The Dīpavaṃsa: An Ancient Buddhist Historical Record

The work is structured as a historical-religious chronicle in Pāli verse. It opens with accounts relating to the Buddha, sacred geography, and the symbolic importance of Laṅkā within Buddhist history. The narrative then moves through the preservation of the Buddhist teaching, the role of early councils, and the formation of monastic authority. A major portion of the text concerns royal and monastic lineages, especially the relationship between Buddhism and political power. The chronicle presents kingship as a key mechanism for protecting the sāsana, while the Saṅgha functions as the custodian of doctrinal continuity. The missions associated with Aśoka’s reign and the arrival of Mahinda in Sri Lanka are treated as turning points in the establishment of Buddhism on the island. The later sections focus on the development of Buddhist institutions in Ceylon, including the transmission of texts, the consolidation of the monastic community, and the religious memory of early Sri Lankan Buddhism. As a whole, the text combines sacred narrative, dynastic history, monastic genealogy, and doctrinal preservation into a foundational record of Theravāda Buddhist identity.