The aim of this thesis is to analytically study the MahavamÚsa, its value and influence.
From the study, It is found that The MahavamÚsa has collected the details from the Buddhist Scriptures, The texts and the stories such as the DIpavamÚsa and Sri Lanka geneology etc. Most of the verses are of PatÚhyAvatta. The form of composition is of 19 kinds :- namely, PatÚhyAvatta,Vasantatilaka, SaddharA, Indaravajira, Upenadaravajira, IndaravamÚsa, VamÚsatÚtÚha, Opacchandasaka, UpajAti (Kitti, MAlA, AddA, BhaddA, RAmA, Iddhi, and Buddhi), MAlinI, TotÚaka, MandakkantA, MattamayUra, pahassinI, RujirA, vessadevI, saddUlavikkIlÚita, dodhaka, aparavatta. Then, from the Grammartical appearance, it is found that the first part composed by Venerable MahAnAma use Pali Grammartical rules strictly, but the later parts especially in King ParakkamapAhu I’s period might recieve the influence from Sanskrit Grammar. The MahAvamÚsa consists of the embellishment (alaJkAra) and the substance embellishments according to the favor at the age which corresponded to the SubhodhAlaJkAra which composed in nearby period. In which there was the way of using and laying down the new words about the name of person and place that in PAli by copying the old sound or using PAli word built by the translation from the meaning of old words, together with the Pali words, other words written in Pali language.
The MahAvamÚsa is valuable in the matter of literature, society, history, politics, administration, mindfulness and wisdom. Moreover the MahAvamÚsa is influential to many Pali Literary Scriptures written in Thailand such as the JinakAlamAlIpakaranÚa, the CakkavAlÚadIpanI, the MaJgalatthadIpanI, the SaJgItiyavamÚsa, and the PatÚhamasambodhi. The most influential parts are propagations of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The influence of the MahAvamÚsa to the Thai tradition is the influential to VisAkhapUjA and ÃsAlÚhapUjA Day, Paritta and Abhidhamma chanting festival, the ceremony of worshipping the stupa and worshipping the Buddha’s footprint. Regarding the influence of the MahAvamÚsa to Thai tradition, it is found that it has influence to many temple in Thai architecture such as Wat PothArAm or Wat Jetyod, Wat Changlom, Wat Maheyong, and Wat MahAthat. Then, the Thai sculpture gets the influence from creating the Buddha Image especially in the Buddhist century 16-20. Regarding the Thai painting, there is the influence of planting about the Buddha’s biography, especially the establishment of the wall painting.
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