Sangharama

For the bodhisattva sometimes named Sangharama, see Guan Yu.

Sangharama (Sanskrit: संघराम Saṃgharāma) refers to Buddhist monastic settlement (the place, including "temple", "monastery", its garden or grove), where the Sangha, the Buddhist monastic community dwells.

Sangharama in ancient period

Two most famous sangharāma of ancient times were Vālukārāma of Vesali (ancient Vesali is identified as present Basarh) and Kukkutarama in Pataliputra.

Valukarama Sangharama in Vesali was the site of second Buddhist Council under the patronage of King Kalasoka.

Kukkutarama sangharāma in Pataliputra was the site of third Buddhist Council under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka. The Kukkutarama sangharāma was later destroyed and its monks killed by Pushyamitra of Shunga Dynasty, according to the second century Ashokavadana. "Then King Pushyamitra equipped a fourfold army, and intending to destroy the Buddhist religion, he went to the Kukkutarama. (...) Pushyamitra therefore destroyed the sangharāma, killed the monks there, and departed."

Other important Sangharamas of ancient period were Veluwana-arama of Rajagaha, Paribhajak-arama near Rajgriha, Ghositarama at Kausambi, Nigrodharama at Kapilvatthu,, Arogyarama in Patliputra (a seal found in Kumarahar excavation bears the name of this sangharama), Kapotarama (Pigeon monastery) on the Bari Pahari hill and Tittira-rama (Partridge monastery) to the south-east of Kapotarama in present Biharsharif town.

Sangharama in present period

Important Sangharamas in the present time are Hall of Sangharama Palace, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

External links

• Entry on sangharama in Wisdom Library