Photographs of selected manuscripts from The Guardian of the Flame Sri Lanka Manuscript Collection (MS SC MSS 203). The complete collection consists of 390 individual manuscript objects. The manuscripts are predominantly Theravada Buddhist religious texts that originate from as early as the 3rd Century AD, although these copies of texts date from circa 1600-1910. Descriptions were compiled by Wijitha Bandara and Dr. Stephen Berkwitz. Photos presented here were made by several contributors over time, most photos depict covers and colophons, and complete sets of folio images are added as they are created.
Wijitha Bandara Comments: The manuscript is called "Dharmapradipika" or "Mahabodhivamsa Pari Katha." Decorated wooden covers.
Stephen Berkwitz Comments: Sinhalese gloss on Vinaya text; Small handwriting, fine hand. Decorative drawing on last leaf.
Stephen Berkwitz Comments: Unidentified. Arabic numerals; very small handwriting; line drawing of peacock on first folio; medicinal work?
Wijitha Bandara Comments: Saratthavikasini is a commentary like text to understand Pali grammar text: "Kaccayana." This manuscript is mixed with another one. It called "Mahasuddassana Sutra Vyakkhyana." Saratthavikasini could identify separately since its elegant handwriting.
Wijitha Bandara Comments: Pali manuscript written to explain monastic rules in detail. Date is given as Buddhist Era: 2448.
Wijitha Bandara Comments: Translation of Pali Mahasatipattana Sutra. It is in both languages. Date is given on wooden cover.
Wijitha Bandara Comments: Decorative wooden covers.
Wijitha Bandara Comments: Two Adhidharma manuscripts. One is Adhidhammatthavibh avini or Abhidhammatthasamg aha Tika and Sucittalankara. Former was written by a student of Sariputta and the latter was written by a monk called Kalyanasara. Both are related to Abhidharma. Beautiful decoration on wooden covers. Pagination in both Sinhalese and Arabic.
Wijitha Bandara Comments: Pali text; Buddhist text; Story of bringing Bodhi Tree to Sri Lanka; This may have been written between 18th and 19th century; Ancient Pali literature in Sri Lanka; This text is used in modern monastic colleges to teach Pali language.
Stephen Berkwitz Comments: Title written on cover; small handwriting; clearly written; complete text; could be good candidate for digitization.