Information about Mahavamsa
Chronicle") is a historical poem written in the Pāli language, of the kings of Sri Lanka. It covers the period from the coming of King Vijaya in 543 BCE to the reign of King Mahasena (334 – 361).
Buddhist monks of Mahavihara maintained chronicles of Sri Lankan history, starting from the 3rd century BC. These annals were combined and compiled into a single document in the 5th century CE by the Buddhist monk Mahathera Mahanama. There is evidence according to Wilhelm Geiger that there was another compilation prior to this, known as Mahavamsa Atthakatha, and that Mahathera Mahanama relied on this text. Another earlier document known as Dipavamsa that survives today, is much simpler and contains less information than the Mahavamsa, and was probably compiled using the Mahavamsa Atthakatha.
A companion volume, the Culavamsa or Choolavansha ("lesser chronicle"), compiled by Sinhala Buddhist monks, covers the period from the 4th century to the British takeover of Sri Lanka in 1815. Culavamsa was compiled by number of authors of different time periods. The combined work, sometimes collectively referred to as the Mahavamsa, provides a continuous historical record of over two millennia, and can be considered as the world's longest unbroken historic record.
If not for the Mahavamsa, the men who constructed large stupas in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka such as Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiri would never be known.
While not considered a canonical religious text, the Mahavamsa is an important Buddhist document. It covers the early history of religion in Sri Lanka, beginning with the time of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama. As it often refers to the royal dynasties of India, the Mahavansha is also valuable for historians who wish to date and relate contemporary royal dynasties in the Indian subcontinent. It is very important in dating the consecration of the Maurya emperor Asoka, which is related to the synchronicity with the Seleucids and Alexander the Great.
The first printed edition and English translation of the Mahavamsa was published in 1837 by George Turnour, an historian and officer of the Ceylon Civil Service. A German translation of Mahavamsa was completed by Wilhelm Geiger in 1912. This was then translated into English by Mabel Haynes Bode, and the English translation was revised by Geiger. The revised English translation is now available on the internet.
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Buddhist monks of Mahavihara maintained chronicles of Sri Lankan history, starting from the 3rd century BC. These annals were combined and compiled into a single document in the 5th century CE by the Buddhist monk Mahathera Mahanama. There is evidence according to Wilhelm Geiger that there was another compilation prior to this, known as Mahavamsa Atthakatha, and that Mahathera Mahanama relied on this text. Another earlier document known as Dipavamsa that survives today, is much simpler and contains less information than the Mahavamsa, and was probably compiled using the Mahavamsa Atthakatha.
A companion volume, the Culavamsa or Choolavansha ("lesser chronicle"), compiled by Sinhala Buddhist monks, covers the period from the 4th century to the British takeover of Sri Lanka in 1815. Culavamsa was compiled by number of authors of different time periods. The combined work, sometimes collectively referred to as the Mahavamsa, provides a continuous historical record of over two millennia, and can be considered as the world's longest unbroken historic record.
If not for the Mahavamsa, the men who constructed large stupas in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka such as Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiri would never be known.
While not considered a canonical religious text, the Mahavamsa is an important Buddhist document. It covers the early history of religion in Sri Lanka, beginning with the time of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama. As it often refers to the royal dynasties of India, the Mahavansha is also valuable for historians who wish to date and relate contemporary royal dynasties in the Indian subcontinent. It is very important in dating the consecration of the Maurya emperor Asoka, which is related to the synchronicity with the Seleucids and Alexander the Great.
The first printed edition and English translation of the Mahavamsa was published in 1837 by George Turnour, an historian and officer of the Ceylon Civil Service. A German translation of Mahavamsa was completed by Wilhelm Geiger in 1912. This was then translated into English by Mabel Haynes Bode, and the English translation was revised by Geiger. The revised English translation is now available on the internet.
Bibliography
Editions and Translations
- Turnour, George (C.C.S.): The Mahawanso in Roman Characters with the Translation Subjoined, and an Introductory Essay on Pali Buddhistical Literature. Vol. I containing the first thirty eight Chapters. Cotto 1837.
- Sumangala, H.; Silva Batuwantudawa, Don Andris de: The Mahawansa from first to thirty-sixth Chapter. Revised and edited, under Orders of the Ceylon Government by H. Sumangala, High Priest of Adam's Peak, and Don Andris de Silva Batuwantudawa, Pandit. Colombo 1883.
- Geiger, Wilhelm; Bode, Mabel Haynes (transl.); Frowde, H. (ed.): The Mahavamsa or, The great chronicle of Ceylon / translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger ... assisted by Mabel Haynes Bode...under the patronage of the government of Ceylon. London : Pali Text Society 1912 (Pali Text Society, London. Translation series ; no. 3).
- Guruge, Ananda W.P.: Mahavamsa. Calcutta: M. P. Birla Foundation 1990 (Classics of the East).
- Ruwan Rajapakse, Concise Mahavamsa, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2001
- Upham, Edward (ed.): The Mahavansi, the Raja-ratnacari, and the Raja-vali : forming the sacred and historical books of Ceylon; also, a collection of tracts illustrative of the doctrines and literature of Buddhism: translated from the Singhalese. London : Parbury, Allen, and Co. 1833 (3 vol.).
See also
Guruge, Ananda W. P. Mahavamsa: The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, A New Annotated Translation with Prolegomena, ANCL Colombo 1989External links
- Geiger/Bode Translation of the Mahavamsa
- The Mahavamsa - The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka
- "Concise Mahavamsa" on-line version of: Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E. (2003). Concise Mahavamsa: History of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Maplewood, NJ : Ruwan Rajapakse. ISBN 0-9728657-0-5.
