THE EVOLUTION OF MONASTERIES IN Buddhism
Interesting enough, during the early days of the religion in India, the mendicant followers of the Buddha were not initially granted permission to live in dwellings but were expected to pass the night seeking shelter wherever they it- caves and cemeteries, and of straw in open spaces. Such a state of affairs, however, aroused the concern of pious lay supporters who prevailed upon the Buddha to grant them permission to donate buildings(vihara) to the order. In the scriptures, the Treasurer of Rajagaha, 'in the hope of gaining merit and in the hope of heaven built some sixty monastic cells which were ceremonially handed over to the Order at the conclusion of a sumptuous feast given in honour of the Buddha and his congregation of monks(Warren 1987: 411-13)