Mahamuni - The Enlightened One

Giving an explanation to the noble character that was named as Mahamuni[1] can be done with the aid of Mahavamsa Teeka.[2]

1. uydiïu;rdciai jxifcda ys uyduqks ^uydjxY àldj" 82 msg&

1. Mahasammatha rajassa wansajo hi mahamuni (Mahavamsa Teeka,Page 82)

This Mahavamsa Teeka explains that The Enlightened One, Gauthama Buddha, got this sacred name 'Mahamuni' as he was born in to the generation which is connected to the Maha Sammatha Dynasty.

In ancient times, the name called Mahamuni had been rooted in to Sri Lanka, in to the heritage of Sri Lanka. This is evident by the names used in ancient Sri Lanka. The using of the name called Mahamuni, can be proved by the references found in the texts. (Purathana Ha Madhyathana Lankawe Ithihaasika Isthaana Vistharaya, Page 232- Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval Ceylon, C.W. Nicholas). In this book, the name called Mahamuni has been taken in to the chapter called "The locations unknown".

Above mentioned book reports that a village called Mahamanikagama[3] had been offered to Jethawana Monastery (Page 200). This book further says that there had been a Korala[4], a Wewa[5] and a village called Maminiya[6] situated 3 miles south-east from Maradankadawala. This place which is presently called Maminiya might have been called, in the past, Mahamunigama[7]. This doubt can be supported by many facts. One of them could be that this name, along with the time, may have been shortened for the easy use. Another fact is that the presence of some  main places where The Enlightened One had once dwelled are situated somewhere closer to this place.

(T.B-U.A)

---

[1] Mahamuni is pronounced as Ma-haa-mu-nie, meaning, The Great Sage.

[2] Mahavamsa is the The Great Chronicle. Teeka  (is pronounced as Tee-Kaa) is the sub-chronicles written for Mahavamsa.

[3] Mahamanikagama is pronounced as Maha-manika-gaama.

[4] Korala is a region or a sub division of a district.

[5] Wewa is a water  reservoir

[6] Maminiya is pronounced as Maa-mi-ni-ya.

[7] Mahamunigama is pronounced as Maha-muni-gaama. .ie. the village of Mahamuni, the great Muni or sage.

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com) 

Read More

හෙළ නම්ගොත් වදනින් හෙළිවන හෙළ බුදු උරුමය - මහාමුනි

Read More

හෙළ නම්ගොත් වදනින් හෙළිවන හෙළ බුදු උරුමය - පිත

Read More

හෙළ නම්ගොත් වදනින් හෙළිවන හෙළ බුදු උරුමය - මත

Read More

හෙළ නම්ගොත් වදනින් හෙළිවන හෙළ බුදු උරුමය - පටිබන

Read More

Patibana is not Patibāna

Patibana is a Hela term. It can be found in the Pela Dhamma. Pela Dhamma was divided into words and they were given different interpretations. Because of this act, the real meaning of this term is disappeared now.[i]

The force behind this was the introduction of a 'newly built' language called Pali. Since this act was supported by Indian influence, today, the real interpretation of this Hela[ii] term cannot be seen in it. The local scholars had failed to recognize the root or the origin of the term as they considered Pali as the native language ('mother tongue') of Heladeepa and this had become 'a curse' upon the entire nation of Heladeepa.

Patibana is a Pela (or a term in Pela Dhamma) which is comprised the appellation in the Hela Magadhi language. The examples for the usage of this Pela (or a term in Pela Dhamma) in the ancient times in Heladeepa can be seen in the inscriptions.

Some of these inscriptions are as follows.

501. n; Y.rls;Y f,fK mánk l=fg Y.Y osfk

(bata sharakitasha lene patibana kute shagasha)

-The cave called Patibana Kuta of Bharthu Sangharakkhita is given for the Sanga. -

(Sinhala Shila Lekhana Sangrahaya - Page 105" Inscriptions of Ceylon - Prof. Paranavitana, Page 39)

663. WmYsl ;sYh f,fK mánk l=fg Y.Y

(upashika thishaya lene patibana kute shagasha)
- The cave of Tissā Upasikaa[iii] is given for the Sanga. -

(Sinhala Shila Lekhana Sangrahaya - Page 121" Inscriptions of Ceylon - Prof. Paranavitana, Page 50)

1031. WmYl Y=uky f,fK mánk l=fg Y.Y

(upashaka sumanha lene patibana kute shagasha)

- The cave called Patibana Kuta of Sumana Upasaka[iv] is given for the Sanga. -

(Sinhala Shila Lekhana Sangrahaya - Page 166" Inscriptions of Ceylon - Prof. Paranavitana, Page 80)

In all above mentioned three inscriptions 'Patibanakute - mánk l=fg' has been presented as a name. The most important part of the inscription had been interpreted in a very simple format. Because of this, the heritage of Heladeepa had failed to stand on its right place.

