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{{Short description|Buddhist honorific}} | |||
{{other uses|Thero (disambiguation)}} | {{other uses|Thero (disambiguation)}} | ||
'''''Thero''''' (commonly appearing in the masculine and feminine forms '''''thera''''' and '''''therī''''' respectively) is an [[honorific]] term in [[Pali]] for senior [[bhikkhu]]s and [[ | '''''Thero''''' (commonly appearing in the masculine and feminine forms '''''thera''''' and '''''therī''''' respectively) is an [[honorific]] term in [[Pali]] for senior [[bhikkhu]]s and [[Bhikkhunī|bhikkhunis]] (Buddhist monks and nuns) in the [[Sangha|Buddhist monastic order]]. The word literally means "elder". These terms, appearing at the end of a monastic's [[dharma name|given name]], are used to distinguish those who have at least 10 years since their ''[[Upasampadā|upasampada]]'' (higher ordination). The name of an important collection of very early Buddhist poetry is called the ''[[Therīgāthā|Therigatha]]'', "Verses of the ''Therīs''". | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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Some prominent theras and therīs: | Some prominent theras and therīs: | ||
* [[Ananda]] | * [[Ananda]] Thera | ||
* [[ | * [[Rerukane Chandawimala Thera|Rerukane Chandawimala Maha Thera]] | ||
* [[Balangoda Ananda Maitreya | * [[Katukurunde Nyanananda Mahathera|Katukurunde Nyanananda Thera]] | ||
* [[Kiribathgoda Gnanananda | * [[Narada Maha Thera|Narada Mahathera]] | ||
* [[Ayya Tathaaloka]] | * [[Nyanatiloka|Nyanatiloka Mahathera]] | ||
* [[Gangodawila Soma | * [[Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera]] | ||
* [[Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī|Mahapajapati Gotami]] Therī | |||
* [[Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera]] | |||
* [[Tathālokā Bhikkhunī|Ayya Tathaaloka Mahātherī]] | |||
* [[Gangodawila Soma Thera]] | |||
* [[Nyanaponika Thera]] | * [[Nyanaponika Thera]] | ||
* [[Nanavira Thera]] | * [[Ñāṇavīra Thera|Nanavira Thera]] | ||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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* [[Theravada]] | * [[Theravada]] | ||
* [[Theragatha]] | * [[Theragatha]] | ||
* [[Therigatha]] | * [[Therīgāthā|Therigatha]] | ||
{{Buddhism topics}} | {{Buddhism topics}} | ||
[[Category:Buddhist titles]] | [[Category:Buddhist titles]] | ||
[[Category:Theravada Buddhist | [[Category:Theravada]] | ||
[[Category:Buddhist monasticism]] | |||
{{Buddhism-stub}} | {{Buddhism-stub}} | ||
{{SriLanka-stub}} | {{SriLanka-stub}} | ||
Latest revision as of 03:30, 7 October 2025
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".
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:
- Ananda Thera
- Rerukane Chandawimala Maha Thera
- Katukurunde Nyanananda Thera
- Narada Mahathera
- Nyanatiloka Mahathera
- Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera
- Mahapajapati Gotami Therī
- Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera
- Ayya Tathaaloka Mahātherī
- Gangodawila Soma Thera
- Nyanaponika Thera
- Nanavira Thera
References[edit | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
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