Dear Ruwan,

I think I am able to add some information for your reference about Atthakatha and Tika.

The historical order is

Sutta (in Pali)
Sihalatthakatha (in archaic Sinsalese)
Atthakatha (in Pali)
Ganthipada (in Pali and Sinhalese)
Tika (in Pali)
Anutika (in Pali)

The Suttas and Sihala-atthakathas were not simultanious. The sihala-atthakathas were written in Sri Lanka,in 3rd century BC onwards to facilitate learning of Suttas in Sri Lanka when they were brought there by Arahant Mahinda (accrding to chronicles the son of emperor Asoka).

Then Shalaatthakathas were translated again into Pali to facilitate the international student of Buddhism at that time pineered by Ven. Buddhagosh and followed by Ven. badaratitthavasi Dhammapala, Ven. Buddadatta, ven. Upasena and Ven. Mahanama.
They are not merely translations but translations with critical editions in my view.

Following Atthakathas there came a dictionary type of texts called Ganthipada (in Sinhala) exlaining the difficult points in Atthakathas.

Soem tikas were written at the same time as Ganthipada but Ganthipada served as a source of information for later tikas very much. Ganthipadas naturally died with the popularity of tikas.

Anutikas are exegesis on tikas and Sri Lanka and Myanmar contributed a lot for the development of amutikas.

Thaere is a new caregory of Anutika called Abhinavatika.
ruwanr2003 <ruwanr2003@...> wrote:
Can someone illuminate me on follwoing...

This is my understanding..Pl. correct me if I am wrong

1) There is sihala atthakatha (Commentaries in Sinhala)

(Written down at the same time the suttas).

2) and ther is Pali Atthakatha

(Translated to Pali by Buddhaghosha in 4th century AD from Sihala
Atthakatha)
3) Then there is Tika (commentaries to commentaries)

4) Anutika (comemntaries to Tika)

I would appreciate more information on these commentaries and how I
can obtain Englsi translations.

Thanks
Ruwan






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