The term 'Patibana - mánk', which is the root or the principle term, has been taken as a term in the Pali language, presented as 'Patibhāna - máNdK' and, then, the meaning given for it is 'understanding or realization - jegySu'' The local scholars were not aware of the Magadhi Language and the applications of the language. As a result of this, today, it has been thrown driven in to a great complexity. What were the ultimate consequences of this complexity? All are under the impression that they preach 'nK' Bana (the teachings of Buddha which will lead to a spiritual development and achieve what the Buddha taught). But in reality, they all preach 'ny' Baha  (the worldly matters which will lead for a better life in this materialistic world).

---

[i] Buddda's teachings were 'stored' in Hela Appellations, but not in words. Meanings or interpretations presented by words are subjected to change in time. Later, this teaching was presented in the forms of lines or fm< (Pela). The ultimate result of this is 'the loss' of the original meanings which were intended by the Hela Appellations. Let's take 'Patibana' as an example. 'Understanding or realization' is the meaning given by this word. But, according to Hela Appellations, the meaning of this particular word can be given as follows.

(Pa)m - This is the beginning of 'The Eight'. Or Agni (fire) + Pawan (water). Or Amma (Mother) + Appā (Father)

(ti)á- Taking 'The Eight' and forming a consciousness  (which is required       for a birth).

(ba)n - Taking or grasping a 'bawa'.

(na)k - Forming  'a Rupa - a matter' or a grasping 'a body' whiles combining internal and external 'Nine'.

[ii] Hela - This is the name used to introduce the people lived in the ancient times in Heladeepa ( Sri Lanka)

[iii] Upasikaa - the female lay disciple of Buddha.

[iv] Upasaka - the male lay disciple of Buddha.

(T.B. - U.A)

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com) 

Read More

මහා සම්මත රාජ මහාවංශයෙහි ජනිත වූ උත්තමයන් වහන්සේ වූ ලොව්තුරා බුදු රජාණන්වහන්සේ මහාමුනි නම් වන සේක.

මහාමුනි නම් වූ ලොව්තුරා බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේගේ මහාවංශ පරම්පරාව විග‍්‍රහ කොට පෙන්වා දුන්නේ සීහලට්ඨකථා මහාවාංශයෙනි. මෙම මහාවංශ පරම්පරාව හෙළයට හෙවත් ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාවට උරුම වූ උතුම් දායාදයක් බැවින් හෙළ අට්ඨකථාවක් වූ සීහලට්ඨකථා මහාවාංශ නාමයෙන් ග‍්‍රන්තාරූඪ කර තිබුණි. ඉන්දියානු සම්භවිකයන් විසින් මේ සත්‍යතාව වසා දැමීමට හෙළය පාලියට පෙරලමින් විජය ගේ පටන් මහාවංශයක් නිර්මාණය කරන ලදී.

Read More

The Enlightened One who was born in the Maha Sammatha Dynasty is called Mahamuni

 The Enlightened One who was born in the Maha Sammatha Dynasty is called Mahamuni[1]

Mahavamsa (The Great Chronicle) which is used by us in the present day is composed in Pali poems. That is a translation of ancient Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa,[2] Mahavamsa Teeka[3] says. Mahavamsa Teeka is also a text which was written in Pali language. Hela Attakathas were originally written in the Hela language and they were a part of the heritage of Helaya.[4] Translating all these Hela Attakatha in to a language called Pali and total destruction of these Hela Attakatha thereafter is, in fact, a strange thing. This strange and wonderful feeling will be emerged only in a mind of a Helaya. The ones who were influenced by the Indian origin will not be worried for this matter. This competitive thinking could be seen in the past and it is not necessary to mention specifically that it is prevailed in the present day as well. In today's context, this thinking can be seen everywhere. As a result of the competitiveness which was originated by the influence of the Hela and Indian origins, today we can experience the favorable dialogs coming forward claiming the heritage of the Buddha to Heladeepa, i.e. Sri Lanka, and also the non-favorable dialogs against this mere truth.

In analyzing this competitiveness which was experienced in the past, the explanations given by Mahavamsa are truly important. And also dragging Mahavamsa Teeka for this matter, certainly will bring additional lights for revealing the truth. The author of Mahavamsa[5] indicates three errors when he translates Seehalatthakatha Mahavamsa in to Pali Mahavamsa. The Pali stanza or the Pali poem which indicates these three errors is as follows.

2.            Pōrānehi kathō,pēso

                athi,viththā,rithō kwachi

                athee,tha kwachi san,khith,thō

                aneka,punarut,tako

The interpretation for this stanza found in Mahavamsa is given in Teeka. I feel it is better to draw our attention to this particular interpretation given by Teeka and it is as follows.

"Here, Pōrānehi kathō,pēso means that this Mahavamsa has been done, written, by the teachers (masters) who lived in the ancient times. If, one particular ancient Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa is existing, which was composed and written by the ancient masters in a well comprehensive manner, and also in the form of divisions, it is my first attempt to present, to write it, whiles taking out excessive descriptions and excluding the native language, in a manner, then, one will be able to understand it easily".(Vansaththappakaasini, 31-32 pages)[6]. The most significant truth disclosed by this text which was written as Teeka for Pali Mahavamsa is that there had been a text existed and it had been called "Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa". And also it can be seen that the interpretation given for the second stanza of Mahavamsa is nothing but an attempt to find errors in Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa. Here, he presents three main errors. These three errors are described in Teeka as follows.

