Monastery – Definition, History & Impacts
A monastery is a complex structure of buildings that also contains living and working spaces for monks and nuns. The word “monastery” came from the Late Latin word monasterium. It means “to live alone”. The word “monastery” was first evolved in the 15th century in ancient Egypt.
In this article, we are going to discuss the history, impacts, and attached information about Monastery and its meaning.
Table of Content
- What is a Monastery?
- History of Monastery (3rd To 21st Century)
- Impacts Of The Monastery
- Founder of Monastery
- First Monastery of India – Jetavana Vihara
- First Monestery of The World – St. Anthony Coptic Monastery
- Architecture of Monastery
- Types of Monastery
- Monasticism and Monasteric Life
- Buddhist Monasteries In India
- Buddhist Monasteries Around The World
- Christian Monasteries Around The World
What is a Monastery?
A monastery is a specific building where monks or nuns live together to practice their religion. A monastery generally includes a place for prayer purposes which can be a chapel, church, or temple. A monastery can also refer to the community of people living in such a place. There are two basic types of monasticism. They are eremitic or the hermit lifestyle and cenobitic which is known as the communal lifestyle.
Monastery Meaning
A monastery is a place where monks or nuns live, work, and worship together in a religious community. It is typically a secluded and dedicated space where individuals commit to a religious or contemplative lifestyle, often following a set of rules or guidelines established by their religious tradition.
History of Monastery (3rd To 21st Century)
The history of monasteries is closely related to the development of various religious traditions, particularly Christianity and Buddhism. Here are the historical details of the monastery as mentioned below.
Century |
Related Details |
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Early Christian Monasticism (3rd-4th centuries) |
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Spread of Monasticism in Europe (5th-11th centuries) |
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Buddhist Monasticism (6th century BCE onward) |
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Monasteries in the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries) |
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Monastic Decline and Reformation (16th century) |
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Monastic Revival (19th-20th centuries) |
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Modern Monasticism (21st century) |
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Impacts Of The Monastery
Here are the major impacts of the monasteries as mentioned below:
- Monasteries served as the centre of knowledge and preserves manuscripts and texts during times of political and social tensions.
- They played a major role in education.
- Monks and nuns worked as the educators in medieval Europe and other regions.
- Monasteries give a space for individuals to build a secular world.
- They focused on prayer, meditation, and spiritual contemplation.
- Monasteries contributed to agriculture by developing skills in farming.
- They also played a role in the development of local cultures.
- Monasteries were involved in charity.
- Some times monasteries offer hospitality, healthcare, and assistance to the needy in their communities.
Founder of Monastery
To understand the concept of monasteries, we need to go back to the ancient times. St. Anthony the Great who was also known as the Anthony of Egypt and one of the earliest Christian monks. In 270 AD, he started to live in the desert in Egypt to practice his religious vows. It was the first monastic community of the Christian tradition. After that between 329 AD to 379 AD, St. Basil the Great became a significant figure of the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. He formulated his guidelines to pursue the monastic life. In various monastic communities, it became popular as the “Rule of St. Basil”.
First Monastery of India – Jetavana Vihara
Jetavana Vihara is the first Buddhist monastery in India. It is believed that this Buddhist monastery was establised by Lord Buddha himself.
- The first Buddhist monastery in India.
- It is believed that it was established by the Gautama Buddha himself.
- It was established around the 5th century BCE.
- It is located in the city of Shravasti (present-day Sahet-Mahet in Uttar Pradesh, India).
First Monestery of The World – St. Anthony Coptic Monastery
St. Anthony the Great who was also known as the Anthony of Egypt and one of the earliest Christian monks. In 270 AD, he started to live in the desert in Egypt to practice his religious vows. It was the first monastic community of the Christian tradition.
- In 323 St. Anthony founded the first true monastic cloister in Tabennisi,in Egypt.
- 30 to 40 monks joined together to build this monastery.
- Pachomius also created a monastic rule.
- Later it beacme the regulation of external monastic life than as spiritual guidance.
Architecture of Monastery
A monastery is a specific building where monks or nuns live together to practice their religion. The architecture of a monastery may vary depending on the religious traditions. It can be varied on some other factors like where it belongs and what is the cultural context.
- Cloister – It is covered walkway. Cloister is surrounded by a courtyard.
- Church – It is the central place of worship. People gather here for prayers, worship, and religious ceremonies.
- Chapter House – It is a meeting place or discussion center. The community gathers here for discussions, readings, and the daily chapter meeting.
- Dormitory – It is the place where monks or nuns have communal sleeping.
- Refectory – The refectory is the dining area to have meals. Monastic meals are often taken in silence.
- Library – Monasteries often have a library containing religious texts and manuscripts.
- Guest Quarters – Monasteries also provides accommodations for guests and many pilgrims.
- Gardens and Courtyards – Monasteries also have the gardens. The courtyards are the outdoor spaces for meditation, contemplation, and recreation.
- Abbot’s Quarters – The abbot is the spiritual leader’s quarter of the monastery.
- Workshops and Craft Areas – Some monasteries have these type areas. Here monks perform manual labor, crafting or other productive works.
- Boundary Walls – Monastery boundary wall provide a sense of separation from the secular world.
Types of Monastery
Monasteries have their structure and forms with different practices. As per the Indian subcontinent, the tradition of monasteries varies based on religion and culture. Here we have tried to mention some of them.
Christian Monasteries
- Benedictine Monastery – They follow the Rule of St. Benedict.
