Dipavamsa, Dīpavaṃsa, Dipavamsha, Dīpavaṃśa, Dīpavamsa: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Dipavamsa means something in Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The oldest extant Pali Chronicle of Ceylon. Like the Mahavamsa, it was based on the Atthakatha handed down in the Mahavihara of Ceylon. It gives the impression not of an evenly worked out whole, but rather of a stringing together of fragments, a composition of whole lines, sometimes whole stanzas, borrowed from the Atthakatha. It is generally agreed that the Dipavamsa assumed its present form about the fourth century A.C. It is stated (Cv.xxxviii.59) that Dhatusena made endowments for the regular recital of the Dipavamsa.

The work was edited and published by Oldenberg in 1879. For details see Geiger: Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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India history and geography

Source: academia.edu: The Chronological History of Ancient Sri Lanka

Buddhaghosa refers to Dipavamsa in his treatise “Samantapasadika”. Mahavamsa tells us that King Dhatusena ordered the Dipavamsa to be recited in public at an annual festival held in honour of an image of Mahinda. Evidently, Dipavamsa was written before the arrival of Buddhaghosa in Sri Lanka in 835 BCE and after the death of Mahasena (921-920 BCE). The author of Dipavamsa is not known.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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