Compare and contrast Mahavajsa and Dipavajsa

Mahavajsa is the chronicle that explains about the Buddhas visit to Sri Lanka, the
bringing of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda Thera, the arrival of Savghamitta and thereafter
up to the King Mahasenas reign for the history of Sri Lanka.
he pre!Buddhist of Sri Lanka is dealt "ith. #t also explains the councils that took place in
India. Dipavajsa also explains the same facts, although both chronicles "ith regards to the topics
included about the history of Sri Lanka and #ndia. here are differences of both chronicles.
$ipavajsa "as the first chronicle. #t "as "ritten "ith the help of Sinhalatthakatha,
various historical records in the monastery have been useful to "rite $ipavajsa. $ipavajsa is not a
fully complete chronicle like Mahavajsa. #t had not been revised and early stan%as "ere &ust
included. Some even believe that Mahavajsa is a commentary "ritten on $ipavajsa. King
Dhatusena, after performing the festival of Mahinda, had ordered to recite the stan%as of
$ipavajsa. 'ccording to Oldenberg, during the period of King Dhatusena, he had asked the
monks to "rite an interpretation to $ipavajsa, some believe that Mahavajsa "as an outcome of
this re(uest. But Mahavajsa never mentions that such a re(uest "as made. )o"ever, there are
close similarities bet"een these t"o chronicles "ith the reference to the contents. 'lthough there
are drawbacks in the $ipavajsa, it includes historical essence. *ne must read the $ipavajsa very
carefully and extracts the essence from it "hereas in the Mahavajsa texts are very clear.
D ipava jsa outstanding characteristics
#t is based on pali!atthakathas, there are many authors, they are supposed to be nuns. hey
"ere "ritten from time to time "ith addition. he language "as dull diction and they are
repetitive.
Mah a va jsa outstanding Characteristics
Mahavajsa "as based on Sinhalatthakatha. he language is lucid, it has the style of
ancient pali texts. Some believe that since ing Dhatusena published $ipavajsa, Mahavajsa "as
"ritten according to his re(uest. Mahavajsa "as "ritten by Thera Mahanama of Mahavihara.
here are similarities of Buddhist chronicles, sometimes "ord to "ord "ith reference to sub!ect
matter, there are similarities because both include m"ths# legends# religions# social# and political
facts$
'lthough facts are similar, there are differences in numeral figures and facts.
Dipavajsa Mahavajsa
+. he Buddha sitting under the Bodhi!tree,
thought about his future preaching
+. Mahavajsa does not menton
,. $ipavajsa does not mention about placing his
footprint at Samantakutha
,. #t mentions this fact
-. $ipavajsa mentions the Mahasammanta
tradition but names of kings different from
Mahavajsa
-. .ames of kings Mahasammata
tradition is given but names are
different from $apavajsa
/. he coming of ing %i!a"a. 0iving briefly1 /. he coming of %i!a"a explains "ell
2. $ipavajsa mentions about the king of
&andukabha"a, but do not give places
"here he entered into "ar
2. 'll the places of "arfare are given
3. 'dvent of Mahinda hera explains "ell 3. 4
5. Briefly explains accepting Mahavihara and
bringing in the 'odhi(tree and relics
5. hese are explained in detail
6. )* stan%as for Dutthagamini 6. Mahavajsa has many chapters for
Dutthagamini
7. Mentions about Mahasanghikas 7. More details about Mahasavghikas
+8. $escribes about Mahasena in brief +8. $escribes in detail about the king
Mahasena did to Mahavihara
++. Sena and 0uttika ruled for )+ years ++. Mahavajsa records that they 9Sena and
0uttika: ruled for ++ years
+,. ;asalalaka!tissa ruled for * years +,. #n the Mahavajsa, he 9i.e. ;asalalaka!
tissa: ruled for , years
+-. King 'bhaya ruled for ++ years +-. King 'bhaya ruled for * years
+/. 'fter king 'bhaya, king issa ruled +/. 'fter King issa, king 'bhaya ruled
the country