Difference between revisions of "Mahanayaka"
(Created page with " Mahanayaka (also spelled as Maha Nayaka, Maha Nayake) theros are high-ranking Buddhist monks who oversees and regulates the Buddhist {{Wiki...") |
|||
| (2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | <nomobile>{{DisplayImages|2119|755|4076|2067|4267}}</nomobile> | ||
| Line 6: | Line 7: | ||
| + | [[Mahanayaka]] (also spelled as [[Maha Nayaka]], [[Maha Nayake]]) [[theros]] are [[high-ranking Buddhist monks]] who oversees and regulates the [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|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 as the chief prelates of [[monastic]] fraternities known as [[Nikayas]]. | ||
| Line 14: | Line 18: | ||
| − | 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 the initiatives taken by [[Sangharaja]] [[Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero]] during the reign of [[king]] [[Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy]]. The deputies of [[mahanayaka | + | 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 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 {{Wiki|hierarchy}} are [[Chief Sanghanayaka]] [[theros]] (also spelled as [[Sangha Nayaka]]), who have 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. | ||
| + | |||
| Line 21: | Line 34: | ||
==[[Present Mahanayaka theros]]== | ==[[Present Mahanayaka theros]]== | ||
| + | <poem> | ||
| − | Most Ven. [[Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the Malwatta [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] | + | Most Ven. [[Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala]] [[Thero]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Malwatta]] [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. [[Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thera]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Asgiriya]] [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] | + | Most Ven. [[Galagama Sri Aththadassi]] [[Thera]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Asgiriya]] [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. Davuldena Sri Gnanissara [[Thero]] - Supreme [[Mahanayaka]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] | + | Most Ven. [[Davuldena Sri Gnanissara]] [[Thero]] - Supreme [[Mahanayaka]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. Napana Pemasiri [[Thera]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Sri Lanka]] [[Ramanna Nikaya]] | + | Most Ven. [[Napana Pemasiri]] [[Thera]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Sri Lanka]] [[Ramanna Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara [[Thera]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Kotte | + | Most Ven. [[Ittapane Dhammalankara]] [[Thera]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Mahasangha Sabha]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. | + | Most Ven. [[Thrikunamale Ananda]] [[Thero]] - [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Dharmarakshitha]] [[Chapter]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] |
| + | </poem> | ||
| − | |||
| − | Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha [[Thero]] - Former [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Asgiriya]] [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] | + | ===[[Former Mahanayaka theros]]=== |
| − | Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri | + | <poem> |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | Most Ven. [[Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha]] [[Thero]] - Former [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Asgiriya]] [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] | ||
| + | Most Ven. [[Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi]] [[Thera]] - Former [[Mahanayake]] of the Malwatta [[Chapter]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] | ||
Most Ven. [[Madihe Pannaseeha]] [[Thero]] - Former Supreme [[Mahanayaka]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] | Most Ven. [[Madihe Pannaseeha]] [[Thero]] - Former Supreme [[Mahanayaka]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] | ||
| − | Most Ven. Weweldeniye Medhalankara [[Thero]] - Former Mahanayake of the [[Sri Lanka]] [[Ramanna Nikaya]] | + | Most Ven. [[Weweldeniye Medhalankara]] [[Thero]] - Former Mahanayake of the [[Sri Lanka]] [[Ramanna Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. Bellana Sri Gnanawimala [[Thera]] - Former [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Kotte]] Sri Kalyani Samagri [[Dharma]] [[Mahasangha]] | + | Most Ven. [[Bellana Sri Gnanawimala]] [[Thera]] - Former [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Kotte]] Sri Kalyani Samagri [[Dharma]] [[Mahasangha Sabha]] of [[Siyam Nikaya]] |
| − | Most Ven. Weligama Sri Gnanaratana [[Thera]] - Former [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Dharmarakshitha]] [[Chapter]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] | + | Most Ven. [[Weligama Sri Gnanaratana]] [[Thera]] - Former [[Mahanayaka]] of the [[Dharmarakshitha]] [[Chapter]] of [[Amarapura Nikaya]] |
| − | + | </poem> | |
See also | See also | ||
| + | <poem> | ||
| + | [[Sangharaja]] | ||
| + | [[Diyawadana Nilame]] | ||
| + | </poem> | ||
| + | {{W}} | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Mahanayaka]] | |
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 02:35, 6 January 2016
Mahanayaka (also spelled as Maha Nayaka, Maha Nayake) theros are high-ranking Buddhist monks who oversees and regulates 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 as the chief prelates of monastic fraternities known as Nikayas.
Sri Lankan tradition
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 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 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.
Present Mahanayaka theros
Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero - Mahanayaka of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya
Most Ven. Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thera - Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya
Most Ven. Davuldena Sri Gnanissara Thero - Supreme Mahanayaka of Amarapura Nikaya
Most Ven. Napana Pemasiri Thera - Mahanayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya
Most Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara Thera - Mahanayaka of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Mahasangha Sabha of Siyam Nikaya
Most Ven. Thrikunamale Ananda Thero - Mahanayaka of the Dharmarakshitha Chapter of Amarapura Nikaya
Former Mahanayaka theros
Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thero - Former Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya
Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Thera - Former Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya
Most Ven. Madihe Pannaseeha Thero - Former Supreme Mahanayaka of Amarapura Nikaya
Most Ven. Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thero - Former Mahanayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya
Most Ven. Bellana Sri Gnanawimala Thera - Former Mahanayaka of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Mahasangha Sabha of Siyam Nikaya
Most Ven. Weligama Sri Gnanaratana Thera - Former Mahanayaka of the Dharmarakshitha Chapter of Amarapura Nikaya
See also
