Siam Nikaya

The Siam (also Siyamopali and Siyam ) Nikaya is a monastic order within Sri Lanka, founded by Upali Thera and located predominantly around the city of Kandy. It is so named because it originated within Thailand (formerly known in Europe as the "Kingdom of Siam"). The Siyam Nikaya has two major divisions (Malwatta and Asgiriya) and five other divisions within these two major units. The Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters have two separate Maha Nayakas or chief Monks.

History

On the initiative of Ven. Weliwita Saranankara (1698-1778) the Thai monk Upali visited Kandy in 1753 during the reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747 - 1782), and there performed "upasampada" (higher ordination, as distinct from samanera or novice ordination) for a group of Kandyan monks. The Buddhist order had become extinct thrice during the preceding five hundred years and was re-established in the reigns of Vimala Dharma Suriya I (1591 - 1604) and Vimala Dharma Suriya II (1687 - 1707) as well. These re-establishments were short lived.

Venerable Upali

Upali Thera believed the Buddhist Sangha in Kandy was suffering from a state of corruption, which included the practice of astrology and his efforts were aimed at "purifying" the practices of the monastic order. It was also through the efforts of Upali Thera that the "procession of the tooth" came into being. Annually in Kandy there is a celebration which includes a parade in which the focus is a relic believed to be a tooth of the Buddha. This procession was originally focused on honor to Hindu deities, particularly those incorporated into Sri Lankan Buddhism. Upali Thera believed this to be inappropriate in a Buddhist nation, and his influence led to the king declaring that "Henceforth Gods and men are to follow the Buddha".

The Number of Siyam Nikaya Monastries and Monks

(Estimates from Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Sri Lanka) TEMPLES MONKS Malvatu Parshavaya (including Sri Rohana Parshavaya) 4,923 14,944 Asgiri Parshavaya 565 1,383 Rangiri Dambulu Parshavaya unknown 200 Mahavihara Vansika Vanavasa Nikaya 71 889 Kotte Sri Kalyani Saamagri Nikaya, 85 230 Uve Siyamopali 22 78 TOTAL 6018 18,780

ee also

* Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
* Amarapura Nikaya
* Ramanna Nikaya
* Sri Lankan Buddhism

External links

* [http://www.sundaytimes.lk/030511/news/3.htm 250 year celebrations]
* [http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112002/wesak.htm Two great needs of Buddhists]
* [http://www.changesurfer.com/Bud/Sri/Sri.html Buddhist Monks and Politics in Sri Lanka ]