amongst the Singhalese. 24^1 



fifth year, and the second from that time until he becomes a 

 thera or " elder." During each of the above periods he 

 obtains the designation of Nawaka and Majjima respectively. 

 4. Bikshu (San.) Bikkhu (Pali) Bik (Singhalese) is derived 

 from Bikshu c to beg/ literally f a beggar ' or ( mendicant.' 



In a collective sense Sanga is used, and means the whole 

 order collectively — f the priesthood/ f an assembly or an associ- 

 ation of Budhist priests.' The honorific 82£)£dVcd is usually 

 applied to Sangaya, bikshu, and thera ; and &3d&5®,Vj to gana* 



There is a peculiar etiquette in the use of terms of ad- 

 dress amongst the priesthood; which seems to have been 

 regulated by Budha himself, in the sixth Bhanawara of the 

 Parinibbana Suttan, where the following passage occurs : — 



6 Ananda, although priests are now in the habit of (indiscri- 

 minately) addressing each other with the term aiouso; yet after 

 my death this practice should not be continued. Ananda by 

 a senior thera, a junior (priest) should be addressed either by 

 his personal name, or by his family designation, or by the 

 appellation of awuso ; and by a junior (priest) a senior thera 

 should be addressed bhante ' Lord,' or e Ayasma ' i Longe- 

 vous. ' 



( Awuso ' is epiSi -55^ Evetni in Singhalese ; bhante is 8 SO 

 <2d®ed vahanse ; and Ayasma, which means ' Thou who art 

 longevous ' and approximates in sense to the English epithet 

 ( Venerable/ is epc^QsE)^ Ayubdvan» This last is a term 

 of address very common amongst the Singhalese, and is fre- 

 quently employed in addressing persons of rank and age, both 



