Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 49
~Writing of Thripitaka~
(Author’s Note: Writing of Thripitaka is the most important event that occurred during King
Vatthagamini’s time period. King Vatthagamini neglected Theravadha Buddhism and supported the
Mahayana Abhayagiri bhikkus. Due to this reason, Theravadha bhikku population dwindled. This
was a serious concern for chief monks at that time since full Thripitaka was memorized by bhikkus.
They decided to write the Thripitaka in books. Writing of Thripitaka was a huge project since there
are approximately 10,000 sutras in Sutra pitaka alone. There are three pitakas (baskets of books) in
whole.
They are
Sutra pitaka - sayings of Lord Buddha
Vinaya pitaka – Disciplinary rules for monks
Abhidharma pitaka- Analysis of Buddhist philosophical system.
Author’s Note: In addition to above three pitakas, there are commentaries known as
“Atthakatha”. If not for these commentaries, it would have been impossible to understand the
Thripitaka. Commentaries provide background information on each and every sutra. Further it
clarifies various ambiguities existing in Thripitaka. It is believed that commentaries were also
originated at the same time as Thripitaka during the first Dhamma Sanghayana. Just after the death of
Lord Buddha.
Thripitaka was written in Pali during King Vatthagamini’s time. Interestingly, the commentaries to the
Thripitaka were written in Sinhalese and were known as “Sihala Atthakatha”. Many years later one of
the foremost scholars in Buddhism (Buddhaghosha) came to Lanka to translate Sihala Atthakatha back
to Pali!!.