Book Reviews

Mahavamsa- The Great nineteenth century (1837 C. .). Subsequently, it was translated by of Sri Wilhelm Geiger, a German Orientalist. Having seen many mistakes in this By Ananda W. P. Guruge translation, Ven. Polwatte , Published by S. Godage & Brothers published ‘Correction of Geiger’s , , 2005 Mahavamsa’ correcting misinterpretations made by Geiger. Dr. Mahavamsa, (The Great Chronicle), is Ananda W. P. Guruge translated and one of the most celebrated literary published this Great Chronicle for the works written in in Sri first time in 1989. The present work under Lanka during the sixth century A.C. by review is the revised second edition of the a Buddhist named Mahanama of Mahavamsa translation which was Dighasandasenapati Pirivena, published in 2005. in Sri Lanka. It consists of thirty seven chapters describing the It should be mentioned, at the outset, that founding of kingdom by Vijaya this is a stupendous work which includes who migrated from during the six hundred and eighty nine pages. The sixth century B.C.E. and the political as book is divided into two parts: Part well as history of upto the Prolegomena and the Part II the king Mahasena who lived during the Mahavamsa Translation. Prolegomena has third century C. E. The tradition of eight chapters which is the critical study of writing on great historical the contents and the subject matter of the events was a popular literary practice in Mahavams. And also there is a brief Sri Lanka in ancient times. The first introduction in which certain important such chronicle written was Dipavamsa matters are discussed. In the introduction (the Chronicle of the ) during the the usefulness of Mahavamsa in fourth century. Dipavamsa is considered constructing Sri Lankan as well as Indian in many ways as an imperfect history has been briefly discussed. composition full of repetitions, poor Especially in determining the Emperor language, improper arrangement, broken Asoka’s place in Indian history for the meter and so forth. It may probably be historians of India this Great Chronicle due to that it was the first attempt of was a very valuable historical source. writing a chronicle. It is generally There is a brief mention about the believed that the Dipavamsa was continuation and prolongation of the composed by Bhikkhunis in Sri Lanka. chronicle by Thera , in the On the other hand, Mahavamsa can be thirteenth century, Tibbatuwave considered as a fine product due to its Buddharakkhita, Yagirala Pannananda and beautiful Pali language, diction, Polwatte Buddhadatta. These extensions sleekness and so forth, although there are called Culavamsa (small Chronicles). are minor things like filling words to According to some scholars, the period of protect the meter of verses. We have great was over with Mahavamsa. many chronicles written in this line in It has been pointed out that not only Pali such as , Mahavamsa influenced a wide audience in Mahabodhivamsa, Dathavamsa, South-East including Burmese and Hatthavanagalla-viharavamsa, Cambodian traditions too. , Anagatavamsa etc. But the Mahavamsa stands above all these The chapter one of Prolegomena is as the national chronicle of Sri Lanka. entitled as Mahavamsa as an Epic Poem. At the beginning of this chapter it has Mahavamsa was first translated into been pointed out that the historical source English by George Turner in the materials were preserved in the form of

