Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
Sri Lankan Buddhist monastic organisation
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The organisation runs around 130 monasteries and meditation centres, of which more than 80 are in Sri Lanka and the rest are overseas. It also operates a group of monasteries for nuns, a television and radio network, a publishing house and several schools. The organisation is reported to be one of the largest Theravada Buddhist monastic networks in South Asia.
History
Mahamevnawa was established on 14 August 1999 at Polgahawela by Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero. Over the following years it opened branch monasteries in every province of Sri Lanka. The first overseas centre was set up in Toronto, Canada, and further branches followed in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
In 2012 the organisation launched a Buddhist television channel, Shraddha TV. A radio station, Shraddha Radio, was added later.
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Organisation
The monks of Mahamevnawa belong to the Amarapura Sri Kalyanivamsa Nikaya, and the monastic community is formally constituted as the Mahamevnawa Maha Sangha Council of that nikaya. The Mahanayaka of the nikaya serves as chief preceptor for the community. Dodampahala Chandrasiri Mahanayaka Thero held this role from 2004 to 2022, and Devinuwara Sirisunanda Mahanayaka Thero has held it since 2024. Hiniduma Nandarathana Nayaka Thero has also served as a preceptor since 2022.
According to the organisation, more than 1,000 monks and more than 100 nuns live in its monasteries.
Anagarika monasteries
The monasteries for nuns are known as Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monasteries. There are more than ten of them, with headquarters at Muthugala in Dambadeniya, and about 100 nuns live and practise there. Two further nuns' monasteries operate overseas, in Melbourne and Toronto.
Teachings and practice
Mahamevnawa states that its purpose is to teach, discuss and practise the Dhamma in what it regards as its unaltered form. Its teaching holds that knowledge of the Buddha's words is the first step towards the ending of suffering (dukkha) and the attainment of Nibbana. The monasteries offer instruction in meditation, with an emphasis on developing concentration and wisdom through mindfulness (sati). The organisation says that its monks preach in the manner set out by the Buddha.
Media and publications
The organisation's publishing arm, Mahamevnawa Sadaham Prakashana (Mahamevnawa Dhamma Publications), issues books and recorded sermons. Most of this material is in Sinhala, and some of it has been translated into English.
Shraddha TV and Shraddha Radio are operated by the Shraddha Media Network, which is based at the Mahamevnawa Bodhinnana Meditation Monastery in Kaduwela.
Education
Mahamevnawa Buddhist College is a group of semi-government private schools run under the guidance of the organisation's monks. The organisation describes it as the first Buddhist school to be established in Sri Lanka after independence. There are four campuses:
- Demalagama, Delgoda
- Sandalankawa
- Welimada
- Malabe
Criticism
Mahamevnawa has been criticised on the grounds that its monks do not complete the traditional pirivena education that is customary for Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. Critics say that the founder set this tradition aside so that the number of monks could be increased quickly.
Branches
Sri Lanka
The following branches are listed by the organisation.
North Western Province
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Polgahawela (headquarters)
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Anamaduwa
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Ibbagamuwa
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Uyandana
- Mahamevnawa Tisarana Sarana Samadhi Buddhist Monastery, Giribawa
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Tambakanda
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Pothuhera
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Polpitigama
- Sri Angulimala Maha Stupa Temple, Bowatta
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Maho
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Maspotha
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Dambadeniya
Western Province
- Mahamevnawa Amawathura Monastery, Malabe
- Mahamevnawa Bodhinnana Meditation Monastery, Kaduwela
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Avissawella
- Mahamevnawa Thisarana Meditation Monastery (Mahamevnawa Buddha Gaya Maha Vihara), Kochchikade
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery (Colombo Dhamma Friends Buddhist Temple), Kotte
- Nedungamuwa Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Gampaha
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Bulathsinhala
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Serupita
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Hunumulla
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Horana
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Nittambuwa
- Siri Gautama Buddhist Temple, Mavaramandiya (chief incumbent: Polpitimukalane Pangnnasiri Thero)
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Palugama, Dompe
- Mahamevnawa Gilan Bhikkhu Hospital, Bombuwala (a hospital for sick monks)
Southern Province
- Mahamevnawa Maha Vihara, Matara
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Galle
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery (Sri Rahula Maha Stupa Temple), Elpitiya
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Walasmulla
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Suriyawewa
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Hiniduma
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Pannegamuwa, Tissamaharama
