The Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery (MBM), also known as the Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery Network, is a Theravada Buddhist monastic organisation of Sri Lankan origin. It was founded in 1999 by the monk Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero, who remains its chief advisor. The headquarters are in Polgahawela in the North Western Province.
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.
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
See also Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero Shraddha TV Buddhism in Sri Lanka
References
External links
International website (English) Sinhala website Hindi website Tamil website