About the Book The text gives us an outline of Buddha's life and briefly deals with the three Buddhist Council held during the reigns of the three In bandings, Ajatasattu, Kilisoka and-Asoka. After the third Council was over, Buddhist missionaries were end to different countries by Moggaliputta T" for the propagation of the Buddhist faith. Of the nine regions visited by the missionaries as mentioned by the author, five are placed in Indo-China. Moggaliputta Tisa sent two separate missionary to neighboring regions in the valley of the Irrawaddy, besides three others who visited Laos and Pegu. It seems that he took special care for the religions future of Maramma (Burma proper). During the reign of the Sinhalese king Devanampiyatisya who was a contemporary of king Asoka, the Elder Mahindra was sent to Ceylon for the same purpose. SOla and Uttara visited Suvannabhami (Sudhammapura, i.e., That on at the month of the Sitting River). The author holds that even before the missionaries were sent to Suvanalajlmi Buddha came there personally to preach his doctrine. Mahanagar katha There spread Buddhism in the country extending along the valleys of the Me name and Me-ping rivers and including the Shan States to the north of them. The country of Vanavasior the region round Proem was visited by the Elder Y onakarakkhita who propagated Buddhism there. Kasmira and Gandhi were visited by Majhantika, and the whole country became a Buddhist stronghold. Buddhism found its way into Mahanagar grantham through Mahira there. Mahanagar grantham there Mahanagar there spread the Buddhist faith in Mahanagar (mahanagar grantham or Siam) and Cinara (there Himavantapadesa of the Ceylon books). Similarly Buddhism was propagated in Aparantarattha which is no other than the Suniparanta of the Burmese, i.e., the region lying west of the upper Irrawaddy. The author's horizon seems to be limited, first by an orthodox desire to claim most of the early teachers for the southern countries and hence to prove the p possible sources for the south doctrines, and secondly by a certain feeling of national pride. The Sasananavarpsa has not yet been translated. An English translation of this important text is a great necessity, and I am glad that I have now removed this long-felt want. I had to experience great difficulty in translating it as the text is so very corrupt. I am confident that this translation will be of some use to students and scholars interested in Pali Buddha current in Burma.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
