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

Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 67
vii. Kathavatthu,
Author’s Note: The commentary to Dhammasangani, written by Buddhaghosha is known as
Atthasalini and has been translated to English by Ed Muller).
Mahathera Revatha was impressed with Buddhaghosha’s talent and made the following request.
“Here in Jambudweepa, we have the Tripitaka. The commentary to the Tripitaka in Pali language is
not available. It is available in Lanka in the language of Sihala and known as “Sihala Atthakatha”.
Sihala Atthakatha is faultless. Go to Lanka and learn Sihala language and translate Atthakatha back to
Pali language.”
Young Buddhaghosha accepted Mahathera Revatha’s request and came to Lanka.
(Author’s Note: Tripitaka is difficult to understand without Atthakatha. (Commentaries to
Tripitaka). Atthakatha was formulated during first Dharma Sanghayana. It seems Pali Atthakatha was
not available during Buddhaghosha’s time. Bhikkus in India knew its existence in Sinhalese language
in Lanka).
Buddhaghosha came to Mahavihara and requested Sihalaatthakatha books from the monks at
Mahavihara. Bhikkus at Mahavihara asked Buddhaghosha to prove his knowledge in Tripitaka.
Buddhaghosha wrote the well known Buddhist book “Visuddhi Magga" which summarized Tripitaka
and showed the path to Nirvana. (Visuddhi Magga – Path of Purification).
Bhikku Buddhaghosha read Visuddhi Magga in front of all Mahavihara bhikkus. Then all bhikkus
chanted Visuddhi Magga with joyful heart together with Buddhaghosha.
(Author’s Note: There are two major Buddhist works in existence that do not belong to original
Tripitaka. They are Buddhaghosha Thera’s Visuddhi Magga and Vasubandhu Thera’s Abhidharma
Kosha. Vasubandhu Thera belongs to a sect known as Yogacharin. Visuddhi Magga has been
translated to English by bhikku Nanamoli and Abhidharma Kosha has been translated to English by La
Vallée Poussin).
After this great achievement by bhikku Buddhaghosha, Mahavihara monks handed over
Sihalaatthakatha to Buddhaghosha. Buddhaghosha translated Sihalaatthakatha to Pali.
(Author’s Note: Even from today’s standard, Visuddhi Magga is a great work. As Mahavamsa
states, Mahavihara bhikkus considered bhikku Buddhaghosha to be Maithree Buddha or the
reincarnation of next Buddha)
Sotthi Sena: (432 Ad – 432 AD)
After the death of Mahanama, his son Sotthi Sena became the King. He was killed the same day and
umbrella bearer came to power. A minister of Sotthi Sena had the umbrella bearer killed and had a
thief known as Mittasena consecrated as King. A Prince named Pandu in Southern India hearing the
unstable situation in Lanka came and captured power from Mittasena. During this time, a boy named
Dhatusena, belonging to an ethnic group known as Moriya was born.