Ani is a prefix added to the name of a nun in Tibetan Buddhism. Thus, for example, the full title of a nun whose name is Pema becomes Ani Pema (akin to, for example, "Sister Anne" among Catholic nuns) For other uses, see Nun (disambiguation). ... Tibetan Buddhism (Simplified Chinese: 藏传佛教) is the body of religious Buddhist doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet, the Himalayan region (including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim and Ladakh), Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (Russia), and northeastern China (Manchuria: Heilongjiang, Jilin). ...

In Tibetan, the word ani also translates as aunt, which has special significance in Buddhism as the Buddha's aunt, Mahaprajapati, is said to have been the first Buddhist nun. Ones aunt (or aunty) is either a female sibling of one of ones parents or the wife of an uncle who is the male sibling of a parent. ... Media:Example. ... Mahapajapati Gotami (in Pali; Mahaprajapati Gautami in Sanskrit) was the first woman to request ordination from the Buddha and to join the Sangha. ...

Concern over the status implied by the term Ani is said to have led some Vajrayana Buddhist nuns in India to prefer the prefix Cho-la (a Buddhist practitioner) or Tsun-ma (reverend lady) (see reference below). This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

External link

• “Ani”: Aunts, Nieces, and Himalayan Nuns’ Traditional Education in North Indian Vajrayana Buddhism Linda LaMacchia, American University, Washington, DC March 2006.