for students of BA V Sem BHU

1. BA V Sem
BHU
Introduction & Expansion of
Buddhism in Sri Lanka
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

2. Introduction
• Known as Tamraparni, Simhala
• Indian price Vijaysimha defeated the natives and established first
Indian colonies
• His successor Devanpiyen Tissa was a contemporary of Ashoka.
• Buddhism entered Sri Lanka in the reign of King Tissa.

3. Introduction of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
• Tissa sent his messenger under the leadership of his nephew Mahaarittha
along with gifts to the court of Ashoka.
• Ashoka sent back a message to Tissa stating his faith in Buddha-Dhamma-
Samgha and advised Tissa to do the same.
• In Third Buddhist Council in India, it was decided to sent missionaries to
various parts for propagation of Buddhism.
• Ashoka’s son Mahendra sent to Sri Lanka along with Itthiya, Uttiya, Sambal,
Bhaddasaal.
• Tissa met Mahendra.
• After listening to his sermon, Tissa along with 40000 common folks accepted
Buddhism.
• Hinayana Buddhism.

4. Introduction Of Buddhism In Sri Lanka
• Princess Anula also wanted to join Buddhist Samgha.
• Mahindra revealed his inability to do so.
• He advised her to write to Princess Samghamitra in Patiliputra.
• Tissa once again sent his messenger in leadership of his nephew
Mahaarittha to bring Samghamitra and also the branch of revered
Bodhi Tree.
• Even today this tree stands in Anuradhpur.
• Tissa constructed a monastery for Samghamitra and called it Upasika
Vihar.
• Princess Anula along with 1000 royal ladies took Pravajya.
• Mahendra & Sanghmitra preached the main precepts of Buddhism in
till their death.

5. Expansion of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
Vis-a-vis
Reign of various kings

6. King Duratthagaamani
• Made Ratnamaalya Chaitya

7. King Vattamaamani (29-17 BCE):
• Need to preserve Buddha’s sermon felt on account of threat of attacks & famine
during his reign.
• Tripitakas were written down in Pali in his reign.
• Also constructed Vihara Abhaygiri for Bhikkhu Tissa.
• Tissa expelled from Abhaygiri. But continued residing there along with his
disciples.
• Met Acharya Dharmaruchi’s disciples from India who were followers of Vajjputta
sect of Buddhism.
• Bhikkhu Tissa under their influence established a new sect – DHARAMRUCHI
NIKAY (Mahayana).
• They held Vaipulyapitaka as their sacred text & rejected Tripitakas.
• Growing tensions between Hinayani Mahavihar & Mahayani Dharmaruchi
• Violent struggle.

8. Hinayani Mahavihar
Vs.
Mahayani Dharmaruchi

9. King Voharika Tissa (269-261 BCE)
• Under the influence of Hinayani Mahavihara, tried to supress
Dharmaruchi sect.
• Successful to subdue it but only for time being.
• Some time later, Dharmaruchi managed to regain its hold.
• In retaliation, they started to preach against Hinayani Mahavihara.

10. King Gothamaya ( 309-322 CE)
• Sided with Hinayani Mahavihar and declared Dharmaruchi sect in contempt
of law.
• Forced 60 sthavirs to leave the country.
• They went to south India & recited their woeful tale of harassment at the
hands of king Gothamaya.
• Sanghamitra, a Buddhist scholar decided to visit Sri Lanka and convince the
king to fix the differences.
• King Gothamaya impressed by him & appointed him as teacher for his 2
sons- Jyeshtha Tissa & Mahasena.
• Later, Mahasena became a disciple of Samghamitra .

11. King Mahasena (333 CE)
• Under the influence of Samghamitra, he ordered Mahavihara to accept
Dharmaruchi sect.
• When they objected & disagreed, he unleashed various atrocities on
them.
• Sized the property of Mahavihar & donated the same to Dharmaruchi.
• Violent struggle for quite some time.

12. Turning point: 6th – 7th cent CE
• 6th cent CE: Monk Jyotipal from India went to Sri Lanka to work upon
the so called defects of Dharmaruchi sect.
• 598 CE: Mahayana Monks of Abhaygiri accepted the sovereignty of
Hinayani Mahavihara and started observing & following their rules.
• Finally a peaceful co-existence after centuries of conflict between the
two sects.

