Traditional Monastery Education System of Sri Lanka

Abstract

(From Medieval Sinhalese era to Kandian era) Traditionally there are two main branches of monks in Sri Lanka. They are Grāmә vāsī and Araɳyә vāsī. Two types of educational institutes are there named as Piriveɳә and Guru Gedәrә. There were very famous Piriveɳәs such as Diksadә Senevi (Dīɡʰәsandәsēnāpati), Sunhātә, Dīɡʰәcaŋkәmәnә, Pʰalaɡɡә, Maruɡaɳә, Mahākapārā, Silāpassә, Majūrәpādә, Viɟәjәbā, Padmāvәtī, Gʰanānandә, Sunetrā Mahādēvī, and Iruɡal Tilәkә as education centers of monks. The syllabus of Piriveɳә education center is Nam potә, Maɡul Lakuɳә, Gaɳәdevi Hǣllә and Vadan Kavi Potә, Sidat Saɡәrā etc. under Sinhalese language, Nāmākʰjātә Padәmālā, Bālāvәtārә, Abʰidʰānappadīpikā etc. under Pāli language, and Buddʰә Gaɟɟәjә, Sakaskaɖә, Nāmāʂʈә ʃatәkә, Pratjә ʃatәkә, Sūrjә ʃatәkә, Bʰakti ʃatәkә, Vjāsәkārә, Sārasvәtә etc. under Sanskrit language