Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c24.19

c24.19

The *Vihāra* was originally the private apartment of a single Bhikkhu [*Chullav.*, ii, 1, 2]. Such Vihāras lay near one another in numbers. Later, the term came to denote a larger building with apartments for many monks. Thus we read of Suppiyā, the self-sacrificing sister of the brotherhood, "going around from Vihara to Vihāra and from cell to cell," asking of each individual occupant thereof what he required as food or medicine [*Mahāv.*, vi, 23]. We are again told of a Vihāra taken up for their Retreat by seventeen monks who are subsequently joined by six others for whom also accommodation is found there [*Chullav.*, vi, 11]. We also read of Vihāras being "crowded with people" [ib., 3, 3]. We may also compare the expression: "Go, therefore, O Bhikkhus, *each one to his Vihāra*" [ib., vii, 3, 10]. Elaborate details are given regarding the construction of a Vihāra in the extended sense and of its equipment, which show that it must have been a very complex structure fitted with all arrangements necessary for the life of a numerous community of monks residing together in the same building.