Buddhist Literature

During the lifetime of Buddha, he encouraged his monks to follow his teachings in the vernacular. After the death of Buddha, the Buddhist canon was transmitted and formulated by oral tradition and after that it was written down in 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. The main division of Buddhism is Pitakas.

Pali canon, also known as Tripitaka in Sanskrit, is the main book of Buddhism.For all the Buddhist scriptures  this traditional term is used. The three pitakas of Buddhism are Abhidhamma Pitaka , Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka.

Abhidhamma pitaka

• This pitaka is composed of the doctrine and philosophy of Buddhism
• Abhidhamma Pitaka is divided into seven books namely, Dhatukatha, Dhammasangani,Patthana, Kathavatthu, Vibhanga, Puggalapannatui and Yamaka

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Sutta Pitaka

• Sutta Pitaka consists of more than 10 thousand sutras related to Buddha and all his close associates
• Sutta Pitaka is divided under the following sections:
  • Digha Nikaya, which comprises the long discourses
  • Anguttara Nikaya which comprises the numerical
  • Majjhima Nikaya, which comprises the middle length
  • Khuddaka Nikaya which comprises the minor collection
  • Samyutta Nikaya which comprises the connected discourses of Buddha

Vinaya Pitaka

• Vinaya Pitaka is also known as a book of discipline
• Vinaya Pitaka deals with monastic rules for nuns and monks. It is further divided into three books Khandhaka, Suttavibhanga and Parivara

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Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture

• The concept of Ahimsa was its chief contribution. Afterwards, the ahimsa teachings came to be recognised as among the most cherished values across the country
• The teachings of Buddhism contributed to the development of languages like Pali and some other local languages
• It has a remarkable role when it comes to the architecture of India

Literature

• There are two types of early Buddhist literature: Canonical and Non-canonical writings
• Canonical Texts are books that set out a religion or sect’s basic tenets and values.
• Tripitaka: “Pitaka” literally means basket. Sutta, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma are the three books belonging to Tripitaka
• The Sutta Pitaka contains dialogues of Buddha’s discourses on various doctrinal problems. Sutta (from the Sanskrit sutra) refers to Buddhist texts that are believed to contain what the Buddha himself said
• The Vinaya Pitaka has the records of the rules of conduct and discipline that are followed by the monks and nuns during their monastic life. It contains the Patimokkha, which is a list of transgressions against monastic discipline and atonements for these transgressions
• The philosophical analysis and teaching systematization of the teaching and the scholarly activity of the monks are recorded in Abhidhamma Pitaka

The three Pitakas are divided into books known as Nikayas.

• The Sutta Pitaka, for example, is divided into five Nikayas: the Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara, and Khuddaka Nikayas.
• Therigatha (a collection of short poems by Bhikkunis) and Theragatha (verses attributed to senior monks) are respectively the eighth and ninth books of the Khuddaka Nikaya which in turn is the fifth of the five divisions of the Pali Sutta Pitaka

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Non-canonical Buddhist texts

• Milinda Panha:  The literal meaning in Pali – Questions of Milinda, was composed around 100 BC. The book has the conversation that occurred between the Indo-Greek King Menander I or Milinda of Bactria and sage Nagasena where Milinda asks Nagasena about Buddhism
• The Nettigandha or Nettipakarana (The Book of Guidance) is from the same period and provides a comprehensive account of the Buddha’s teachings
• Commentaries on the Tripitaka include a 5th-century work by Buddhaghosha
• The Nidanakatha (1st century) contains the Buddha’s first connected life story
• The Dipavamsa (4th–5th centuries) and Mahavamsa (5th century) are historical-mythical accounts of the Buddha’s life, Buddhist councils, Maurya emperor Ashoka, Sri Lankan kings, and the advent of Buddhism on the island

Sanskrit texts

Conclusion

In this article, we have learnt about all Buddhist Literature. The main book of Buddhism and contribution of Buddhism into Indian culture.After the death of Buddha, the Buddhist canon was transmitted and formulated by oral tradition and after that it was written down in 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. The main division of Buddhism is Pitakas. The concept of Ahimsa was its chief contribution. Afterwards, the ahimsa teachings came to be recognised as among the most cherished values across the country.The teachings of Buddhism contributed to the development of languages like Pali and some other local languages.It has a remarkable role when it comes to the architecture of India. The three pitakas of Buddhism are Abhidhamma Pitaka , Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka.Abhidhamma pitaka is composed of the doctrine and philosophy of Buddhism.Sutta Pitaka consists of more than 10 thousand sutras related to Buddha and all his close associates.Vinaya Pitaka is also known as a book of discipline.Vinaya Pitaka deals with monastic rules for nuns and monks. It is further divided into three books Khandhaka, Suttavibhanga and Parivara.

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