the pali name

[Sokehi]

I was always wondering by what standards one is given a certain pali name with ordaining as a novice or bhikku/bhikkuni.

I've heard that it got something to do with ones birthday and the week in which one was born. Is that correct? And if so is there a list available to see what name it would be? just curious

[Ben]

Greetings Sokehi,
My understanding is that one's name is chosen by the preceptor and the name given depends on the day of the week you were born. The day of the week of one's birthday determines the first sylable of the name. That is how it works in Myanmar and possibly Thailand. I'm not sure about Sri Lanka or Laos & Cambodia.
I'm sure one of our ordained members can provide a more definitive response.
kind regards,

Ben

[Sokehi]

Thank you Ben, good post

I'm quite certain that it works like this in Thailand, since exactly what you posted about "day of the week" is found in the book "Venerable Father - A Life witch Ajahn Chah" by Paul Breiter.

So it seems that the first Syllable is determined but the "rest" is open to the preceptor... but more light on this by some venerables here would be wonderful

[UhBaUnTaUh]

It isn't from Tipitaka tradition. It's a Thailand tradition.

Don't be serious about it, if you don't live with mongs in thailand or your bhikkhu friend(s) are not form Thailand.

[sumedha ^0^]

Hello. I happened to come across this post and thought to share what I know about the Sri Lankan monastic Pali name. From my understanding, there are two parts to a Sri Lankan monastic Dhamma name. The first part is named after the village of the monk who enters the monastic life and the second part is selected by the monk's preceptor and it usually points toward some aspiring character. For example, Bhante Madawala Seelawimala (Bhante = Sinhalese equivalent of venerable, Madawala = village name, Seelawimala = rustless virtue). With Sri Lankan monastic, we usually address them without the village name component so just Bhante Seelawimala or just Bhante in general. If for example we happen to come across a Bhante Rahula and another Bhante Rahula, then the village name component is used to distinguish the two such as Bhante Wapola Rahula and Bhante Pallawela Rahula. In Pali, "Rahula" means fetter and "Seela" or "Sila" means virtue or good conduct and "wimala" means no rust whereas "mala" means rust.