The 'Mahavamsa', a Buddhist literary work, was originally written in which of the following languages?

The correct answer is Pali.

Key Points

• The Mahavamsa is an ancient Buddhist literary work written in the Pali language.
• The term Mahavamsa translates to “Great Chronicle” and primarily documents the history of Sri Lanka, covering the period from the arrival of Buddhism to the island.
• The text provides a detailed account of political, religious, and cultural events of ancient Sri Lanka.
• The Mahavamsa was composed by Buddhist monks, including Mahanama Thera, around the 5th century CE.
• Pali is a language closely associated with Buddhism and is used in the Theravada Buddhist canon (Tipitaka).
• The Mahavamsa is considered an epic chronicle and is divided into several chapters, each focusing on significant rulers and events, such as the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa and the arrival of the sacred Bodhi tree.
• It serves as an important source for understanding the spread of Buddhism and the history of ancient civilizations in South Asia.
• The Mahavamsa is still referenced in contemporary studies of Buddhist history, archaeology, and Sri Lankan culture.

 Additional Information

• Chinese
  • The Chinese language is associated with numerous Buddhist texts, particularly those translated by Chinese monks during the spread of Buddhism to China.
  • Famous Buddhist scriptures like the Lotus Sutra and Diamond Sutra were translated into Chinese from Sanskrit.
  • China became a major center for Mahayana Buddhism, but the Mahavamsa is not originally written in Chinese.
• Tibetan
  • The Tibetan language is known for its extensive translations of Buddhist texts, particularly those related to Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism.
  • The Tibetan Buddhist canon consists of two parts: the Kangyur (translated words of the Buddha) and the Tengyur (commentaries).
  • The Mahavamsa, however, is not part of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and was not written in Tibetan.
• Prakrit
  • Prakrit languages were commonly used in ancient India for literary and religious works, especially by Jains.
  • While Prakrit contributed significantly to early Indian literature, the Mahavamsa was composed in Pali, which is a closely related but distinct language.