13. Rise of Vajrayana in Srilanka: 7th – 9th cent CE
• Period of rise of Vajrayana Buddhism in India.
• Growth in tantric practises.
• Mysterious-Secretive rituals.
• Mahavihar succumbed to the growing influence of Vajrayana.
• Vajrayana manuscripts (8th -9th cent CE) recovered from Mahavihar.

14. Threat of foreign attacks: 9th cent CE onwards
• Period of constant inference of Indian dynasties- Chola-Pandya.
• 9th cent CE: Pandya king Srimaar Srivallabha attacked and defeated king Sen
Sheelamedha of Lanka.
• His armies destroyed viharas in Anuradhapur.
• Took away the gold statutes of Buddha and other valuables back to India.
• King Sen II (844-879 CE), S/O Sen Sheelamedha, brought them back after defeating
Pandyas.
• Parantaka I (907-953 CE), Rajendra I (1014-1044 CE): Destroyed viharas in their
attack on Lanka

15. Rajaraja I Chola: Imperialistic campaign: Srilanka
• c.981 CE: Mahendra V king of Sri Lanka faced internal conflicts: fled
his capital.
• Tiruvalangadu copper plates: Mighty Chola naval force crossed the
sea & destroyed the power of Sri Lankan king.
• Tirumagal inscription: Verifies.
• Brihadishwar temple inscriptions: Rajaraja I gave several villages in
Sri Lanka in grant for Brihadeshwar temple.
• Northern Sri Lanka became a part of Chola kingdom.
• Northern Sri Lanka renamed as Maamundisholamandalam.
• Rajaraja I made Polonnaruva as his capital and constructed many
temples there.
• Mahavamsa: doesn’t refer to this victory.

16. Rajaraja I’s coins from Sri
Lanka

17. Rajendra I Chola: Imperialistic campaign: Sri Lanka
• Mahavamsa: Rajendra’s attack in 36th regnal year of Mahendra V = 1018 CE.
• Complete success.
• Karandai copper plate: Rajendra snatched the crown of Sri Lankan king and queens +
crown of Pandya king.
• Chola armies destroyed Buddhist viharas in Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka became a province of Chola kingdom.
• Rajendra Chola constructed many temples near Polonnurva in Sri Lanka.
• Defeated Sri Lankan king sought shelter in Tanjore :Resided for 12 years.
• After death of his father, Kassap, S/O Mahendra V, took back Rohan province from Cholas

18. MVKS & Srilanka
• Mahavamsha: Attacked Sri Lanka at time of drought
• Sri Lankan king = Bhuvanaikka Bahu I
• Victorious campaign: Recovered lot of wealth
• Destroyed the city of Shubhagiri
• Carried away to the Pandya country the venerable Tooth Relic
from Shubhagiri
• By diplomacy next Simhal king (S/O Bhuvanaikka Bahu) took back
Buddha’s tooth
• Sri Lanka remained under Pandya control till c. 1308-09 CE

19. Revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
• Buddhism had suffered greatly due to continuous foreign attacks.
• Viharas were destroyed, their wealth and precious possessions were looted.
• Lots of Bhikkus were either killed or migrated.
• Regained independence and re-established Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
• King Vijaybahu Srisamghabodhi (1055-1110 CE) requested king of Burma to
send Buddhist monks to Sri Lanka to revive the Buddhist ethos & creed.
• Monks from Burma ordained monks into Buddhism.
• King Parakramabahu (1153-1187 CE): built many stupas & viharas.
• He established the influence of Mahavihara sect.
• Issued many royal decrees for rules of ordination in Buddhism & upkeep of
monasteries.
• Many Buddhist commentaries were written during his reign.

20. Concluding remarks
• History of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is not a peaceful one.
• It is in fact closely entangled with political and sectarian developments.
• Buddhism faced a lot of struggle for establishment of sects in Sri Lanka.
• Peaceful co-existence of Hinayana and Mahayana sects was difficult to
achieve initially.
• Continuous threat of attack & destruction of Buddhist institutions at the
hands of foreign invaders.
• Nevertheless, Buddhism never left its hold in Sri Lanka.
• Gave to world a well documented history of development of Buddhism in
Sri Lanka in form of rich literature.
• Enriched Buddhist canonical texts by contributing to it.