"With regards to the usage of the words, this most ancient Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa, is, in certain places of it, athi,viththā,rithō. It is very comprehensively done[7], is the meaning of this. kwachi san,khith,thō means that, in certain places of it, this is exclusively abridged. It had been mentioned[8] in a brief manner is the expected objective of this (statement). aneka,punarut,tako means that this contains, in certain places of it, repetitions". (Vansaththappakaasini, Page 32)

By doing this, by posing negative criticism on Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa, the author of Pali Mahavamsa attempted to degrading the significance of this text and fixing the basic foundation where, then, he would do the translation as his interest.

The native Bhikkus in Heladeepa had showed their dislike for this act of criticizing Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa and one of them, who had initiated it, was Venerable Pasanadipavasi Upathissa Thero[9] (Vansaththappakaasini, Page 32). This discloses the fact that the author of Pali Mahavamsa had done a serious damage. In order to get an idea about this serious damage, an exclusive analysis should be done with the aid of Teeka text called Vansaththappakaasini.

The removal of one part of the ancient name of the text and re-naming it as Mahavamsa is nothing but a contraption or a strategy implemented to enclose the real heritage of Helaya[10]. This translation was done merely to confiscate the exclusive heritage of Buddha to Sri Lanka or the exclusive heritage that Sri Lankans could have claimed over the identity of Buddha which comes down to them from the unbroken generations of Maha Sammatha Dynasty. The most classical reason which can be presented to prove this is the existence of Pali Mahavamsa and the total annihilation of Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa. These ones with the Indian origin had piled up the Hela Aattakathas up to a heap of a size of seven elephants and burnt them in to ashes. Hence, this example itself would be evident that destroying one Attakatha is not an issue to them at all. (Pali Sahithya, Page 149).

Our most ancient text called Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa has been named as Mahavamsa. Our critics have not yet explained the exact reason behind this act. This is, indeed, a misfortune of the people living in our land. The text written in Pali language was named as Mahavamsa. What was the reason of writing this Mahavamsa and who was introduced by this Mahavamsa? It explains the genealogy of the royal families starting from Vijaya and the description of Maha Sammatha Dynasty found in the original text, namely Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa, had been limited to one chapter. Who can say that this was not done with the aim of keeping us away from our true heritage? Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa disclosed the time line, the generation of Mahawanshaya,[11] starting from Maha Sammatha Dynasty up to the time of The Enlightened One, Gauthma Buddha. Isn't it then a heritage of Heladeepa? The name, Mahamuni,[12] found  in Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa had been used in the ancient times in Sri Lanka, says C.W. Nicholos in his book -  Historical Topography of Ancient And Medieval Ceylon. (Page 232). Not only that, it is evident that the details of the Maha Sammatha Dynasty and the synonyms of Gauthama Buddha had been used for texts, places and villages in the past. This practice alone is evident, without any doubt at all, that Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa presented the details which were relevant to the heritage of people in Helaya.

Seehalattakatha Mahavamsa disclosed the Mahavamsa genealogy of Mahamuni (The Enlightened One). Since this genealogy of the royal families is a great heritage of Helaya (Sri Lanka), Seehalattakatha which was a chronicle of Heladeepa had been documented under the title called Mahavamsa (the great genealogy). The ones with the Indian origin wanted to hide this truth. They translated chronicles which were written in Hela language in to Pali language, 'created' a new Mahavamsa and started the chronology from Vijaya.

Venerable Mookalangamuwe Pannananda Thero

---

[1] Mahamuni is prounced as Mahaamuni.

[2] Seehalattakatha is pronounced as Seeha-lat-ta-ka-thaa. This is the short form of Seehala Attaa Katha. i. e.  Attaa Katha which were written in Hela language. The English term commonly for Attaa Katha is Chronicles.

[3] Mahavamsa Teeka ( is pronounced teekaa) are the commentaries written for Mahavamsa.

[4] The land of Helayo. i.e. the term used for the people lived in Heladeepa (Sri Lanka). Helaya (pronounced as Helayaa or Helayā) is singular form of Helayo.

[5] The author of Mahavamsa is supposed to be an Indian Bhikku called Mahanama.

[6] Vansaththappakaasini is pronounced as Van,saththap,pa,kaa,sinie.

[7] i.e written

[8] i.e written

[9] Pasanadipavasi Upathissa  is pronounced as Paa-saa-na-deepa-vaa-si Upa-this-sa

[10] i.e the person in Heladeepa

[11] The term 'Mahawansa' is the term used in English language for the Hela term 'Maha Wanshaya'. Maha - Main or great, Wanshaya -  is the genealogy, dynasty or the caste.

[12] Mahamuni - Maha - the great, Muni - the sage. Here it is used for Buddha. Out of hundreds of synonyms for Buddha, Munidu, is a key name used for Buddha in Sinhala language. 

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com) 

Read More