Anavamadarshin

For the legendary Buddha, see Anomadassi.

Anavama-darshin (IAST: Anavamadarśin)[a], also known by his Pali name Anomadassi (fl. 1241 CE), was a Buddhist monk and author from Dambadeniya in present-day Sri Lanka. He is best known as the author of the Sanskrit astrological treatise Daivajna-Kamadhenu.

Biography

Anavama-darshin was a Buddhist monk associated with the Hattha-vanagalla (Hasta-vanagalya) Mahavihara,[4] a monastery located in present-day Western Province.[5] As the leader (mahāsāmi) of this monastery, he had close contact with and received favours from king Parakramabahu II of Dambadeniya.[6] According to Chulavamsa, the king, through his minister Devapiti-raja, commissioned the construction of a three-storey pāsāda (mansion) at the monastery, "at great cost". The king also arranged repairs to its shrines and the erection of a cetiya there.[5]

One of Anavama-darshin's pupils, whose name is not known, wrote the Pali-language Hattha-vanagalla-vihāra-vaṃsa, a history of the monastery at his request.[6][3]

Works

In 1241, Anavama-darshin composed Daivajñā-Kāmadhenu, sourcing information from other authors such as Varahamihira and Bhoja-raja.[4][1] This book is the most important Sanskrit-language astrological text from present-day Sri Lanka.[7] It deals with omens, jataka, muhurta, and prashna.[4]

Some scholars, such as Charles Godakumbura,[5] also attribute the authorship of the Sinhalese grammar Sidat-sangara to Anavama-darshin.[7][2] Paropakāra, another work attributed him is now lost.[7]

Notes

  1. ^ Also known as Anavamadarśin Saṅgha-rāja,[1] Anavamadarshi Mahathera,[2] and Anomadassi Mahāsāmi[3]

References

  1. ^ a b David Pingree, ed. (1976). Census of the Exact Sciences in Sanskrit Series A. Vol. 3. American Philosophical Society. p. 13.
  2. ^ a b A. Adikari (2006). The Classical Education and the Community of Mahasangha in Sri Lanka. Godage. pp. 141–143. ISBN 9789552074097.
  3. ^ a b Kanai Lal Hazra (1994). Pāli Language and Literature: Literature : non-canonical Pāli texts. DK Printworld. p. 664.
  4. ^ a b c David Pingree (1981). Jyotiḥśāstra: Astral and Mathematical Literature. A History of Indian Literature. Otto Harrassowitz. p. 115. ISBN 3-447-02165-9.
  5. ^ a b c Amaradasa Liyanagamage (1968). The Decline of Polonnaruwa and the Rise of Dambadeniya. Department of Cultural Affairs. p. 16.
  6. ^ a b W. M. Sirisena (1978). Sri Lanka and South-East Asia. Brill. p. 38. ISBN 9789004056602.
  7. ^ a b c Heinz Bechert (1978). "Remarks on Astrological Sanskrit Literature from Sri Lanka". In Leelananda Prematilleka; Karthigesu Indrapala; J.E. van Lohuizen-de Leeuw (eds.). Senarat Paranavitana Commemoration Volume. Studies in South Asian Culture. BRILL. p. 46. ISBN 9789004054554.