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A Vihāra is a monastery, one of five kinds of lodgings which monks are allowed to live in. The others are addhayoga, pasada, hammiya, and guha. The Vihāra is the property of the Buddhist sangha for all time and neither the Vihāra nor its land, couches, chairs, bolsters, pillows, pitchers, jars, utensils, hatchets, axes, hoes, chisels, vines, bamboo, grass, earth, or building materials can be donated or divided up. This is an offense of thullaccaya.
Vihāra may be plastered or painted white, black, and geruka (red). It may be decorated with pictures of flowers and vines but not with pictures of men or women (an offense of dukkata). The roof may be made of brick, stone, lime, grass, or leaves.
A Vihāra should have pegs and bamboo or string to hang robes on. There should be several chambers for sleeping, and a refectory for eating. There should be a small room for keeping drinking water with cups and glsses, and a fireplace and courtyard. Hedges, gates, and so forth may protect the Vihāra.
Vihāra may be constructed for personal use, but only up to a certain point. If a large Vihāra is built for personal use the consent of the sangha must be obtained. Otherwise, it is an offense of sanghadisesa.
No monk can expel another monk from a Vihāra out of anger; this is an offense of pacitiiya.