Theordination hall (Pali:sīmā) is aBuddhist building specifically consecrated and designated for the performance of the Buddhist ordination ritual (upasampadā) and other ritual ceremonies, such as the recitation of thePāṭimokkha.[1][2] The ordination hall is located within a boundary (sīmā) that defines "the space within which all members of a single local community have to assemble as a completeSangha (samagga sangha) at a place appointed for ecclesiastical acts (kamma)."[3] The constitution of thesīmā is regulated and defined by theVinaya and its commentaries and sub-commentaries.[3]
In Burmese, ordination halls are calledthein (Burmese:သိမ်), derived from thePali termsīmā, meaning "boundary". Thethein is a common feature of Burmese monasteries (kyaung), although thethein may be not necessarily be located on the monastery compound itself.[2]Shan ordination halls, calledsim (သိမ်ႇ), are exclusively used for events limited to the monkhood.[4][5]
The central importance of the ordination hall in the pre-colonial era is exemplified by the inclusion of an ordination hall, the Maha Pahtan Haw Shwe Ordination Hall (မဟာပဋ္ဌာန်းဟောရွှေသိမ်တော်ကြီး), as one of seven requisite edifices (နန်းတည်သတ္တဌာန) in the founding ofMandalay as a Burmese royal capital.[6][7]
In Thailand, ordination halls are calledubosot (Thai:อุโบสถ,pronounced[ʔù.boː.sòt]) orbot (โบสถ์,[bòːt]), derived from the Pali termuposathāgāra, meaning a hall used for rituals onuposatha ("Buddhist sabbath") days.[8] Theubosot is the focal point ofCentral Thai temples, whereas the focal point ofNorthern Thai temples is thestupa.[4] In Northeastern Thailand (Isan), ordination halls are known assim (สิม), as they are in Laos (Lao:ສິມ) and the Tai-Shan States of Myanmar(သိမ်ႇ). Theubosot, as thewat's principal building, is also used for communal services.[2][4]
In the Thai tradition, the boundary of theubosot is marked by eight boundary stones known asbai sema, which denote thesīmā. The oldestbai sema date to theDvaravati period.[3] Thesema stones stand above and mark theluk nimit (ลูกนิมิต), stone spheres buried at the cardinal points of the compass delineating the sacred area. A ninth stone sphere, usually bigger, is buried below the main Buddha image of theubosot. The entrance sides of mostubosot face east.[citation needed] Whilewihan buildings also similarly houseBuddha images, they differ fromubosot in thatwihan are not marked bysema stones. Across from the entrance door at the end of the interior is theubosot's largest Buddha statue which is usually depicted in either themeditation attitude or theMaravijaya attitude.
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