Media type Print | Originally published 1415 | |
Subject Dhamma (dharma) controversies | ||
The Saddharmarathnakaraya, Pali: Saddhammarathnákara and Sinhalese: සද්ධර්මරත්නාකරය is a historical Sinhala Buddhist religious text compendium and was compiled as an explanation to a Pali: páli anthology by Ven. Dhammadinnáchárya Vimalakiththi, who was well known as a talented pupil of Ven. Dharmakeerthi Sangharája at the Monastery of Palábaddala while Parakramabahu VI of Kotte was ruling the Kingdom of Kotte in the 15th century.
Contents
The name Saddharmarathnakaraya is a compound formed of Sadt (Noble), Dharma (Teachings of the lord Buddha), Rathna (Gems) and Ákara (Lode). Hence, it simply means that The lode of gems-like noble Dharma.
Affected base of era
The era in which King Parákramabáhu VI (1412–1467)—who was the last native sovereign to unify all of Sri Lanka under one rule—was ruling the Kingdom of Kotte is well known as the golden era of Sinhala poetry. The great poetry collections such as Kavyashekaraya, Panchikapradipikawa of Ven. Sri Rahula, Guththila Kavyaya of Ven. Weththewe, Budugunalankaraya, Loweda Sangarawa of Ven. Vidagama Maithriya, Elushilo shathakaya, and the five Sandesha Kavyayas (messenger poetry) viz. Parevi Sandeshaya, Selalihini Sandeshaya, Gira Sandeshaya, Hansa Sandeshaya, and Kokila sandeshaya were compiled in this era. Saddharmarathnakaraya is the only work created fully in the Kotte era. It is considered the last link in a chain of great literary work, including Amawathura, Buthsarana, Saddharmarathnawaliya, Pujawaliya, and Saddharmalankaraya.
It is believed that this book had been used as a reference for Sri saddharmawawada sangrahaya, Sarartha Sangrahaya of the Mahanuwara era.
Structure
It consists of eight (08) Sangraha Kathá, Pali: සංග්රහ කථා - compendiums of controversy and twenty eight (28) more points of controversy as follow.
Reasons for compiling the book
As mentioned above, Ven. Dammadinnacharya Wimalakiththi was a faithful pupil of Ven. Dharmakeerthi Sangharaja who was the author of a range of excellent scripture namely Saddharmalankaraya, Sinhalese: සද්ධරමාලංකාරය, Jina Bodhawaliya, Sinhalese: ජින බෝධාවලිය, Shasanawatharaya, Sinhalese: ශාසනාවතාරය , Balawatharaya, Sinhalese: බාලාවතාරය and Sankshepa SannayaSinhalese: සංක්ෂේප සන්නය of Gampola era. Having a mastering knowledge of Nidhanasthana, Sinhalese: නිධානස්ථාන (Treasuries of consistence), Prabhawasthana, Sinhalese: ප්රභවස්ථාන (Origins of consistence) and Upanishrayasthana, Sinhalese: උපනිශ්රයස්ථාන (Applicable facts of consistence) of Dhamma, the author has anxious to compile the book with the will, to achieve his ambition to exceed the Samsara at present of Maithri Sammasambuddha, housed in his deep mind.
He reveals it at the end of Prakeernaka Sangraha Katha saying, " Accepting respectfully the order of our lord in his supremacy and ultimate kindness, Bhasaye jothaye Dhammang, Pali: "භාසයේ ජෝතයේ ධම්මං" the bright Dhamma and even if it is absolutely hard to find such rare higherst excellencies (Buddhas), super-masteres in preaching Dhamma in a manner of so called diversity and a noble accent, I am, as a disciple of lord Buddha, hereby so pleased to expound the blessed Dhamma in 'Hela Basa' (the ancient figure of Sinhala) to those who are unable to do due to their incapacity and lack of wealth but filled with Shraddha enough to respond and do favour for the household..."
The other reason, according to Ven. Dhammadinnacharya Vimalakiththi, the author of the book, Saddharmarathnakaraya was a request of Ven. Wickramabahu Maha Sthavira and the Upasaka Weerasundara Kumara (a disciple of the author).