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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.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 119

4221 Dharmapradipika or Mahabodhivamsa Pari (Commentary for Mahabodhivamsa (History of the Bodhi Tree)

ContributorsGurulugomi (Author) / Thompson, Chris (Photographer)
DescriptionWijitha Bandara Comments: The manuscript is called "Dharmapradipika" or "Mahabodhivamsa Pari Katha." Decorated wooden covers.

4001 Pratimoksha Sanne (Bhikshu-pratimokshayehi-padartha)

ContributorsThompson, Chris (Photographer)
DescriptionStephen Berkwitz Comments: Sinhalese gloss on Vinaya text; Small handwriting, fine hand. Decorative drawing on last leaf.

3972 [Untitled]

ContributorsThompson, Chris (Photographer)
Created1864
Description

Stephen Berkwitz Comments: Unidentified. Arabic numerals; very small handwriting; line drawing of peacock on first folio; medicinal work?

3874 Saratthavikasini (Pali Grammar)

ContributorsAriyalankara (Author) / Thompson, Chris (Photographer)
DescriptionWijitha 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.

3851 Vinayavinicchaya Atthayojana (Commentary on Vinaya Monastic Rules)

ContributorsThompson, Chris (Photographer)
DescriptionWijitha Bandara Comments: Pali manuscript written to explain monastic rules in detail. Date is given as Buddhist Era: 2448.

3834 Mahasatipattana Sutra (The Great Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness)

ContributorsThompson, Chris (Photographer)
DescriptionWijitha Bandara Comments: Translation of Pali Mahasatipattana Sutra. It is in both languages. Date is given on wooden cover.

3804 Samantapasadika Vinayatthakatha (Commentary for Monastic Rules)

ContributorsBuddhaghosha (Contributor) / Thompson, Chris (Photographer)
Created1884
Description

Wijitha Bandara Comments: Decorative wooden covers.

3631 Abhidhammatthavibhavini and Sucittalankara (Adhidharma)

ContributorsThompson, Chris (Photographer)
Created1881
Description

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.

4006 Mahabodhivamsa

ContributorsSpindler, Robert (Photographer) / University of Pennsylvania, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (Photographer)
DescriptionWijitha 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.

3970 Mahabodhivamsa (The History (Chronicle) of the Bodhi Tree)

ContributorsSpindler, Robert (Photographer) / University of Pennsylvania, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (Photographer)
Created1863
Description

Stephen Berkwitz Comments: Title written on cover; small handwriting; clearly written; complete text; could be good candidate for digitization.