Pali Literature Of Ceylon

Book Details

• Author: G.P. Malalasekera

• Publisher: Bhartiya Kala Prakashan

• Edition: 1st

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788180902512

• Pages: 328

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 21.5 cm x 14 cm

• Weight: 550 gm

• Year: 2010

• Origin of Country: India

• Publisher: Bhartiya Kala Prakashan

Author Info:
G.P. Malalasekera
G.P. Malalasekera was a renowned scholar and expert on Pali literature, particularly the Pali literary traditions of Sri Lanka. His work offers valuable insights into the history and significance of Pali as the language of Buddhist scriptures, as well as its cultural and religious importance in Sri Lanka.

Introduction:
The Pali literature of Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) is of significant importance to historians, scholars of folklore, philologists, and students of comparative religion. It is traditionally classified into three categories: the Buddhist Scriptures (Tipitaka), the Commentaries (especially those of Buddhaghosa and his contemporaries), and various secular works on history, grammar, law, medicine, and more.

Though Pali may have ceased to be a spoken language by the time it reached Ceylon, it became a central part of the island's intellectual and religious life. With the arrival of Buddhism under Emperor Ashoka, the Sinhalese embraced Pali as the sacred language of the Buddha's teachings, preserving and contributing to its rich tradition. Over time, Pali became the literary dialect of Ceylon, used for a wide range of works from religious texts to philosophical treatises.

Despite numerous invasions, internal schisms, and the systematic destruction of Buddhist texts, much of Ceylon's Pali literature has survived due to the diligent efforts of its scholars and monks. This body of literature continues to provide invaluable insight into the intellectual, cultural, and religious history of Sri Lanka and the wider Buddhist world.

This book offers an in-depth exploration of the Pali literary tradition of Ceylon, examining its development, key works, and enduring legacy despite the challenges it faced over the centuries.