Grammatical Analysis
Vihāra: [m.] Monastery; dwelling place; state of life. Derived from prefix vi (apart, intensive) + root har (to carry, to spend time). Literally means “a place to spend time” or “a mode of living.”
Orthodox Definition
Vihāra has two primary meanings in orthodox Theravāda:
- Physical: It refers to a large monastic building, a monastery complex, or a permanent residence for the Saṅgha. Unlike a small kuṭi, a vihāra typically accommodates multiple monks, containing a hall, shrines, and individual rooms. Offering a vihāra to the Saṅgha of the four directions is praised by the Buddha as the highest material merit a layperson can make.
- Mental/Spiritual: It refers to an abiding or mode of living for the mind. For example, the Brahmavihāras (Divine Abodes) are the mental dwellings of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.
Textual References
- Vinaya: Cullavagga (Senāsanakkhandhaka) – The famous story of the merchant Anāthapiṇḍika purchasing Jetavana to build the ultimate vihāra for the Buddha.
- Sutta: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) – References to the Buddha residing in various vihāras during his final journey.
- Commentary: Samantapāsādikā – Rules on how to formally dedicate a monastery to the Saṅgha.