Viharas

Vihāra, from the Sanskrit and Pali vihāra, is a term used in Buddhist contexts to denote a dwelling place for monastics or a monastic complex. The word originally meant a dwelling or lodging and came to designate the residence of monks and nuns within a larger religious site. In many Buddhist languages the term is used to refer to a monastic monastery or residence rather than a temple alone.

Historically, viharas developed as residential facilities for Buddhist communities alongside shrines and assembly halls. A vihāra typically comprises living quarters for monks or nuns, often arranged around courtyards, with a central or adjacent shrine, a refectory, library, and sometimes meditation halls. The precise layout and architectural style vary by region and tradition, ranging from simple cell blocks to more elaborate complexes with verandas, cloisters, stupa groups, and temple halls.

Today the term is used across Buddhist cultures in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, and parts of India and Tibet. In contemporary use, vihāras can refer to traditional monasteries, as well as meditation centers or lay Buddhist residences that preserve monastic forms without full ordination. The linguistic distinction between vihāra as dwelling and vihāra as temple is often contextual, and the term may be used differently in different traditions.