The Dipavamsa

The Dipavamsa is an ancient Buddhist historical record, written in the Pali language, which recounts the early history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The book is authored by Hermann Oldenberg, a German Indologist who translated and commented on many Buddhist texts. The Dipavamsa is considered one of the earliest sources of Sri Lankan history, dating back to the 4th century BCE. It covers the period from the arrival of the Buddha's disciple Mahinda in Sri Lanka to the reign of King Mahasena in the 3rd century CE. The book provides a detailed account of the spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the establishment of the Sangha (the community of Buddhist monks) on the island. Oldenberg's translation of the Dipavamsa includes extensive annotations and commentary, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context of the text. The book is an important resource for scholars of Buddhism and South Asian history, as well as anyone interested in the early history of Sri Lanka.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.