Vihara

Vihāra is the Pali and Sanskrit term for a Buddhist monastery, in the original meaning of a residence or refuge; such a " refuge " searched wandering monks during the rainy season. The Indian Vihara became the basic model of Buddhist monastic buildings in many Asian cultures - an example is the Viharn in Thailand.

See also: Brahmavihara

The Vihara in India

In the Buddhist Indian architecture developed two typical building forms: the Chaitya Hall ( a prayer hall, in whose apse is a small stupa rises ) and Vihara ( a central cavity, a central courtyard and a central hall, usually rectangular, with surrounding simple monk cells). Later, the term referred to the entire Vihara monastery.

The Viharn in Thailand

The Thai term Viharn (also: Wihan, Thai: วิหาร ) has a narrower meaning: meaning is a specific building within a Buddhist temple, a Wat, namely the Common Assembly Hall of the members of the Order and the laity. The Viharn is like a bot decorated ( among other things, with Buddha statues ), but usually not as rich. Here are chanted and held Sutta prescribed ceremonies, where laymen are allowed to participate.

Architecturally viharn and bot only differ by eight boundary stones ( Bai Sema ) that characterize the bot as a sanctified area.

• Buddhist Monastery in India
• Buddhist Architecture
• Buddhism in Thailand
• Architecture ( Thailand)
• Cave Temple