SV: Arakan and Chittagong Pali traditions

Dear Bhante and group,

I have been asked to write a section on Buddhism to be included in a Danish
handbook of History of Religion. Any information on the history of Buddhism
in Bangladesh and adjacent areas will be much appreciated.

Best regards,

Ole Pind

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: palistudy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:palistudy@yahoogroups.com] På vegne
af nyanatusita
Sendt: 17. december 2005 01:31
Til: Pali Study Group
Emne: [palistudy] Arakan and Chittagong Pali traditions

Hello,

Has any research been done on the Arakan and Chittagong Pali textual
traditions? Do they use different scripts than the Burmese script? It is
possible that there are texts or recensions of texts preserved in this area
which are unknown elsewhere. In a book on the Theravada Sangha called Banner
of the Arahants I found the following interesting information:

``Bangladesh has a considerable Buddhist minority with a Sangha divided
between two traditions. One is a small group of bhikkhus, the Mahaathera
Nikaaya, who claim to be descended from bhikkkhu fleeing from Bihar at the
time of the Moslem invasions. It is reported that thery were corrupted in
the course of time in their new home but refused the chance of re-ordination
by Burmese bhikkhus. This was taken by the great majority who now form the
Sangharaja nikaya. In fact the latter group alone can claim to be Theravada
although the other group has reformed itself and is hardly distinguishable
now.''

The author, Bhikkhu Khantipalo, must be referring the Chittagong hill area
that borders the Arakan area. I don't know anything about the history and
ethnography of these areas, but the Mahaathera nikaya might also have
existed in Arakan.

The bhikkhus who came to Sri Lanka to reintroduce the Upasampada in the
early and late 17th centuries came from Rakkhangadesa, i.e. Arakan,
according to the Mahavamsa.

Best wishes,
                        Bh. Nyanatusita




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