Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE MAHÁVANSA.

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

CHAPTER I.

Author's Introduction-The twenty-four Buddhas who preceded Gautama -Gautama Buddha's three visits to Lapká-Mahiyangana, Nágadípa, and Kalyáņi.

CHAPTER II.

Genealogy of Buddha from Mahásammata-The Ṣákya kings, Bimbisára and Siddhartha.

CHAPTER III.

Buddha's Parinirvána-First Convocation for the settlement of the Buddhist Canon.

CHAPTER IV.

King Ajátasattu's sons-Susunága-Second Convocation for the revision of the Sacred Canon.

CHAPTER V.

Schisms in the Buddhist Church-Asóka's inauguration-Nigródha Sámanéra-Conversion of Asóka to Buddhism-Moggaliputta Tissa Théra— Third Convocation.

CHAPTER VI.

Vijaya-His landing in Layká.

CHAPTER VII.

Conquest of Lanká by Vijaya-His inauguration-Embassy to Southern Madura soliciting a princess of Pandu-The arrival of the princess and deposition of Kuveņi.

CHAPTER VIII.

Vijaya's death-Interregnum-Arrival of Vijaya's nephew Panḍuvasudéva rom India-His installation in the sovereignty.

CHAPTER IX.

Panduvasudeva's death and election of his son Abhaya to succeed himBirth of Paṇḍukábhaya, grandson of Paṇḍuvasudéva.

CHAPTER X.

Attempts to destroy Panḍukábhaya-His escapes and romantic adventuresHis revolt, and war with his uncles - His coronation-Great improvements made by him in Anuradhapura.

CHAPTER XI.

Reign of Mutasiva, son of Panḍukábhaya-Installation of Dévánampiya Tissa, his son, in the sovereignty-Wonderful productions in Lapká at that period-His embassy to Asóka, who despatches a deputation to anoint him a second time as king of Lagká.

CHAPTER XII.

Account of Buddhist Missions to various countries-Mahinda's nomination as Missionary to Laŋká.

ހ

CHAPTER XIII.

A brief account of Mahinda and his movements preparatory to his departure from India-His arrival in Laŋká.

CHAPTER XIV.

Dévánampiya Tissa's first interview with Mahinda at Ambatthala-His visits to the city.

CHAPTER XV.

Mahinda's preaching-His acceptance of the king's pleasure gardenMarvellous incidents in connection therewith-Mahinda's account of the visits of former Buddhas to Lapká-Demarcation and consecration of the "Símá"-Preaching and conversions-Buddhist edifices that were built at this period. CHAPTER XVI.

Building and dedication of the Cetiyagiri (Ségiri) Vihára.

CHAPTER XVII.

The acquisition of Relics-Enshrinement of them in the Thúpâráma— Building of the Cétiya and Vihára of that name.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mission to India for bringing over a branch of the great Bo-treeIncidents.

CHAPTER XIX.

Arrival of Sanghamittá with the Bo-branch-The planting of it-Building of nunneries.

CHAPTER XX.

A domestic incident in the life of Asóka-Enumeration of Buddhist edifices in the order they were built-The Mahápáli Almonry-Death of Dévánampiya Tissa and succession of Uttiya, his brother-Death of Mahinda, of Sanghamitta, and of the other Théras.

CHAPTER XXI.

Reigns of Mahásíva; Súratissa; Sena and Guttika; Elára.

CHAPTER XXII.

Duṭṭha Gámaní-His ancestry, birth, and childhood.

CHAPTER XXIII.

An account of the ten strong men of Duṭṭha Gámaní.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Duṭṭha Gámaní's flight from his father's Court-His assumption of sovereignty-War between him and Tissa, his brother-Their reconciliation through the intervention of the priesthood.

CHAPTER XXV.

Gámaní's preparations to invade the North-Account of his campaign against the Damilas-Defeat and death of Elára-Defeat of Bhalluka, Elára's ally.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Building of the Maricavațți (Mirisvęțiya) Dágoba.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Building of the Lóhapâsáda (Lóvá-mahapaya).

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Discovery of materials and precious things preparatory to the building of the Ruvanveli Dagoba.

[ocr errors]

CHAPTER XXIX.

Ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the Ruvanveli Dágoba.

CHAPTER XXX.

Erection of the Ruvanveli Dágoba-Incidents connected therewith-The great stone coffer for the Relics-Description of the precious things deposited therein.

CHAPTER XXXI.

The procuring of the relics by Sonuttara-History of the Relics--The enshrinement thereof with great ceremonies.

