Ancient Indian Literature, their Period and Historical importance . Part -8, BUDDHIST BOOKS (GRANTH).

                                                Buddha Bronze statue 8 - 12 century, Bihar.

2. Sutta Pitaka – 

In Bodhdharma the meaning of ‘Suttapitaka’ is Preaching or Recital of Dharma (Religion).

In this way ‘Suttapitaka’ is the set of preaches.

Through ‘Suttapitaka’ one can define the border of ‘Bodhdharma’. 

This book is divided into these 5 books and their sub parts– 

(1). Digha Nikaya – Its Suita’s are bigger then Suita’s of other Nikaya. Some Sukta are in Prose and some are in mixed form of Prose - Poetry. Most of the Sukta are rendered and related with ‘Theory and Good conduct’ of Bodhdharma, Confound of other Dharma are rebutted or contradicted.

“Mahaparinibban Sutta” is the Sub part of Digha Nikaya. Mahaparinibban Sutta is the most famous and popular Sutta of this ‘Digha Nikaya’.

In it one can get the last day’s story of ‘Great Soul Buddha’ or ‘Lord Buddha’. Subject, style of writing and language say’s that this is not the work of one person and one period. It’s a collective work of many people in a long time.  

(2). Majhim Nikaya – Sutta of this Nikaya is neither big nor small. They are medium in size. In it too there are lectures, talks and storyline on different theories of Bodhdharma. At some places Buddha is projected as Human being. But most of the places Buddha is projected as a God, empowered with divine power. This indicates that different parts of ‘Majhim Nikaya’ are written in different time frame by different people. 

(3). Sanukta Nikaya – It’s a set of one type of Sukta. In it one can get many Sukta on one subject. So this Nikaya is known as ‘Sanukta Nikaya’. In each Sanukta one can find one God, Hero or one subject. In this Nikaya too, mixed style – Prose and poetry is used. The subjects are versatile too. At some places subjects are related with Buddha, at other places God and Goddess and of different world of universe and out of universe.

(4). Angutarra Nikaya – Its sutta are in 11 Particles (Nipata). In all 11 Nipata things related with there is described, 1 to 11 are the numbers in this Nikaya. It is organised on the base of numbers.

Ex. - In 3^rd Nipata there are things related with number 3. As at one place Buddha says 3 things work secretly – Women, Mantra of Brahmin and Illusory or Pseudo Principles (Mithya Sidhant). 

The whole 3^rd Nipata is based on number 3. 

(5). KhuddakNikaya – Small books are compiled in it. These books are complete and free from each other. In subject, style and language they are different from each other. 

These are - KhuddakaPatha, DhammaPad, Udan, Itivritaka, SuttaNipata, VimanVatthu, PetVatthu, TherGatha, TheriGatha and Jataka.

Other books on KhuddakNikaya are – Niddesh, PatiSamidaMagga, Apdan, BuddhaVansa and CharyaPitaka.

3. Abhidhamma Pitaka – The meaning of ‘Abhi’ is Highest (Ucchatara). The subject of this Pitaka is Dharma but its analysis is on a different highest level. There is philosophy in this analysis. 

Its parts are – DhammaSangini, Vibhanga, DhatuKatha, PuggalPanjati and KathaVatthu. Kathavatthu is the most important part of this Pitaka. It is said that ‘MogaliPuttaTisya’ compiled this Pitaka during 3^rd Bodh Sangiti of ‘Patliputra’. It seems appendix was being added time to time.

Other books in Pali are – Milinda Panho, Deepvansa and Mahavansa.

Milinda Panho –In this book there are talks in between Indo – Greek ruler Milind (Minandar) and Bodh Monk Nagasena.  Milinda is a man of religious nature.  He wanted to clear his doubts. In his search he got into contact with Nagasena. This book is all about his doubts and Nagasena answers.  After the death of Minandar the Greek rule ended in India, but this book make a memory of Minandar or Milinda.

Deepvansa – In this book there is history of ‘Sinhala deepa’ (Sri Lanka).This book is based on extinct book “Attha Kathao”.  This book is not considered a historical book. It’s full of stories and with exaggerated matters. This book is written in 4^th – 5^th AD. This book is in Poetry form.

Mahavansa – Another book on Sinhala (Sri Lanka) is Mahavansa.  This book is written by ‘Mahanama’ in 5^th century. Style of poetry writing is better than ‘Deepvansa’. Its subject is vivid and range is wide. It is also full of stories and with exaggerated matters. But we have not to forget that we got special knowledge and details about Emperor Chandragupta from these Sinhla books.

There are some books with Comments (Tika, Bhasya).

 They are – 

a. Sumangal – Vilasani, b. Samant – Pasadika and c. Mahavansa Tika etc.

In Sanskrit Buddhist Books – 

Most books are of Mahayana but some books are of Hinayana too.

a. Mahavastu – (This book is not in pure Sanskrit).  

b. In pure Sanskrit – “Lalitvistar” means For Buddha (Mahayana) and  Manjusri MulaKalpa.

Books of Asvaghosa on Buddha – “Buddha Charitra” and “Saundrananda – Kavya”

Avdan Sahitya – Avdan means – (Satkarma) Good work or work of Bravery (Virochit karma). Famous in this category is “Divyavadana”.