พรรษา
pan-săa[ พัน-สา ]
Often heard
RareEveryday
Our takeWorth learning
In a nutshell
Three months of merit, the rains retreat — 'phansa,' the Buddhist lent.
- Nounof Pali/Sanskrit originMore Detailพรรษา is a period of 3 lunar months during the rainy season when Buddhist monks retreat to their temples for ธรรม (Dharma) study and avoid any unnecessary travel. Although they may still go out to seek alms during the day, they must return to sleep in their temple and aren't permitted to defrock during พรรษา. The tradition comes from early Buddhism in India, where holy men and sages would minimise travel during the rainy season to avoid accidentally killing young animals, insects or plants. Ordinary Buddhists also do their part by pledging to give up various vices during the พรรษา period, in much the same way as Christians during Lent. Being a monk during พรรษา is thought to bring great merit, and is an act that brings pride not only to the man himself but to his entire family. Many Thai males will ordain as monks for พรรษา before getting married, although some opt to ordain for shorter periods instead. The พรรษา period is marked with 2 large nationwide festivals - เข้าพรรษา which marks the start of พรรษา and commonly falls in July, and ออกพรรษา which marks the end of it and is usually in October..Built up from พรรษา7จำพรรษาjam pan-săato jam phansaOften heardWorth learningออกพรรษาòk pan-săaOk PhansaOften heardWorth learningชนมพรรษาchon-má-pan-săaage,year of birthOccasionalNot a priority to learnเทียนพรรษาtiian pan-săaPhansa CandleOccasionalNot a priority to learnจำนำพรรษาjam nam pan-săarobes offered to BuddhistUncommonNot a priority to learnพรรษากาลpan-săa gaanrainy seasonObscureSafe to skip for nowลาพรรษาlaa pan-săato leave the temple(as a monk, after the end of the Phansa period)ObscureSafe to skip for now