The
Siam (also
Siyamopali and
Siyam )
Nikaya is a monastic order within
Sri Lanka, founded by
Upali Thera and located predominantly around the city of
Kandy. It is so named because it originated within
Thailand (formerly known in Europe as the "Kingdom of Siam"). The Siyam Nikaya has two major divisions (
Malwatta and
Asgiriya) and five other divisions within these two major units. The Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters have two separate Maha Nayakas or chief Monks. The Sangha only accept high caste for higher ordination.
History
On the initiative of Ven. Weliwita Saranankara (1698-1778) the Thai monk Upali visited Kandy in 1753 during the reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747 - 1782), and there performed
upasampada (higher ordination, as distinct from
samanera or
novice ordination) for a group of Kandyan monks. The Buddhist order had become extinct thrice during the preceding five hundred years and was re-established in the reigns of Vimala Dharma Suriya I (1591 - 1604) and Vimala Dharma Suriya II (1687 - 1707) as well. These re-establishments were short lived.
Venerable Upali
Upali Thera believed the Buddhist
Sangha in Kandy was suffering from a state of corruption, which included the practice of astrology and his efforts were aimed at "purifying" the practices of the monastic order. It was also through the efforts of Upali Thera that the
"procession of the tooth" came into being. Annually in Kandy there is a celebration which includes a parade in which the focus is a relic believed to be a tooth of the
Buddha. This procession was originally focused on honor to Hindu deities, particularly those incorporated into Sri Lankan Buddhism. Upali Thera believed this to be inappropriate in a Buddhist nation, and his influence led to the king declaring that "Henceforth Gods and men are to follow the Buddha".
The Number of Siyam Nikaya Monasteries and Monks
(Estimates from Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Sri Lanka) TEMPLES MONKS
Malvatu Parshavaya (including Sri Rohana Parshavaya) 4,923 14,944
Asgiri Parshavaya 565 1,383
Rangiri Dambulu Parshavaya unknown 200
Mahavihara Vansika Vanavasa Nikaya 71 889
Kotte Sri Kalyani Saamagri Nikaya, 85 230
Uve Siyamopali 22 78
TOTAL 6018 18,780
See also
