms for scriptures and rituals, and reform issues of nationwide importance – leaving most local decisions to the discretion of individual temples and abbots (such as the ordination and disciplining of individual monks). The position of Sangharaja

987-572: The countries monastic fraternities. From the period between 1855 and the beginning of the Khmer Rouge era, one sangharaja existed for the Cambodian branch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, and another for the Maha Nikaya. Because the Dhammayuttika order enjoyed closer ties to the throne, it officially had primacy in Cambodia despite constituting a small majority of Khmer monks. During the Khmer Rouge period,

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1034-540: The epithet Pindapathika Saranankara . During this period few like-minded companions and followers began to gather around Weliwita Sri Saranankara Samanera. The earliest and most intimate of them were Sitinamaluwe Dhammajothi, Ilipangamuwe and Kadiragoda, who came from the south of the island . They formed themselves into a small fraternity called Silvat Samagama and its members were called silvat tenas (pious ones) distinguishing themselves from other samaneras and ganinnanses. Weliwita Saranankara Samanera's lifelong ambition

1081-448: The execution of his teacher Suriyagoda thera. With great effort and devotion he expanded his knowledge in Pali language and Buddhist doctrine, for which purpose he traveled from place to place in search of books and tutors. Later he went about preaching Buddha Dhamma to encourage others to rise up for the welfare of the religion. This behavior of Weliwita Saranankara Samanera made him popular as

1128-532: The help of Mahasangha in Siam . He is also credited with the establishment of Silvath Samagama (pious group), a union of monks who lived in accordance with the Buddhist monastic discipline. Welivita Sri Saranakara Thera was born on June 19, 1698, in Welivita Waththe Walauwa, Tumpane, Hatharaliyadda, about 24 km from Kandy . His father was a chieftain and was a descendant of an influential family. At

1175-475: The honour of the laity, who ignominiously called them 'ganai' or 'ganaya', who differed from the laity only by their yellow robe. At that point of time there were no erudite monks to deliver discourses to the laity and it was very difficult to find five higher ordained Buddhist monks to offer a 'sanghika-dana' (alms giving) in the entire country. Ganninnanse only read the Jataka-potha (book on the previous lives of

1222-560: The insignia of the office of Sangharaja in a grand assembly of Buddhist monks. Welivita Sri Saranankara thero was the last Sri Lankan monk to hold the prestigious Sangharaja title, which is the highest office conferred on a monk in a Theravada Buddhist country His lay name was Kulathun Bandara and his brother. This family had held administrative positions in the Uva Dissavaniya for centuries according to books such as Sangarajawatha, Sangha Raja Saduchariyawa and other sources found in

1269-508: The king. He managed to persuade the king by 1741 to negotiate with the Dutch, who were ruling maritime provinces to accommodate a delegation to Siam (now Thailand ), to revive the higher ordination, Upasampada. The king got the assistance of the Dutch to send a delegation to Siam, which was unsuccessful. Several members of the delegation died when the ship they traveled sank on the way while the survivors returned to Sri Lanka. A second delegation which

1316-547: The monarchy is closely associated with Buddhism ( Thailand , for example). Alternatively, the sangharaja may be chosen semi-democratically by monks or the laity (similar to the election of an abbot in some Theravada communities). The authority and responsibility assigned to the sangharaja can also vary significantly. Traditionally, Buddhist monasticism has not imposed any particular obligation of obedience on Buddhist monks . Any monk can offer criticism of any other monk with regards to violations of disciplinary rules , and

1363-633: The monks. The Vassa tradition predates the time of Gautama Buddha . It was a long-standing custom for mendicant ascetics in India not to travel during the rainy season as they may unintentionally harm crops, insects or even themselves during their travels. Many Buddhist ascetics live in regions which lack a rainy season. Consequently, there are places where Vassa may not be typically observed. Welivita Sri Saranankara Thero Weliwita Asaranasarana Sri Saranankara Sangharaja Thero (19 June 1698 – 18 July 1778) or popularly Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero

1410-525: The most, dependent on a single larger temple in the same region. As such, in some cases the sangharaja is primarily a figurehead, a focal point and spokesman for Buddhist piety, but not endowed with any particular authority. Even without any clearly designated authority or responsibilities, a sangharaja can often effect significant changes in a Theravada country by employing the respect accorded to him and his office to mobilize monks and laymen for social or religious change. Preah Maha Ghosananda of Cambodia

1457-400: The novice monks has been neglected as there was no one capable to teach the basic components of Pali grammar . Welivita Saranakara Samanera was able to learn the principles of Pali grammar from Levuke Ralahamy, who had studied it from Watabuluwe Thera. His tutor Leuke Ralahamy was a one, who had been imprisoned by the king in a village close to Alagalla, where Saranankara samanera resided after

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1504-469: The purity of the Buddhism in the country. In addition to that his leadership and influence also brought a literary revival as a result of the impetus given by him to the education of Pali language and Buddha's teachings. Welivita Sri Saranankara thera compiled many important religious literary works and several other pupils of Weliwita Sri Saranankara thera also composed many literary works. The books such as

1551-475: The role of sangharaja essentially vanished, as Buddhism was officially suppressed first by the Khmer Rouge. The Vietnam-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea began to reverse its stance in order to gain wider popular support for its rule, and the venerable Tep Vong was appointed the new sangharaja by the government in 1981, with both nikayas combined into a single unified order. Upon his return from exile in 1991, King Sihanouk appointed Bour Kry sangharaja of

