Ramanna Nikaya

Ramanna Nikaya[1] (Sinhala: රාමඤ්ඤ නිකාය; Pali: Rāmañña Nikāya, also known as Ramanya Nikaya or Sinhala: රාමඤ්ඤ නිකාය) is one of the three major Buddhist orders in Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1864 when Ambagahawatte Saranankara,[2] returned to Sri Lanka after being ordained by the Neyyadhamma Munivara Sangharaja of Ratnapunna Vihara in Burma. It is one of three Sri Lankan orthodox Buddhist orders, along with Siam Nikaya and Amarapura Nikaya.

Ramanna Nikaya
Formation1864
TypeBuddhist monastic order
HeadquartersMula Maha Vihara, Payagala, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
LeaderMost Ven. Napana Premasiri Thera (Head)
Key people
Most Ven. Ambagahawatte Indrasabhawara Gnanasami Maha Thera (Founder)


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On 16th of August 2019, the Amarapura and Rammana Nikaya were unified as the Amarapaura-Ramanna Samagri Maha Sangha Sabha, making it the largest Buddhist fraternity in Sri Lanka.[3]

Similar orders

Ramanna Nikaya is said to be similar to the Thammayut Nikaya order of Thailand. Ramanna Nikaya is currently survived in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka.

The Most Ven. Napana Premasiri Thera was appointed the Head of the Ramanna Nikaya on 3 September 2012 following the demise of Venenerable Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thera aged 103.

Ramanna Nikaya was established on 12 June 1864 in participation with Ven. Ambagahawatte Indaasabhawara Gaanasaami Maha Thera, Ven.Puwakdandawe Paññānanda, Ven.Warāpitiye Sumitta thera.

First Maha Nayaka Thero - Most Ven. Ambagahawatte Indrasabhawara Gnanasami Maha Thera. Main Station - Mūla Maha Viharaya ,Payagala, Kalutara.

Ascetic Tendency

In the beginning, the Majority of monasteries of Ramanna Nikaya were forest monasteries. Although many village temples have been emerged in modern days, the forest tradition is still being continued by Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha of Ramanna Nikaya which is the most strictest forest tradition in Sri Lanka.

Resistance to Modernization

Though it has been impossible to resist completely, many old and simple traditions have been still survived in Ramanna Nikaya. The monks of the Nikaya can be distinguished by the traditions such as using palm leaf umbrellas and alms bowls and covering both shoulders while traveling. "Ramanna nikaya had its own distinctive style. They used begging bowls instead of plates. Instead of umbrellas, they used folded palmyrah leaves, in the form of “bogava”. The bogava introduced by Ambagahawatte was made usable by CB Nugawela, chairman of the Up country Sabha for the Protection of Nikaya. They wore robes that were dyed according to the traditional rules."[4]

Meditation Practice

Most of the well known 'Forest Meditation Masters' and 'Forest Meditation Centers' are said to be in Ramanna Nikaya. Most ven. Matara Sri Gnanarama maha thera who lived in Mitirigala Nissarana Vanaya was the 'Father of the Sri Lankan Forest Meditation Tradition'. Most ven. Katukurunde Nyanananda Mahathera, Most ven. Udairiyagama Dhammajiva Mahathera and Most ven. Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera were the great meditation masters of Ramanna Nikaya Forest Tradition.

Currently Mitiigala Nissarana Vanaya forest monastery, Na Uyana forest monastery and Sanghopasthana Suva Sevana monastery are considered to be the most strictest and widely accepted meditation centers of Sri Lanka.

See also

References
  1. The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism,2014,p.696
  2. The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism,2014,p.696
  3. Amarapura and Ramanna denominations unified, the Morning Lanka, accessed 2019.08.17
  4. Kamalika Pieris, Buddhist Nikayas in Sri Lanka part 3, May 5th, 2020
  • Official website of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya
  • Official website of Ven. Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thera
  • The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism by Robert E. Buswell Jr., Donald S. Lopez Jr.,Princeton University Press,Princeton,2014,p. 696 :ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3
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