Agga Maha Pandita (Burmese: အဂ္ဂမဟာပဏ္ဍိတ, pronounced [ʔɛʔɡa̰ məhà pàɴdḭta̰]) is an honorific title used in Theravada Buddhism in reference to Buddhists, usually monks, who are considered to be unusually wise, noble, and enlightened.
Usage
The title is usually awarded to holy monks who are highly proficient in teaching the Dhamma or those who are believed to be enlightened (Arahants). The Buddha had disciples who held title of Agga Savaka and Maha savaka who were already enlightened Ariyas and regarded as leaders of the communities of monks known as the Sangha oe Samgha.
The title of Agga Maha Pandita is awarded every year in January by the Head of Government of Myanmar (Burma) after rigorous and subtle examination of a monk's wisdom and achievement by the Committee of Sangha Nayakas.
History
The prefix 'Agga' is derived from the ancient Pali word 'Aggasavaka' (အဂ္ဂသာဝက agga thawaka in Burmese). This title 'Aggasavaka' was given by the Buddha to the two top disciples, Sariputta and Mahamoggallana. 'Maha' is also derived from the Pali and it usually means 'Great'. The third word 'Pandita' means 'wise or learned person' and denotes possession of wisdom and knowledge of Tipitaka.[1] Therefore, Agga Maha Pandita can be translated as "Foremost Great and Wise One".
The title 'Agga Maha Pandita' has been awarded to many Sayadaws (Senior Monks) in Myanmar by successive governments.
List of monks recognized as Agga Maha Pandita and the year when the Title was awarded
- Ledi Sayadaw (1911, Title offered by the Government of India),
- Ashin Janakabhivamsa (1948)
- Mahasi Sayadaw (1952)
- Sayadaw U Thittila (1956)
- Anisakhan Sayadaw U Pandita
- Mogok Sayadaw, U Vimala (1962)
- Mingun Sayadaw U Vicittasarabhivamsa (1979)
- Myaungmya Sayadaw U Nyanika (1991)
- Birmingham Sayadaw U Rewatadhamma
- Sayadaw Ashin Nyanissara
- Sayadaw U Silananda (1993)
- Sayadaw U Pannavamsa (1998)1
- Yaykyi Mingala Kyaungtaik Sayadaw, Bhaddanta Indobhasa
References
- ^ "Sayadaw U Pannavamsa". http://www.bbt.org.sg/Articles/sayadawgyi.htm#. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
External links