353 Hsi Lai Journal of legends, folktales, ballads, narratives of Dipavamsa) and Dutthagamini Abhaya. heroes and their heroic deeds, historical Dipavamsa has only five Pali verses for introductions of commentaries on Pali Pakunda (Pandukabhaya) and thirteen canonical texts, Pun¿n¿apotthakas verses for Dutthagamini Abhaya. The (records of meritorious deeds), reason inferred in this section is that Sihalavatthuppakarana, Sihalatthakatha Mahavamsa did not have Sahassavatthuppakarana etc. during the much to talk about these two kings. On the pre-chronicle period. Unlike the author other hand it is indicated that the author of of Dipavamsa, Mahanama made use of Mahavamsa had rich different source all these source materials in writing his materials on Pandukabhaya and epic poem, Mahavamsa. The Dutthagamini Abhaya. So Mahanama had Sihalatthakatha Mahavamsa which was too much to say about both kings. The last written in Sinhala was one paragraph of the chapter one is the important historical source used by the comparison of the characteristics of author of Mahavamsa. In this chapter Mahakavya and Mahavamsa. The reference is made to Geiger’s remarks conclusion is that Mahavamsa does not on Mahavamsa who translated the same have all the features of a Mahakavya like into English. And also remarks made by Sarga (Cantos) (Sargabandho Maurice Winternitz, seven years after mahakavyam), change of meters and so Geiger’s translation, on the question as forth. It has been pointed out that both to Mahavamsa – A Perfect Poem? It is Geiger and Winternitz have overrated the mentioned that both the German poetical merits of Mahavamsa. scholars Geiger and Winternitz concluded that Mahavamsa is an epic The second chapter is an investigation of poem superior to earlier chronicle Mahavamsa’s importance as a religious Dipavamsa which is in their assessment document. Probably writing a historical an imperfect literary work. document might have been considered inappropriate for a Buddhist monk due to In the next section: A Critical Review the fact that he has to deal with some of Earlier Assessments is an appraisal prohibitive talks (thirty two). It is of Mahanama’s skill in using the Pali inappropriate for a Buddhist monk to talk language, ability of versification, poetic about kings, ministers, wars, polity and so embellishments, and so forth. It has forth. Therefore, Mahanama combined the been pointed out that though the Pali political history of with the language of Mahavamsa is very Buddhist teaching of and beautiful compared to that of the . And also the Dipavamsa many unnecessary filler history of Buddhism cannot be separated words like tato, atha, tu, hi, pana, khalu from the political history of the island. So have been inserted into verses. the author of Mahavamsa whenever and According to Indian rhetoric even wherever possible has attempted to adopt though the poet has full freedom to use a didactic theme combining it with such words in composing verses it Buddhist principles. Writing the history of would have been better if it was avoided. Buddhism of the island and explaining the The opinion has been already recorded pious works done by Sri Lankan kings are that Mahanama cannot be justifiably not inappropriate for a Buddhist monk to credited with a conscious effort to explain. Even the recording of episodes of produce poetry. wars was considered pious in the sense that everything is impermanent. It has been mentioned that both Mahavamsa indicates that all these were chronicles, Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, done by kings in the name of Buddhism. have followed two styles in dealing with In considering these points one can rightly the stories of Pandukabhaya (Pakunda in say that Mahanama followed a didactic

354 Book Reviews theme in writing Mahavamsa. Readers After the introduction of Buddhism the are well informed about the strategic role played by the new in literary measures followed by Mahanama. The activities and keeping the historical second chapter of the book emphatically records properly by learned is mentions that at the end of each chapter evaluated. It has been pointed out that Mahanama has achieved his strategic even though the Sri Lankan sources objective: Mahavamsa has been written contain legendary and miraculous in order to inculcate serene joy and accounts like those of Indian, Sri Lankan emotion of the pious (Sujanappasada historiographers had a strong sense of samvegatthaya kate Mahavamse….). recording historical events. And also the And also in this chapter mention is form of Buddhism brought to Sri Lanka made of that the truth of impermanence did not favor miraculous and is enunciated by the author of events. In this respect one finds a short Mahavamsa. Again it is stated that the discussion of Buddha’s arrival in Sri relics of the Buddha and the Lanka which is not recorded in the Pali are the symbols of Dhammadipa canon. It has been pointed out that the (righteous island). In the concluding could have easily interpolated remarks it has been emphasized that Buddha’s visit into Pali canon, but they Mahavamsa was written to achieve a did not do it in order to safeguard the didactic objective. authenticity of the canon. On the other hand Buddhist Sanskrit texts like Chapter three is ‘The Place of Lankavatara records that it was Mahavamsa in the Historical Tradition preached by the Buddha while he was in of Sri Lanka.’ At the beginning of this Sri Lanka. This comparison was made to chapter mention is made about the emphasize that the Thervada tradition is assessment of Sri Lankan historical more reliable in keeping historical records. tradition by some European scholars. The assessment made by Emerson Discussing the nature of Sri Lankan Tennent (1859) as to the historicity of historical sources it has been mentioned our chronicles is quoted. And also the that asserting its cultural and political ideas regarding the historical value of identity and the Buddhist attitude to Sri Lankan chronicles by Portuguese history have been synthesized by Sangha writers like De Barros, De Couto and of Sri Lanka. Sangha kept their historical Valentyn who wrote during early records in the form of ballads, narratives, eighteenth century have been mentioned memory-verses, records of pious deeds in order to apprise readers. (Punnapotthaka) and so forth.

Next section is on Indian Chapter four, The Mahavamsa in Historiography: The Problem of the Relation to its Fore-runners and Historical Sense. The lack of historical Follow-ups, includes such useful topics as sense on the part of has Evolution of the in Sri been noted by foreigners. What Lanka, From the Nebulous and Isolated to Alberuni said about the historical the Systematized, The Dipavamsa, The records of India has been quoted. It has Dipavamsa as a Source of or Model for been pointed out that to identify the the Mahavamsa, The , great emperor, Devanampiya The Mahavamsa as a Commentary on the Priyadarshin, the third king of Maurya Dipavamsa, A Stream of Popular in India, how the Sri lankan Tradition in Sinhala, From the chronicle, Mahavamsa, has contributed Mahavamsa to the Extended Mahavamsa. to reconstruction of Indian history. All these can be considered as many aspects of evaluation of the role played by Mahavamsa in the construction of the