- Cistercian Monastery – It is a branch of Benedictine monasticism.
- Trappist Monastery – This is the stricter form of Cistercian monasticism.
- Franciscan Monastery – These monasteries are inspired by the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi.
Buddhist Monasteries
- Theravada Monastery – They follow the Theravada tradition. Their monasticism is based on the original teachings of Buddha. These monasteries are common in Southeast Asia.
- Mahayana Monastery – They are associated with the Mahayana tradition. It includes various schools such as Zen, Pure Land, and Tibetan Buddhism.
- Tibetan Buddhist Monastery – These monasteries are based on the Tibetan Buddhist practices. They often include large monastic complexes to elaborate their rituals.
Monasticism and Monasteric Life
Monasticism is a religious practice of living a communal life in a monastery. It is as similar as a religious community spends their life under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Here are some common aspects of monasteric life as mentioned below.
- Vows
- Community Living
- Prayer and Worship
- Manual Labor
- Asceticism
- Study and Learning
- Detachment from Material Possessions
- Hospitality
Buddhist Monasteries In India
Here are the top 10 Buddhist Monasteries of India as mentioned below:
Buddhist Monasteries In India |
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Monastery Name |
Location |
Significance |
Mahabodhi Temple |
Bodh Gaya, Bihar |
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bodhi Tree |
Sarnath |
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh |
Buddha gave his first sermon |
Dhamek Stupa |
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh |
Ancient stupa with intricate carvings |
Nalanda University Ruins |
Nalanda, Bihar |
Ancient learning center for Buddhism |
Tawang Monastery |
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh |
Largest monastery in India |
Hemis Monastery |
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir |
Famous for the Hemis Festival |
Rumtek Monastery |
Gangtok, Sikkim |
Seat of the Karmapa in exile |
Tabo Monastery |
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh |
Oldest continuously operating monastery |
Ghum Monastery |
Darjeeling, West Bengal |
Home to a 15-feet high statue of Maitreya |
Drepung Monastery |
Lhasa, Tibet (administered by China) |
Founded in 1416, one of the great three Gelug university monasteries |
Also Read: Monasteries of Buddhism
Buddhist Monasteries Around The World
Here are the top 10 Buddhist Monasteries around the world as mentioned below:
Buddhist Monasteries Around The World |
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Monasteries Name |
Location |
Significance |
Mahabodhi Temple |
Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India |
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bodhi Tree |
Sarnath |
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Buddha gave his first sermon |
Shwedagon Pagoda |
Yangon, Myanmar |
Gilded stupa, one of the holiest sites |
Borobudur |
Java, Indonesia |
World’s largest Buddhist temple |
Tawang Monastery |
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India |
Largest monastery in India |
Hemis Monastery |
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
Famous for the Hemis Festival |
Haeinsa Temple |
Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea |
Home to the Tripitaka Koreana |
Wat Arun |
Bangkok, Thailand |
Iconic riverside temple with a spire |
Drepung Monastery |
Lhasa, Tibet (administered by China) |
Founded in 1416, one of the great three Gelug university monasteries |
Byodo-In Temple |
O’ahu, Hawaii, USA |
Japanese-style temple with stunning surroundings |
Christian Monasteries Around The World
Here are the major Christian Monasteries around the world as mentioned below:
Christian Monasteries Around The World |
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Christian Monasteries Name |
Location |
Affiliation |
Significance |
Monte Cassino Abbey |
Italy |
Benedictine |
Oldest Benedictine monastery in the world |
Saint Catherine’s Monastery |
Sinai Peninsula, Egypt |
Greek Orthodox |
UNESCO World Heritage Site, oldest monastery |
Meteora Monasteries |
Thessaly, Greece |
Eastern Orthodox |
Built on towering rock pillars |
Iona Abbey |
Scotland, United Kingdom |
Celtic Christianity |
Historic center for Christian monasticism |
Mont Saint-Michel |
Normandy, France |
Various |
Island commune with a medieval abbey |
St. John’s Monastery |
Patmos, Greece |
Greek Orthodox |
Associated with the Book of Revelation |
Novodevichy Convent |
Moscow, Russia |
Russian Orthodox |
UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic convent |
Abbey of Saint Victor |
Marseille, France |
Catholic (Cistercian) |
Ancient abbey with a rich theological history |
Mount Athos |
Mount Athos, Greece |
Eastern Orthodox |
Autonomous monastic republic, UNESCO site |
Einsiedeln Abbey |
Switzerland |
Benedictine |
Home to the Black Madonna of Einsiedeln |
FAQs on Monastery – Definition, History & Impacts
Is monastery a Temple?
No, a monastery is not a temple. A temple is where they get together for chanting and rituals. A monastery is where the monks live.
What is a monk and monastery?
A monk is a member of a religious order who lives in a monastery. A monastery is a complex structure of buildings that also contains living and working spaces for monks and nuns.
What is monastery in Catholic?
A monastery is the building where monks live while they’re practicing their religion. A monastery is a specific building where monks or nuns live together to practice their religion. A monastery generally includes a place for prayer purpose which can be a chapel, church, or temple.
What religion is monks?
Monasticism, or the practice of living as a monk, exists in several religions of the world, including Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
Which is the first monastery of India?
Jetavana Vihara is the first monastery of India. Jetavana Vihara is located in the city of Sravasti, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. Sravasti was a major city during the time of the Buddha.
Which are the first monastery of World?
Macarius (Deir Abu Makaria) and St. Anthony (Deir Mar Antonios) are the oldest monasteries in the world.