CHAPTER XXXII.

Serious illness of Duṭṭha Gámaní-Deathbed scene-His visible departure to heaven-Cremation of his body.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Reigns of Sáddhá Tissa; Thullatthanaka; Lajji Tissa; Khalláṭanaga ; Vatta Gámaní-Defeat of Vaṭṭa Gámaní by the Tamils, and his flight-Rule of five Tamil usurpers-Incidents during Vaṭṭa Gámani's flight and exile-His resumption of the sovereignty, and subsequent acts-Schisms in the Buddhist Church-The Buddhist Canon reduced to writing.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Reigns of Mahácúli Mahátissa; Coranága; and Tissa-Reign of Queen Anula and her paramours-Reigns of Kalakanņi Tissa; Bhátiya I.; and Mahá Dáṭhika.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Reigns of Amanda Gámaní; Kanijánu Tissa; Cúlâbhaya; Sívalí; Пlanága; Candamukha Síva; Yasalalaka Tissa; Subha; Vasabha; Vańkanásika Tissa; Gaja Báhu; and Mahallaka Nága.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Reigns of Bhátika Tissa; Tissa II.; Cúlanága; Kudḍa Nága; Siri Nága; Vóhára Tissa; Abhaya Tissa; Siri Nága II.; Vijaya II.; Sanghatissa; Siri Sanghabodhi; Gothâbhaya, surnamed Meghavanna Abhaya; and Jeṭṭha Tissa.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Reigns of Mahá Sena; Siri Meghavanņa; The Tooth-relic: Jeṭṭha Tissa; Buddhadása; Upatissa II.; and Mahánáma-Account of Buddhaghosa.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Reigns of Sotthisena; Chattagáhaka; Mittasena Pandu, the Tamil usurper Five other Tamil usurpers; and Dhátu Sena.

LIST OF KINGS

Noticed in Part I., and Approximate Dates of their Reigns.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THE MAHÁVAṆSA.

[The italics are intended to denote the faulty words and passages which I have substituted by others in the foot-notes. In compliance with the wishes of Government I have added these mostly to such passages as contain grave or glaring errors. The only alterations made in the text are in the transliteration of Páli words and the substitution of the crude form a for the case termination o, as adopted by modern Páli scholars. The text still admits of great improvement throughout.-L.C.W.]

[blocks in formation]

ADORATION to him, who is the deified, the sanctified, the omniscient, supreme Buddha !

Having bowed down to the supreme Buddha, immaculate in purity, illustrious in descent; without suppression or exaggeration, I celebrate the MAHÁVAṆSA.

That which was composed by the ancient (historians) is in some respects too concise, in others too diffuse, abounding also in the defects of tautology. Attend ye to this (Mahávagsa) which, avoiding these imperfections, addresses itself to the hearer (in a strain) readily comprehended, easily remembered," and inspiring sentiments both of pleasure and of pain; giving rise to either pleasing or painful emotion, according as each incident may be agreeable or afflicting.

Our vanquisher (of the five deadly sins) having, in a former existence, seen the supreme Buddha Dípańkara, formed the resolution to attain buddhahood, in order that he might redeem the world from the miseries (of sin).

Subsequently, as in the case of that supreme Buddha, so unto Kondañña, the sage Mangala, Sumana, the Buddha Réwata, and the eminent sage Sobhita, the supreme Buddha Anomodassí, Paduma, Nárada the vanquisher, the supreme Buddha Padumuttara, and Sumedha the deity of similar mission,3 Sujáta and Piyadassí, the supreme Atthadassí, Dhammadassí, Siddhattha, Tissa, and, in like manner, the vanquisher Phussa, Vipassí, the supreme Buddha Sikhí, the supreme Buddha Vessabhú, the supreme Buddha Kakusandha, in like manner Konágama, and Kassapa of felicitous advent,-unto all these twenty-four supreme Buddhas likewise (in their respective existences),

'This is not the sense of the compound term nánânúnâdhikárakan, qualifying Maháransan. It ought to be rendered thus: "I celebrate the Mahávansa, replete with divers comprehensive chapters." Such is the explanation given in the Țíká: anekehi adhikárehi paripuṇnâdhikáran' ti attho.

2 The words sutitoca upagatan, "come down by tradition," contained in the text, have been omitted in this enumeration of the characteristics of the Mahavansa.

'Original, Tathagata. Here, as elsewhere throughout the work, I have not thought it necessary to notice the English rendering of the Páli epithets and of words appertaining to Buddhist terminology.

« PreviousContinue »