1598-429: The sale of alcohol is prohibited on the first ( Wan Khao Phansa ) and last ( Wan Ok Phansa ) days of Vassa. Commonly, the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of vassas (or rains ) since ordination . Mahayana Buddhists also observe Vassa. Vietnamese Thiền and Korean Seon monastics observe an equivalent retreat of three months of intensive practice in one location,

1645-638: The same month. The mission was successful and the new King of Siam, Borommakot , accepted the request of king Kirti Sri Rajasinha and sent a delegation of twenty, headed by Upali Maha Thera to Sri Lanka. Two years later the delegation with Upali Thera was able to set sail back to Sri Lanka and reached Trincomalee in May 1753 after leaving Siam in January 1753. The delegation which was headed by Upali Thera, composed of higher ordained Siamese monks, who entered Kandy in June 1753. At

1692-584: The same office in the unified Cambodian sangha, and after 1991 as the Supreme Patriarch of the Maha Nikaya. Vassa Vassa ( Pali : vassa- , Sanskrit : varṣa- , both "rain") is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists. Taking place during the wet season , Vassa lasts for three lunar months , usually from July (the Burmese month of Waso, ဝါဆို ) to October (the Burmese month of Thadingyut, သီတင်းကျွတ် ). In English, Vassa

1739-421: The temples regularly. The young Saranankara Samanera, as an objection against the manner in which Ganinnanses' lived in that era, refused to accept the food that brought to the temples, and led an exemplary life of real priesthood. He depended for his sustenance on the ancient practice of Buddhist monks known as Pindapata , gathering ones food from house to house in his alms-bowl. Because of this practice, he earned

1786-576: Was a Buddhist monk , who was the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. He was the pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka , after the decline of the religion in the 17th and 18th centuries. Saranankara Thero was bestowed with the a title by king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe in 1753, the same year he received the Upasampada (higher ordination of Buddhist monks) and re-established the Upasampada in Sri Lanka with

1833-518: Was an abbot with the ordination name of Vajirañāṇo, before renouncing the monastic life to ascend the throne as Rama IV. The Sangharaja of Laos was traditionally appointed by the King of Laos (the monarchy of Luang Phrabang) In 1988, Maha Ghosananda was elected Supreme Patriarch by a group of exiled monks in Paris, however this status was not officially recognized in Cambodia. During this same period, Tep Vong held

1880-413: Was an example of this type of sangharaja – one whose influence over the local religious community far exceeded any ecclesiastic authority that he may have wielded. In other cases, the sangharaja may be part of a national or regional hierarchy that is responsible for settling issues of wider importance to the national sangha . The Supreme Patriarch of Thailand operates in this mold, in association with

1927-523: Was appointed as the King of Kandyan kingdom. The reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinha brought a new energy to the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Weliwita Sri Saranankara Samanera extended his fullest corporation to the new king who depended on him for advice, guidance and inspiration. He urged the king to send a third embassy to Siam with the help of Dutch East India Company for the revival of Upasampada. The third delegation which left Kandy in July 1751 made it to Trincomalee and left Sri Lanka's shores later in

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1974-404: Was conferred with Sangharaja position by King Parakramabahu VI as the first Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. Welivita Sri Saranankara Thero who was appointed to this position by king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe in 1753, was the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. In Cambodia and the former Khmer kingdoms, the sangharaja ( Khmer : សង្ឃរាជ sangkhareach ) was a senior monk appointed by the king who headed one of

2021-446: Was dispatched in 1745, led by one of the survivors of the first delegation successfully reached Siam, but could not conclude the negotiations due to the untimely death of the king Vijaya Rajasinghe. The King of Siam was reluctant to send Siamese monks to revive the monastic lineage of Sri Lanka without knowing what the attitude of the new king would be in this matter. After the demise of King Vijaya Rajasinghe in 1747, Kirti Sri Rajasinha

2068-408: Was entrusted with the task of tutoring prince Vijaya Rajasinghe, young brother-in-law of King Vira Narendrasinghe . Since the king had no children from his main consort, the young brother-in-law of the king was the next in line for the throne of Kandyan Kingdom. With the appointment of Vijaya Rajasinghe to the throne in 1739, Welivita Sri Saranankara had the opportunity to make a direct influence to

2115-478: Was focused on the development and the welfare of the monks that he led in Sri Lanka. He traveled extensively in the country, especially in the south to organize and restore the former prestige of the Buddhism and Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. After rendering a great service to the Buddha Sasana by re-establishing the higher ordination ritual of Upasampadha in the country, Weliwita Sri Saranankara Mahathera died at

2162-539: Was the last Sri Lankan monk to hold the prestigious Sangharaja title, which is the highest office conferred on a monk in a Theravada Buddhist country. After becoming the Sangharaja, he was involved extensively with activities to revive the Buddha Sasana by assisting the monks, in particular the samanera or novice monks to pursue their learning and service to the nation. He was not interested in material possessions such as land, buildings and property in general. His interest

2209-403: Was to re-establish upasampada ordination in the island. The behaviour of the Buddhist monks in the early 18th century in Sri Lanka was deeply deteriorated and did not conform to the ' vinaya ', monastic discipline accepted for the bhikkus . Most of them had close association with women and some had children by them. In view of their immoral behaviour, they did not receive either the reverence or

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