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

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Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 6 Author’s Note: Mahavamsa is the oldest and longest chronology in the world. It tells a story that spans nearly 2,500 years. Original Mahavamsa, translated to English by Wilhelm Geiger contains more than 1,500 pages. Unfortunately, many readers do not have time or desire to read such a treatise. Here I have made an attempt to present a concise version of Mahavamsa, where one would be able to read during the lunch hour in the office or while commuting in a train. Guide to Mahavamsa: • Maha Kassapa’s rebuke of Ananda during first council • Construction of Pandavapi, world’s first reservoir by King Panduvas Dev (450 BC) • Construction of Abhaya wewa (Abhaya reservoir) by Pandukabhya (400 BC) • King Dutugamunu’s interview of Engineers for the construction of Ruwan Vali Saaya (Fourth largest structure of the ancient world) • Emotional account of King Dutugamunu’s death • Writing of Tripitaka during Vatthagamini Abhaya and construction of Abhayagiriya. • King Wasabha - Transfer of power from Sihala to Lambakanna • Destruction of Mahavihara by Mahasen • King Mahasen – Greatest reservoir builder of the ancient world. (Construction of sixteen large reservoirs). • King Vijayabahu’s campaign for freedom after nearly sixty years of Chola rule. • King Parakramabahu’s expeditions to South India. (Conquest of Chola and Pandu kingdoms). • King Parakramabahu’s time period – Most prosperous time period of the Lankan history. • Nissanka Malla inscriptions • Arrival of Portuguese • Seethawaka Rajasiha’s murder spree of bhikkus. Complete destruction of Mahasangha. • Wimala Dharmasuriya - Last Great King of Lanka • Rajasiha II – Expulsion of Portuguese with the help of Dutch • Buddhism re-established under Sri Vijaya Rajasinha (Origin of Siam Nikaya). Finally I would like to thank my parents, sisters, uncle and brother in laws for helping me in various ways to make this project a success. Further I am thankful for Hon. Minister Vajira Abeywardhana for motivating me to write this book. Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E Contact: Ruwan Rajapakse E-mail: rar321@gmail.com
Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 7 Origin of Mahavamsa: Timeline: • Original settlers who came from India under the leadership of Prince Vijaya had a tradition of their own. • Arrival of Buddhism around 300 BC • King Devanampiyatissa constructed Mahavihara for Thera Mahinda • Mahavihara bhikkus kept a record of events as related to Buddhism. • Unknown scholar monk edited the Mahavihara records and developed Mahavamsa Atthakatha probably around 300 AD. (Not available today). • Deepavamsa was written by an unknown author around 400 AD using material from Mahavamsa Atthakatha. Deepavamsa still exists and was translated to English by H. Oldenberg • Scholars were not happy with the Deepavamsa at that time due to its poor language. King Dhatusena directed Mahathera Mahanama to re-write the Deepavamsa. • Mahathera Mahanama wrote Mahavamsa around 450 AD. Mahavamsa is considered to be a great literary work. Basically, Mahathera Mahanama used historical information available in Mahavamsa Atthakatha and made it to a poem. Second Part of Mahavamsa: • Mahathera Dhammakitti wrote the second part of Mahavamsa during 1,100 AD using the records kept by Mahavihara bhikkus. Second part of the Mahavamsa is known as “Culavamsa”. • Mahavamsa Tika: an unknown author between 1000 AD and 1100 AD wrote Mahavamsa Tika. Tika contains information not found in Mahavamsa or Deepavamsa. Hence it is believed that the Tika author had access to Mahavamsa Atthakatha.
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Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

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