In Buddhism a Samanera is a novice monk. It Samanera means `small samana`, or small renunciates. The `small` has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya it is mentioned that a man under the age of twenty cannot command as a Bhikkhu(senior monk), but can ordain as a Samanera. The female monk in Samanera is called the Samaneri. Samaneras and samaneris together keep the ten precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life.

A Samanera after a year or at the age of twenty is considered for the higher Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni ordination. The ordination form and the rules governing higher ordination are different for samaneras and samaneris.

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