Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa
Also called: Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa · Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The Dīpavaṁsa ("chronicle of the island", c. fourth century CE) and the later Mahāvaṁsa ("great chronicle", c. fifth–sixth century CE) are Pali chronicles from Sri Lanka. They were written as Buddhism spread beyond India. They record the regional history of Buddhism on the island and include stories of the Buddha's life. They are also important sources for Asoka and his age.
Example
The Mahāvaṁsa tells how Asoka's son Mahinda went to Sri Lanka as a Buddhist missionary and brought the island's king into the faith.
Don't confuse with
- Tipitaka: the Tipitaka is the Buddhist canon of teachings, rules and philosophy. The Dīpavaṁsa and Mahāvaṁsa are history-chronicles, not scripture.
- Divyāvadāna: this is a Sanskrit collection of legends from India, not a Pali chronicle from Sri Lanka.
Related concepts
- Tipitaka
- Vinaya Pitaka
- Sutta Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Divas
- Pali
- Pali classical language
- Buddhist councils
- First Buddhist council
- Second Buddhist council