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Beliatta
Central Province
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Kundasale, Kandy
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Madawala Ulpatha, Matale
- Mahamevnawa Sariputta Forest Monastery, Rattota
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Nuwara Eliya
- Mahamevnawa Sri Mahasena Forest Monastery, Moragahakanda
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Laggala
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Poramadulla
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Pundaluoya
Uva Province
- Mahamevnawa Amasisila Meditation Monastery, Kataragama
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Bandarawela, Ella
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Bibila
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Buttala
- Mahamevnawa Sri Maha Sumana Meditation Monastery, Mahiyanganaya
- Mahamevnawa Daharakina-Kanda Forest Monastery, Mariarawa
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Mullegama
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Monaragala
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Welimada
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Siyambalanduwa
North Central Province
- Mahamevnawa Dhammachetiya Buddhist Monastery, Anuradhapura
- Siri Vāsawa Meditation Garden of Dhammachetiya Monastery, Anuradhapura
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Mihintale
- Sri Ananda Maha Se Vihara, Galnewa
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Hermitage, Polonnaruwa
- Mahamevnawa Sri Bodhiraja Forest Monastery, Habarana
- Mahamevnawa Bhathiyagiri Forest Monastery (Bhatiyagiri Rajamaha Vihara), Kebitigollawa
- Mahamevnawa Dhammagiri Forest Monastery, Kahatagasdigiliya
- Mahamevnawa Sadaham Senasuna Monastery, Galenbindunuwewa
Sabaragamuwa Province
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Eratna
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Kahawatta
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Balangoda
- Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Siripagama
- Mahamevnawa Amadahara Meditation Monastery, Pinnawala
- Mahamevnawa Forest Monastery, Kukulegama
- Mahamevnawa Nidhangala Forest Monastery, Kalawana
Eastern Province
- Mahamevnawa Sri Saddhatissa Meditation Monastery, Ampara
- Mahamevnawa Dhammagiri Meditation Monastery, Kantale
- Wilgamwehera Somavathi Raja Maha Vihara, Seruwila
- Seruwawila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara (affiliated temple; chief incumbent: Aludeniye Subodhi Thero)
- Mahamevnawa Sadaham Mandiraya meditation hall, Padiyathalawa
International
The following overseas branches are listed by the organisation. Unless noted otherwise, each is named Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery.
Canada
- Toronto
- Winnipeg
- Saskatoon
- Edmonton
- Vancouver
- Acton, Ontario
United States
- Washington, D.C. (Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery)
- New Jersey
- California
- Florida
- New York
- Houston, Texas (Lone Star Buddhist Meditation Center of Mahamevnawa)
- Atlanta
Australia and New Zealand
- Adelaide
- Melbourne
- West Melbourne (Mahamevnawa Meditation Hermitage)
- Melbourne (Mahamevnawa Jetawana Meditation Monastery)
- Perth
- Sydney
- Brisbane
- Auckland, New Zealand (Mahamevnawa Meditation Hermitage)
Europe
- Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom
- Liverpool and Warrington, United Kingdom
- Stanmore, London, United Kingdom
- South Wales, United Kingdom (Isipathana Meditation Monastery)
- Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Axbridge, England, United Kingdom (Mahamevnawa Meditation Centre)
- Esher, England, United Kingdom (Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery)
- Kilshanchoe, County Kildare, Ireland
- Paris, France
- Offenbach, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Amsterdam and Utrecht, Netherlands
- Nicosia, Cyprus
- Limassol, Cyprus
India
- Mahamevnawa Buddhgayan Ashram, Bodh Gaya
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Nagpur
- Buddha Rashmi Mahamevnawa Theravada Buddhist Training Centre, Bhivkund, Maharashtra
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Delhi
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Ghaziabad
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Buldhana, Maharashtra
East Asia
- Ansan, South Korea
- Daegu, South Korea
- Gimhae, South Korea
- Osaka, Japan (Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery)
- Ibaraki, Japan (Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery)
Middle East
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Temple, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Anagarika nuns' monasteries
The following nuns' monasteries are listed by the organisation.
Sri Lanka
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Muthugala, Dambadeniya (headquarters)
- Siri Yashodhara Maha Stupa Temple (Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery), Udupila
- Colombo Buddhist Nuns Monastery
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monastery, Nugegoda
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Warakapola
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Kimbulapitiya
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Hakmana
- Mahamevnawa Swarnamali Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Anuradhapura
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Chilaw
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Mawatagama
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Kadugannawa
- Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery, Kuliyapitiya
Overseas
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Nuns Monastery, Melbourne, Australia
- Mahamevnawa Buddhist Nuns Monastery, Toronto, Canada