The document discusses the Atthakathacariyas, who composed the early Pali commentaries. It describes how Buddhaghosa built upon their work in the 5th century CE when compiling his famous commentaries. It also mentions other important commentators like Dhammapala, Upasena, and Buddhadatta who further expanded on the commentarial tradition in Sri Lanka. Overall, the document provides historical context about the authors and development of the Pali commentarial literature.

1. Lec. 6 The explanation
of Tipitaka in brief by
Atthakathacariya,
Dr. Jutamas Vareesangthip

2. Atthakathācariyā
• Atthakathācariyā.-Composers (?) of
the Commentaries. They lived prior
to Buddhaghosa, because he refers
to them.

3. Atthakathācariyā
• Buddhaghosa makes use of several other
authorities which show a close connection
with the atthakatha. In fact, it is quite
possible that some of them were found
incorporated in the Sinhala commentaries.
The various authorities cited are a clue to
the philosophical and literary activity of
the time and it would have been only
surprising if the commentaries had
remained static.

4. Atthakathācariyā
• Two terms closely connected with
atthakatha were atthakathika and
atthakathacariya. “Those who studied
and handed down the atthakatha were
known as the atthakathikas. By the
other term were generally understood
the teachers (acariya), responsible for
the compilation of the atthakatha.

5. Atthakathācariyā
• Buddhaghosa holds the atthakathacariyas
in high esteem and says that they knew
the intentions of the Buddha and that,
therefore, their word should he taken as
authority”. The views of these
atthakathacariyas are scattered
throughout the commentaries.
Quotations from them are given, often in
prose and sometimes in verse.

6. Atthakathācariyā
• The opinion of the acariyas is also
sometimes quoted. This referred to the
opinion of great teachers like
Mahapaduma. The authority of
Acariyanam samanatthakatha (similar
expositions of the teachers) is often
cited as opposed to the views of the
Vitandavadins (unorthodox sectarians).

7. Atthakathācariyā
• The commentaries contain numerous
quotations from the porana (ancients), most
often in verse but sometimes in prose, which
for the most part are introduced with words
tenahu porana, ’therefore the ancients say.’
The frequency of these quotations and the
manner in which they are introduced show
that they formed a very important and
authoritative source of the commentaries on
all the three Pitakas.

8. Atthakathācariyā
• It is not known whether Buddhaghosa found
them already included in the Sinhala
commentaries. Closely associated with the
porana were the poranacariya and the
pubbacariya whose views are also contained
in the Pali commentaries. There were also
the poranakatthera whose opinions are
regarded with less authority than the
foregoing.

9. Atthakathācariyā
• The relationship between these has not
been definitely established and various
views have been expressed. Some have
identified the porana with the
poranatthakatha while others do not agree
with this. [See Oldenberg, Dipavamsa intr.; Geiger,
Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa; Law, Life and Work of
Buddhaghosa—Foreword; Malalasekera, Pali
Literature of Ceylon, p. 92; Vamsatthappakasini—
Intr. pp. lxi f.; Adikaram op. cit. pp. 16-22]

10. Atthakathācariyā
• The Pali commentaries have also made fairly
wide use of the traditions handed down by
the bhanaka (’the reciters’). Differences in
views between the different bhanakas have
been recorded. As in the case of the
quotations from the porana it is not known
whether the views of the bhanakas were
already found in the Sinhala commentaries
or, alternatively, in what form they were
available.

11. Atthakathācariyā
• There are also references to the different
views held by the vinayadharas and the
suttantikas. The view of the abhidhammikas
is also recorded. The derivation of words by
the akkharacintakas, the grammarians, is
given with the alternative derivation of the
atthakathacariyas.

12. Atthakathācariyā
• ’Monks living beyond the sea’
(parasamuddavasi), presumably Indian, have also
had their share of contribution to religious
discussion. Their views are recorded in the
Papañcasudani. Apart from these opinions of
groups of monks and teachers, the individual
views of certain eminent bhikkhus, who had a
specialised knowledge of the canon, have also
found their way into the commentaries. They
were, undoubtedly, greatly respected bhikkhus,
for their views to have assumed such importance.

