About Vihāra

Vihara generally refers to a monastery for Buddhist renunciates. The concept is ancient and in early Sanskrit and Pali texts, it meant any arrangement of space or facilities for pleasure and entertainment. The term evolved into an architectural concept wherein it refers to living quarters for monks with an open shared space or courtyard, particularly in Buddhism. The term is also found in Ajivika, Hindu and Jain monastic literature, usually referring to temporary refuge for wandering monks or nuns during the annual Indian monsoons. In modern Jainism, the monks continue to wander from town to town except during the rainy season (Chaturmas), the term "vihara" refers their wanderings.
The Northwest Dharma Association - US

New Buddhist Vihara Blooms in Port Townsend

7
Jul
2024

Products related to Vihāra

Monks outside the temple at the Tibetan Buddhist monastery, Rato Dratsang

The forms of organized Buddhist monasticism

18
May
2022
Monasteries, Monks
is one of the earliest surviving forms of organized monasticism and one of the fundamental institutions of Buddhism. and nuns, called and bhikkhuni, are responsible for the preservation and dissemination of the Buddha's teaching and the guidance of Buddhist lay people. Three surviving traditions of monastic discipline (), govern modern monastic life in different regional traditions: - the Theravada in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka - the Dharmaguptaka in East Asia - .
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Buddha statue in Borobudur (Indonesia), the world's largest Buddhist temple.

Different types of Buddhist architecture

18
May
2022
Caves, Monasteries, Monuments, Stupas, Temples
Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian subcontinent. Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of early Buddhism: (viharas), places to venerate relics (), and shrines or prayer halls, which later came to be called in some places. The initial function of a was the veneration and safe-guarding of the relics of Gautama Buddha. The earliest archaeologically known example of a stupa is the relic stupa located in Vaishali, .
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Explaining Buddhist Protector Four Faced Mahakala – Chaturmukha Thangka

20
Apr
2020
Art, Himalayan Art, Thangka
Depicting , Chaturmukha who was known as the Four-faced Great Black One. Mahakala was associated with the Guhyasamaja along with the Twenty-five and Fifty Chapter Mahakala Tantras. The Life of Chaturmukha Mahakala In this section, we are going to learn about the life of Mahakala, after that, we will learn about the short etymological description of the word Mahakala itself. Etymology of Chaturmukha Mahakala Earlier, we learn about the life of Caturmukha Mahakala. Now, we are going .
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Top 50 Buddhist Temples in Thailand

25
Nov
2019
Culture, Dharma, Monasteries, Temples, Theravāda
The main in Thailand is . is practiced by more than 95% of the population in Thailand. There are around 30,000 in Thailand. Thailand is a country and the here play a very active part in everyday life. Thai’s come to them to pray to for things such as or , they also come to make merit and speak with the . The structures themselves have .
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atisa

Atiśa Thangka Painting from Mid 12th century

25
Aug
2019
Art, Himalayan Art, Thangka, Tibetan paintings
This of is from the early to mid-12th century and features extensive inscriptions on the reverse side. was the abbot of in northern , one of the maha viharas that granted the learned degree of Pandita, here indicated by his yellow hat. In 1042, he traveled to at the invitation of the western ‘Od to help purify practices there. Atisha’s authority was rooted in his lineage, an .
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Atisa Thangka Painting

Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna – The Reviver of Buddhism in Tibet

20
Nov
2018
Biography, Culture, Deities, Dharma, Monks, Stupas, Temples
is a renowned Indian who went to in 1042 to help in the revival of and established the Kadam tradition. His text Light for the Path was the first lam-rim text. Pala Empire The Pala Dynasty was the ruling Dynasty in Bihar and Bengal , from the 8th to the 12th century.  Called the Palas because all their names ended in Pala, "protector". is a teacher from the Pala Empire who, along .
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Avalokitesvara Mahayana Pantheon

12
Nov
2018
Avalokiteśvara, Culture, Deities, Mahāyāna, Meditation
Who is Avalokitesvara? Avalokitesvara, the of , is one of the most important and popular . Avalokitesvara first appears in Indian . He is originally mentioned as one of a number of . Avalokitesvara is famous in the Pantheon as a Bodhisattva emanating from the , , and his Akti, Pandara. Who is Pandara? Pandara, goddess, is the of Amitabha, and a feminine bodhisattva. She originated from the syllable PAM. Her color .
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manjushri Thangka

All about Manjushri Bodhisattva – Meaning, Iconography and Belief

7
Oct
2018
Culture, Deities, Dharma, Manjushri
is the  of . The sword in the hand of Manjushri is called the Prajna khadga or the Sword of Wisdom, which is believed to destroy the darkness of by the luminous rays issuing out of it. Manjushri, the full name of Manjushri, is a transliteration of the , which translates into a wonderful virtue, a wonderful head, and wonderful auspiciousness. Manjushri is a representative of prajna wisdom, often appearing in the classics of .
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A Short Story Of Amitabha

11
May
2018
Dharma
The Sakyamuni described the Buddha  to Ananda. The Light that issues from is the most brilliant, and none is comparable to him. In adoration we call him: The Buddha of  The Buddha of Immeasurable Light The Buddha of Boundless Light The Buddha of Inexpressible Light The Buddha whose Light surpasses the and the Moon Whoever is with the Light will enjoy a and life which is free of .
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The Himalayan Yoga Tradation

18
Mar
2018
Himalayas, Yoga
The Mountains have been the home of sages for millennia. These great sages have lived and passed on of the yogic to disciples who then became passing on the teachings in an unbroken lineage since the . Twelve hundred years ago organized his teaching into five centers of the . As one of those five, our tradition is the Bharati lineage connected with the Shankaracharya at the Shringeri .
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