[INDOLOGY] Buddha's visit to Lanka

[Bradley Clough]

The same Sri Lankan chronicles that talk about the Buddha’s visit to Sri
Lanka would be the main primary sources about Mahinda’s transmission of the
Dharma/Dhamma there. And it must be added that these sources also say that
Ashoka’s daughter, the nun Sanghamitta, was part of that mission, with her
establishing a bhikkunis order just as monk Mahinda established one of
bhikkhus.

Additionally, this is not “proof” either, but regarding the Buddha’s
alleged visit, many Buddhists believe that the tallest peak in Sri Lanka
bears the footprint of his Lankavatara or “descent onto Lanka” (as in the
name of the scripture Matthew mentioned). Hence this mountain is known as
Sri Pada or “Sacred Footprint”. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many Christians
maintain that the dent in the rock is not Buddha’s but Adam’s footprint
(hence the mountain’s well-known English name), Adam’s Peak), many Hindus
believe it Vishnu’s, and if memory serves, many Muslims say it is that of
some Sufi saint.

Brad Clough




On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 11:48 AM alakendu das via INDOLOGY <
indology at list.indology.info> wrote:

> Thanks everybody for enlightening me on the topic.. However,it would be
> interesting to find out the point raised by Prof.Jonathan Silk.
>
> Alakendu Das.
>
>
> Sent from RediffmailNG on Android
>
>
>
>
> From: Jonathan Silk <kauzeya at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 22:34:40 GMT+0530
> To: Matthew Kapstein <mkapstei at uchicago.edu>
> Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Buddha's visit to Lanka
>
> Perhaps equally relevant is the foundational idea that Buddhism was
> transmitted to the island by Mahinda, son of the emperor Asoka. Much has
> been written about this, some of it useful.
>
> J Silk
>
> On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 3:27 PM Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY <
> indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
>
> Dear Alakendu Das,
>
> There is no "proof" of this, but it is certainly a very old and widespread
> tradition.
> The important Mahāyāna scripture, the Laṅkāvatārasūtra, which dates in its
> present form to about the early fifth century C.E.,
> is in part based on this tradition, for example, and therefore shows that
> it must have been current before this time.
>
> Perhaps the rapid and successful implantation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
> encouraged the development and acceptance of the legend.
>
> Matthew Kapstein
> Directeur d'études, émérite
> Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris
>
> Numata Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies,
> The University of Chicago
> ------------------------------
> *From:* INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info> on behalf of
> alakendu das via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info>
> *Sent:* Sunday, July 12, 2020 8:20 AM
> *To:* indology <indology at list.indology.info>
> *Subject:* [INDOLOGY] Buddha's visit to Lanka
>
> Respected Scholars,
> I had posted this query in the past
> .May I be excused to raise it once again , as I haven't got any answer to
> it.
> I quote from "Dipavamsa" the oldest Pali Chronicle , from Sri Lanka,which
> goes as follows-
>
> "DipAgamanam Buddhassa Dhatu ca Bodhiyagamam"
> I would like to stress on the word"DipAgamanam Buddhassa"
>
> My question is whether any evidence exists which goes on to prove that
> Siddharth Gautam Buddha  visited Sri Lanka?
>
> Alakendu Das.
>
>
>
> Sent from RediffmailNG on Android
>
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>
> --
> J. Silk
> Leiden University
> Leiden University Institute for Area Studies, LIAS
> Matthias de Vrieshof 3
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Matthias+de+Vrieshof+3?entry=gmail&source=g>,
> Room 0.05b
> 2311 BZ Leiden
> The Netherlands
>
> copies of my publications may be found at
> https://leidenuniv.academia.edu/JASilk
> <https://leidenuniv.academia.edu/JASilk%20UGwBeVJgVj8AJg==>
>
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