The most devoted followers of the Buddha were organized into a sangha. Its
members were identified by their shaved heads and robes made of un-sewn orange
cloth. The early Buddhist monks, or bhikkus, wandered from place to place, settling
down in communities only during the rainy season when travel was difficult.
Theravadan monks and nuns were humble and obtained their food in the form of
offering on a daily round of the homes of 'Lay' devotees. Among the traditional
functions of the Buddhist monks are the performance of funerals and memorial
services in honor of the dead. Major elements of such services include the chanting of
scripture and transfer of merit for the benefit of the deceased. (1, 3)
Lay worship in Buddhism is primarily done individual rather than
congregational. Although technically the Buddha is not worshipped through
Theravada, worship is done through the stupa. A stupa is a dome-like structure
containing a relic. Devotees walk around the dome in a clockwise direction, carrying
flowers and incense as a sign of respect. The relic is the Buddha's tooth in Sri Lanka. It
is the focus of a popular festival on the Buddha's birthday. The Buddha's birthday is
celebrated in every Buddhist country. In Theravada this celebration is known as
Vaisakha, the month after the Buddha was born. Popular in Theravada cultures is a
ceremony known as pirit, or protection, in which readings from a collection of
protective charms from the Pali canon are conducted to exorcise evil spirits, cure
illness, bless new buildings, and achieve other benefits. This was a popular practice
that practitioners of Buddhism, monks, did to help them reach Nirvana. (1, 3, 4, 5)
In Mahayana cultures, ritual is more important than in Theravada cultures.
Images of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas on temple altars and in the homes of
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