13. Atthakathācariyā
• Among the individual opinions recorded
are those of Dighabhanaka Tipitaka
Mahasiva, Tipitaka Culabhaya, Tipitaka
Culanaga, Tipitaka Maha-
Dhammarakkhita, Moravapivasi
Mahadatta and Mahasiva thera.

14. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• The word 'Atthakatha' derives from the
two words of Attha (meaning of a
particular subject) and Katha (explanation
or expression of it). Therefore, Atthakatha
means the explanation of the meaning of a
particular subject. The word 'Tika' means
some more detailed explanation on some
part of the commentary.

15. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• At the time of the Buddha, there were
sixteen states in India. Magadha was
one of the largest and the most
populous. The most common language
was then Magadhi. The Gotama Buddha
used the Magadhi language for his
teaching, instead of his own Sakyan
language.

16. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Throughout 2550 years of the journey
of Buddhism, the teachings of the
Buddha were taught in Magadha, thus
preserving the
language, Magadhi, honoured as 'Pali'
teachings of the Buddha.

17. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• There are many sources found in the
Pali Cannon (Tipitaka) that the Buddha
made commentaries when he gave his
teachings.

18. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In his very first sermon called
'Dhammacakkapavattana-sutta' of Suttanta-
pitaka (the Basket of Discourses), the
Buddha briefly taught 'jatipi dukkha' (birth
is suffering), but in the discourse of
'Mahasatipatthana-sutta', he gave a
detailed explanation of the word 'jati' as
‘jāti sañjāti okkanti abhinibbatti khandhānaṃ
pātubhāvo āyatanānaṃ paṭilābho '[1].

19. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• [1] Birth is the production, the outcome,
the rising up in a new form, the
appearance of the Groups, the
acquisition of sense-spheres, by this or
that being in this or that class of beings.
This is what is called birth.
• Though these words seem to be
synonyms, they describe the hidden
meaning of 'jati' in detail.

20. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In Vinaya pitaka (the Basket of
Disciplines), the Buddha gave very
detailed accounts of the word
'methunadhammo' - as ' asaddhammo
gāmadhammo vasaladhammo
duṭṭhullaṃ odakantikaṃ rahassaṃ
dvayaṃdvayasamāpatti '[2].

21. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• [2] Sexual intercourse means: what is
not verily dhamma, village dhamma,
low-caste dhamma, wickedness, the
final ablution, secrecy, having obtained
in couples: this is called sexual
intercourse.

22. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Also in Abhidhamma pitaka (the
Basket of Utimate Teaching), the
Buddha threw light on the word
'phasso' - as 'phusana samphusana
samphusitattam'[3]

23. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• [3] The contact which on that occasion is
touching, the being brought into
contact, the state of having been
brought into touch with – this is the
contact that there then is.

24. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• on the word 'cittam' - as 'mano
manasam hadayam pandaram
manayatanam manindriyam
vinnanam vinnanakkhandho'[4],

25. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• [4] The thought which on that occasion
is ideation, mind, heart, that which is
clear, ideation as the sphere of mind,
the faculty of mind, intellect, the
khandha of intellect, the appropriate
element of representative intellect – this
is the thought that there then is.

26. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• on the word 'piti' - as 'pamojjam
Amodana pamodana haso pahaso
vitti odagyam attamanata
cittassa'[5], etc.

27. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• [5] The joy which on that occasion is
gladness, rejoicing at, rejoicing over,
mirth and merriment, felicity,
exultation, transport of mind – this
is the joy that there then is.

28. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• By these above references, the
Buddha acted as the pioneer of all
commentators and sub-
commentators on his own
teachings.

29. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Take a look the 'Book of Description'
(Mahaniddesa), which is composed of
sixteen suttas. Fifteen suttas were
expounded by the Buddha and the last
sutta was taught by the Arahant
Sariputta, the chief disciple of the
Buddha. These sixteen suttas are the
original teachings of the Buddha and
Sariputta.

30. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• But the Arahant Sariputta himself
made Niddesa (commentary) on these
teachings. And he also made another
commentary on Parayana-sutta, which
is composed of 173 verses. Therefore,
the Arahant Sariputta can also be
called 'the great commentator'
(atthakathacariya).

31. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• When the Tipitaka reach Sri-Lanka,
monks in Sri-Lanka worked on
commentaries (atthakatha), such as
'Kurundi-atthakatha', 'Mahapaccari-
atthakatha', 'Maha-atthakatha', etc.
But unfortunately the identity of the
authors of those commentaries is
unknown..

32. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In CE-500 (BE-900), the great commentator
named Buddhaghosa lived at Mahavihara
monastery in Anuradha, Sri-Lanka. He wrote
many works with reference to those earlier
commentaries, especially to Maha-ahakatha.
Some scholars say that the works of
Buddhaghosa are the only condensed version
of the earlier commentaries. Buddhaghosa
wrote the following commentaries:

33. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
1. Samantapasadika Atthakatha (Vinaya-
pitaka)
2. Kankhavitarani Atthakatha (Patimokkha)
3. Sumangalavilasini Atthakatha
(Dighanikaya)
4. Papancasudani Atthakatha
(Majjhimanikaya)
5. Saratthapakasani Atthakatha
(Samyuttanikaya)

34. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
6. Manorathapurani Atthakatha (Anguttaranikaya)
7. Atthasalini Atthakatha (Dhammasangani of
Abhidhamma)
8. Sammohavinodani Atthakatha (Vibhanga of
Abhidhamma)
9. Pancapakarana Atthakatha (the rest of
Abhidhamma)
10. Paramatthajotika Atthakatha
(Khuddakapatha, Dhammapada, Suttanipata), and
11. Visuddhimagga Atthakatha.

35. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Not long after the great commentator's
demise, another commentator named
Dhammapala (CE-600) wrote the rest of
commentaries on Khuddakanikaya.
These include Udana, Itivuttaka,
Vimana-vatthu, Peta-vatthu,
Theragatha, Therigatha, Cariyapitaka,
Nettippakarana

36. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• He also wrote the sub-commentaries
on Dighanikaya-atthakatha,
Majjhimanikaya-atthakatha,
Samyuttanikaya-atthakatha,
Visuddhimagga-atthakatha,
Netti-atthakatha and
Jataka-atthakatha.

37. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• The following commentators are also
very well-known in the history of
Buddhism:
1: Mahanama, made commentary on
Patisambhidamagga of the Arahant
Sariputta (early 5th AD),

38. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• 2: Upasena[6] ([6] The 15 suttas of
Mahaniddesa are taught by the Buddha. The
Arahant Sariputta made commentary (niddesa) on
these 15 suttas (uddesa). Therefore, the works of
Upasena on Culaniddesa and Mahaniddesa are not
really commentaries but only sub-commentaries.)
made commentary on Culaniddesa
and Mahaniddesa of the Arahant
Sariputta (later 5th century AD),

39. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• 3: Buddhadatta made commentary on
BuddhavaÑsa, date unknown. (5th
century AD).

40. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• There are also three very well-known
commentaries called 'Sangaha[7]‘([7]
Saratthasangaha-atthakatha in Sinhalese by Siddhattha
thera of Sri-Lanka is translated into Myanmar Pali by
Ashin Kovida of Myanmar, Nay-yin monastery. And
Siddhantakomudi-grammar from India is translated into
Myanmar Pali called 'Saddasangaha' by the Minister, U
Phoe Hlaing.) in the world of Buddhism's
scholars and students. They are as
follows:

41. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• a: Abhidhammattha-sangaha
atthakatha by Anuruddha Thera of Sri-
Lanka,
b: Vinayasangaha atthakatha by
Sariputta Thera of Sri-Lanka (CE 12),
c: Suttasangaha by the unknown
author.

42. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• The above Pitakas were preserved in
Magadhi (Pali) between 6th CE and 10th
CE), and came to Myanmar from Sri-
Lanka. When the Pitaka reached Bagan,
Myanmar and Sri-Lanka became
important anchors in Buddhist social
development along with significant
advances in culture, art, and literature.

43. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• There were often Scholar Exchange
Programs between Myanmar and
Sri-Lanka as the Buddhist
movement moved across Asia..

44. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Between the 8th and 11th century AD,
Pali literature became highly developed
in Bagan. Even kings, ministers,
princesses and princes became well
educated in Pali . The well-known
books, Saddabindu (grammar) written
by the king, Kya-swar, and Than-pyin-
Tika written by the minister, Than-pyin,
were the ideals.

45. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In the middle of 11th century AD, Pali
grammar was highly respected by
scholars and included other works on
Pali grammars and Sanskrit grammars,
called 'Saddaniti', 'dhatumala, padamala
and suttamala'. These were written by
the scholar-monk Aggavamsa in Bagan
(Arimaddana-pura).

46. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In the mid-Innwa period (14th CE), during
the reign of the king Min-khaung, the monk
Ariyavamsa from Sagaing Hills wrote
Manisaramanjusa-Tika in Pali, sub-
commentary on Abhidhamma-pitaka. In the
reign of the king Thar-lon, the monk
Munindaghosa known as Taung-Phi-Lar
Sayadaw (16th CE) from Sagaing Hills wrote
Vinayalankara-Tika in Pali, sub-commentary
on Vinaya-piÔaka.

47. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• And the monk Tejodipa known as Tilokaguru
Sayadaw (17th CE) also wrote Paritta-Tika in
Pali, sub-commentary on eleven parittas of
Suttanta-pitaka.
• During the British Colonial period, the monk
Nyanadhaja, known as Ledi-Sayadaw (1846-
1923), wrote Paramatthadipani-Tika in Pali,
sub-commentary on Abhidhamma.

48. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In his book, he criticized the book
Abhidhammattavibhavini-Tika written by
Sumangalasami from Sri-Lanka and pointed out
325-errors of it. Then, hundreds of books
appeared against Ledi-Sayadaw's comments on
Abhidhammatthavibhavini-Tika. Apart from
Paramatthadipani-Tika, Ledi-Sayadaw also wrote
Nirutti-dipani in Pali, which is condensed from all
other grammars such as Pada-
rupasiddhi, Nayasa, Moggallana, Kaccayana, etc.

49. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• In Amarapura period, there was a book,
which was very well-known in the history
of Pali-literature and which is also a
handy-book for all Pali-scholars today,
named Sadhuvilasini-Silakkhandhavagga-
abhinava-Tika, written by the Samgha-
raja 'Ashin Nyanabhivamsa' from Maung-
htaung village.

50. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• The former book called
Silakkhandhavagga-Tika (porana)
written by Acariya Dhammapala did
not please his query. Therefore, the
Samgha-raja 'Ashin Nyanabhivamsa'
attempted to write new
Silakkhandhavagga-Tika (abhinava).

51. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Ashin Narada (1868-1955), also known as
Mingun Jetawun Sayadaw who was the teacher
(meditation instructor) of Mahasi-Sayadaw,
Ashin Sobhana, wrote Petakopadesa-atthakatha
and Milinda-panha-atthakatha in Pali.
• There is a great scholar monk in Mandalay
named Ashin KumarabhivaÑsa known as
Bamaw Sayadaw. And recently he wrote
Therapadanadipani and Vipassana-
nayapakaranam in Pali.

52. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• Today, Myanmar Pali Universities, Pali
Colleges, and Pali institutions offer a
systematic Pali curriculum in accordance
with thousands of years of monastic
study, and vast resources of Pali
literature, including Pali, Pali-atthakatha,
Pali-Tika, and Pali grammars.

53. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• They offer students three levels, Pali-
primary, Pali-high-school and Pali-
Dhammabhandagarika (Pitaka- master).
The Myanmar government administers the
system through the Ministry of Religious
Affairs and its Cabinet-level Minister. All
examination records, applicants and
degree programs are maintained through
its governing boards.

54. A Brief Introduction to Pali
Commentaries
• It should be noted that though Pali, the language of
Magadha, is related to Sanskrit and Prakrit
languages, it is a unique and commonly used
language with a strong heritage of thousands of
years of study.
With the help of the above references, it can be
easily understood that the Buddha and the Arahant
Sariputta were the great commentators. It also
logically follows that Buddhaghosa, Dhammapala,
Buddhadatta, etc., were the great sub-
commentators.