355 Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism . First the role author of the Mahavamsa. It was played by chronicles in the history of composed by a monk named Mahanama Sri Lanka has been briefly explained. of Dighasndhasenapati Pirivena, The necessity of recording Anuradhapura. His relationship to the chronologically such great historical king Dhatusena is discussed. But it is events like founding of Sinhala nation, stated that the Culavamsa which is the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka continuation of the chronicle, Mahavamsa, by Arahant , arrival of does not mention Mahanama as the author. , planting the Bodhi tree and so forth were considered as very Some information about the dates of important events in the history of island. Vamsatthappakasini, the Tika on Some very important paragraphs are Mahavamsa, and also the Extended quoted regarding the nature of Pali Mahavamsa is given in this section. Even exegetical literature and also efforts of though the tradition ascribed the maintaining historical records side by authorship of the Extended Mahavamsa to side as introductions to commentaries. a monk named Moggallana, it cannot be It is enunciated that there were several ascertained that he was a Sri Lankan or versions of Sihala- Thai. Mahavamsa with interspersed Pali verses and these are considered as A Comparative Content Analysis is a forerunners of both the Dipavamsa and brief study of the contents of both Mahavamsa. Suggestion is made that chronicles, Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa. the Dipavamsa became the model as The external characteristics of both the well as the source of Mahavamsa. Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa have been Referring to Samantapasadika which taken up first for discussion. In that the was written during the intervening arrangement of chapters and Bhanavaras period between the Dipavamsa and are compared. In this comparison one can Mahavamsa, it is stated in Geiger’s see that how the authors of two Chronicles words Smantapasadika preserved the began writing of their works. For example older tradition in keeping historical we are told that the Dipavamsa begins records. with the Buddha’s arrival in Sri Lanka, coming of the relics and Bodhi tree, three Next a very controversial idea has been in India and taken up for discussion. A statement founding of . Next the which appears in the Culavamsa, i.e. Pandukabhaya episode, the arrival of King Dhatusena, having granted one Thera Mahinda and introduction of thousand pieces, ordered to write a Buddhism and so forth have been dealt Dipika for Dipavamsa (Datva sahassam with in both chronicles. Both chronicles dipetum Dipavamsam samadisi) has are in perfect agreement in regard to been taken up for discussion. Earlier major historical events and their interpretations of this statement by chronological sequence. And also some Geiger and Fleet have been quoted in minor, but noticeable, differences have this section and the conclusion made is been pointed out too. It is interesting to that Mahavamsa is not a commentary note that a critical analysis of some on Dipavamsa due to the fact that it controversial events has been made with does not have any characteristics of a meticulously in this section. commentary and it is an independent work written in poetic diction. It is commendable that discrepancies of both chronicles regarding major and The section entitled From the extremely important historical events and Mahavamsa to the Extended personage have been included. According Mahavamsa throws some light on the to this, for example, Dipavamsa was not

