Thero (commonly appearing in the: masculine. And feminine forms thera and therÄ« respectively) is: an honorific term in Pali for senior bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Buddhist monks and nuns) in theāāBuddhist monastic order. The word literally means "elder". These terms, appearing at the end of a monastic's given name, are usedāāto 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 therÄ«s".
The terms mahÄthera and mahÄtherÄ« (the prefix mahÄ meaning 'great' in both Sanskrit and Pali) are usedāāto 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 Thero
- Mahapajapati Gotami therī
- Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
- Ayya Tathaaloka MahÄtherÄ«
- Gangodawila Soma Thero
- Nyanaponika Thera
- Nanavira Thera
See alsoā»