- Online-Pali-Text on tipitaka.org.
- The History of Sri Lanka
Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, "the Way of the Elders") is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant
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General
Buddhism in Sri Lanka is primarily of the Theravada school, and constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the population[1] According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (such as the Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century..... Click the link for more information.
Buddhism has existed in Cambodia since at least the 5th century CE, with some sources placing its origin as early as the 3rd century BCE. Theravada Buddhism has been the Cambodian state religion since the 13th century CE (excepting the Khmer Rouge period), and is
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Buddhism is the primary religion of Laos. The Buddhism practiced in Laos is of the Theravada tradition. Lao Buddhism is a unique version of Theravada Buddhism and is at the basis of Lao culture.
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Buddhism in Burma (or Myanmar) is predominantly of the Theravada tradition or the southern school. About 89% of Burmese practices Buddhism.[1] Adherents are most likely found among the dominant ethnic Bamar (or Burmans), Shan, Rakhine (Arakanese), Mon, Karen, and
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Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs such as ancestor worship as well as Chinese religions from the large
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Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs such as ancestor worship as well as Chinese religions from the large
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Pali literature is concerned mainly with Theravada Buddhism, of which Pali is the traditional language.
The earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada.
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India
Main article: Pali CanonThe earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada.
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The Pali Canon is the standard scripture collection of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pali language.[1] The Canon was written down from oral tradition at the occasion of the Fourth Buddhist Council(in the usual Theravada numbering), 1st century
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Atthakatha (Pali for explanation, commentary)[1] refers to Pali-language Theravadin Buddhist commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures.
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The subcommentaries (tika, ṭīkā) are commentaries on the commentaries on the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. They continue the commentaries' development of the traditional interpretation of the scriptures.
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The term pre-sectarian Buddhism is used by some scholars[1] to refer to the Buddhism that existed before the various subsects of Buddhism came into being[2].
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The Early Buddhist schools are those schools into which the Buddhist monastic Sangha initially split, due to both doctrinal differences of opinion, and geographical separateness of groups of monks.
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Sthaviravāda (Sanskrit; Chinese 上座部) literally means "Teaching Of The Elders". It was one of the two main movements in early Buddhism, the other being that of the
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Ashoka the Great
Mauryan emperor
Modern reconstruction of Ashoka's portrait.
Reign 273 BC-232 BC
Full name Ashoka Maurya
Predecessor Bindusara
Emperor Mahindra
Successor Dasaratha Maurya
Consort
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Mauryan emperor
Modern reconstruction of Ashoka's portrait.
Reign 273 BC-232 BC
Full name Ashoka Maurya
Predecessor Bindusara
Emperor Mahindra
Successor Dasaratha Maurya
Consort
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The Third Buddhist council was convened in about 250 BCE at Asokarama in Patiliputta, under the patronage of Emperor Asoka. The reason for convening the Third Buddhist Council is reported to have been to rid the Sangha of corruption and bogus monks who held heretical views.
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Vibhajjavāda (Pāli) or Vibhajyavāda (Sanskrit), is an umbrella classification for Buddhist denominations that promote analysis as a primary tool for developing insight. The Vibhajjavadins are claimed to have seen themselves as orthodox Sthaviras.
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Mahinda (Sanskrit: महिन्द्र; Mahindra) (born 3rd century BCE in Magadha, now in Bihar, India) was a Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
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Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra in Sanskrit) was the daughter of Emperor Ashoka and his Buddhist queen Devi. Together with Venerable Mahinda, her twin brother, she entered an order of Buddhist monks. The two siblings later went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Buddha.
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The Dipavamsa (Island Chronicle in Pali) is the oldest historical record of Sri Lanka, believed to be compiled in the 4th century. The chronicle is believe to be compiled from Atthakatha around the 4th century.
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Bhadantācariya Buddhaghosa was a 5th century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar. Buddhaghosa means "Voice of the Buddha" in the Pāli language.
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Writings and translations
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Saṃsāra
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Nirvāṇa ( Sanskrit:
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Middle Way or Middle Path (Skt.: madhyamā-pratipad; Pali: majjhimā patipadā)[1] is the Buddhist practice of non-extremism.[2]
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Noble Eightfold Path (Pāli: Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; Sanskrit: Ārya 'ṣṭāṅga mārgaḥ; Chinese: 八正道, Bāzhèngdào; Japanese: 八正道,
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The Four Noble Truths (Pali: Cattāri ariyasaccāni, Sanskrit: Catvāri āryasatyāni, Chinese: Sìshèngdì, Thai: อริยสัจสี่, Ariyasaj Sii
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The four stages of enlightenment in Buddhism are the four degrees of approach to full enlightenment as an Arahant which a person can attain in this life. The four stages are Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami and Arahant.
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Śīla (Sanskrit) or sīla (Pāli) is usually rendered into English as "behavioral discipline", "morality", or ethics. It is often translated as "precept". It is an action that is an intentional effort.
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Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists give themselves to, and in return look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.
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Generally a chronicle (Latin chronica, from Greek χρονικά (from χρόνος
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monarch (see sovereignty) is a type of ruler or head of state. Monarchs almost always inherit their titles and are rulers for life; that is, they have no term limit. Historically monarchs have been more or less absolute rulers.
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