356 Book Reviews very much interested in Dutthagamini the island and important historical places Abhaya’s campaign and his pioneering mentioned in the Mahavamsa. The section Buddhist activities. But in the called Dutthagamini Abhaya- the of Mahavamsa, Dutthagamini is the an Unexhausted Popular Tradition gives principal protagonist, the hero who the genealogy of Dutthagamini who is the organizes the freedom struggle to end principal protagonist of Mahavamsa. South Indian domination in the northern part of Sri Lanka. The Age of Religious In the sub-section called Mahavamsa and Turmoil is an analysis of activities of the Extended Mahavamsa or Cambodian two sons of Gothabhaya, Jetthatissa and Mahavamsa there is a comparison of Mahasena, uprising of historical events mentioned in the (Vaitulyavada) in Sri Lanka and the fate Mahavamsa and the Cambodian of , the stronghold of Mahavamsa. In this comparison it has Thervada tradition. Two chronicles been clearly pointed out that the Extended have two approaches to this period of Mahavamsa has more information derived religious turmoil. Dipavamsa devotes from different sources. Both the Extended only ten verses to describe events of this Mahavamsa and Mahavamsa have the period. But Mahavamsa gives a fairly same information regarding Asoka, the good account and Mahanama shows his , his conversion to unhappiness by calling Sanghamitta as Buddhism and his religious activities. Dummita and Sona as Papasona. Chapter five is named as the Earliest Phase of Sri Lankan History. An The next section is entitled as examination of Sri Lankan history in Mahavamsa and the legend has been made at the beginning of Vamsatthappakasini or the Mahavamsa this chapter. Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Tika. Referring to Vamsatthappakasini, Vamsatthappakasini and Extended it is stated that it is a work of critical Mahavamsa have been taken as historical acumen which elucidates and corrects sources. These four are collectively taken information found in Mahavamsa. In as Pali Chronicles. According to these support of this statement Malalasekara’s chronicles, the founder of Sinhala concluding remarks of the introduction kingdom is Vijaya who is the eldest son of to Vamsatthappakasini has been quoted. . After a brief history of founding of the Sinhala kingdom by ‘Buddha’s visits to Sri Lanka’ and ‘An Vijaya, history of Pandukabhaya or overview of Buddhism in India’ can be Pakunda is given in details. Pandukabhaya considered as interesting sections. There has been considered as the first national is some valuable information regarding hero. Then we find an examination of Buddhist councils in India. The section Mauryan Sri Lankan Relations and the entitled Popular tradition on the Introduction of Buddhism. There is a Mauryan Dynasty and Sri Lankan Kings: detailed description of the arrival of Vijaya to Devanampiyatissa is mainly Mahinda and establishment of Buddhism based on the information provided by in Sri Lanka. Vamsatthappakasini. Vamsatthappakasini has drawn this Next major historical examination is information from Uttaraviharatthakatha. entitled as The Rise of Mahagama in Rohana. The Establishment of Rohana The section, Devanampiyatissa, the kingdom is traced back to the king Thera Mahinda and the Introduction of Devanampiyatissa. Mahanaga the brother Buddhism, provides some information of Devanampiyatissa established Rohana of Arahant Mahinda’s arrival in Sri kingdom. of Rohana rulers Lanka, establishment of Buddhism in starting from Mahanaga is given from

357 Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism

Mahanaga to Kakavannatisa the father of Dutthagamini. Struggle between One notable feature of this translation is Duttha Gamini and his brother Tissa for that it is not like earlier translations from the of Rohana kingdom, verse to verse. It is a rendering made Sangha’s interference and reconciliation chapter by chapter. It is like a prose between two brothers, Duttha Gamini’s composition done in English. Earlier accession to the throne and freedom translators of Mahavamsa followed verse struggle have been explained according to verse translation into English. The to these four historical sources. translation is lucid and for general reader. There are three Appendices at the end of A chart of revised chronological table the book. Appendix I is an explanation of of kings of the Mahavamsa starting place and their from Vijaya to Mahasena is included in identification. Appendix II is a glossary of this chapter. An Epigraphical and Pali words and names. Appendix three is Territorial map too is inserted at the end the chronological table of kings of Sri of this chapter. Lanka from Vijaya to Mahasena.

The chapter six is named ‘Towards a Many mistakes and shortcomings of Definitive History of Sri Lanka.’ Its earlier translations of Mahavamsa have subtitle is From Legend and Epic Poetry been corrected. It is full of historical to Matter-of-fact History. The information that can be used by students, indicates that the early history of Sri researchers and teachers. This work is a Lanka can be reconstructed from depositary of historical information of Sri legends. There was no tradition of Lanka. In the reconstruction of history of preserving historical records in early Sri Sri Lanka it can be utilized as a valuable Lanka but history was buried in legends, historical source. folk tales and oral tradition. The whole chapter is devoted to Sri Lanka’s – Kottegoda S. Warnasuriya religious and political history. Starting from Saddhatissa, immediate successor of Dutthagamini Abhaya, to Mahasena, - the youngest son of Gothabhaya, history of the island has been dealt within detail. Essays in honor of Turmoil during Vatthagamini Abhaya, Venerable Professor south Indian invasion, dissension between Mahavihara and Abhayagiri, Dhammavihari arrival of Vaitulyavada and so forth (Jotiya Dhirasekera) have been discussed and critically analyzed. Edited by Tilakaratne et al Sri

Lanka Association for Part II of the work being reviewed Colombo, 2005, ISBN 955-1271-00-9, comprises the English translation of Pali Pp.336. Mahavamsa. Pali Mahavamsa contains thirty seven chapters. First five chapters The Sri Lankan tradition of honoring of Mahavamsa are regarding the visit of eminent scholars with felicitation volumes the Buddha to Sri Lanka, Dynasty of to mark birth anniversaries and the like Mahasammata, the First, Second and has resulted in invaluable compilations of Third Councils. The sixth and seventh research articles by their colleagues, chapters are on Vijaya, the first ruler of students and friends. The eighty-fifth Sri Lanka. The last chapter is on birthday of Venerable Dhammavihari, Mahasena who was the last king of the whose services for the promotion of chronicle Mahavamsa. Buddhist studies are as diverse as they are 358