Monks and Brahmanas

The behaviour of the brahmanas towards the monks the monks is similar to that of the Buddha. They address the monks with the term bho coupled with their names. In turn the monks address the brahmanas as brahmana without using their personal or gotta names.^[1] The monks similarizes the Buddha in addressing the brahmana youths as manava or by using their personal names.^[2] The case of the monk Nagita is an exception, who exchange greeting (S.S.) with the brahmana messengers from Kosala and addresses them as avuso.^[3]

The form of salutation between the monks and the brahmana is that of exchange of greetings (S.S.), although an equality of status exists. Thus in the case of the encounter between Ghotamukha the brahmana and the monk Udena, the customary greetings (S.S.) and form of address are exchanged (bho brahmana). However, when Udena sits down first on the best seat without offering one to Ghot amukha, the latter keeps standing till he is properly offered one.^[4]