Sub-commentaries (TheravÄda)


The sub-commentaries are primarily commentaries on the commentaries on the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism, written in Sri Lanka. This literature continues the commentaries' development of the traditional interpretation of the scriptures. These sub-commentaries were begun during the reign of ParÄkramabÄhu I under prominent Sri Lankan scholars such as SÄriputta Thera, MahÄkassapa Thera of Dimbulagala VihÄra and MoggallÄna Thera.

Burmese Collection

The official Burmese collected edition contains the following texts:

ṬīkÄs on the Visuddhimagga

ParamatthamañjusÄ â€“ A á¹­Ä«kÄ by DhammapÄla on Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga; the identity of this DhammapÄla is debated.

ṬīkÄs on the Vinaya Texts

  • Three á¹­Ä«kÄs on the SamantapÄsÄdikÄ :
  • * ṬīkÄ by Vajirabuddhi
  • * SÄratthadÄ«panÄ« by SÄriputta Thera
  • * VimativinodanÄ« by MahÄkassapa Thera
  • Two á¹­Ä«kÄs on the ''Kankhavitarani''

ṬīkÄs on the Sutta Commentaries

  • ṬīkÄs by DhammapÄla on:
  • * SumangalavilasinÄ«
  • * PapañcasÅ«danÄ«
  • * Saratthapakasini
- These are generally considered to be by a different DhammapÄla than the author of earlier commentaries.VisuddhajanavilÄsini – By Nanabhivamsa, head of the Burmese sangha, a new partial á¹­Ä«kÄ on the SumangalavilasinÄ« covering only the first volume of the DÄ«gha NikÄya.Saratthamanjusa – By SÄriputta Thera, a á¹­Ä«kÄ on Buddhaghosa’s Manorathapurani.

ṬīkÄs and Commentaries on Nettipakaraṇa

NettitÄ«kÄ â€“ á¹­Ä«kÄ on DhammapÄla’s commentary on the Nettipakaraṇa.Nettivibhavini – By a 16th-century Burmese author. Not a á¹­Ä«kÄ on the existing commentary, but a new commentary on the Netti itself.

ṬīkÄs on the Abhidhamma Commentaries

MÅ«latÄ«kÄ â€“ By Ä€nanda, on the commentaries of the Abhidhamma Piá¹­aka.Anuá¹­Ä«kÄ â€“ A sub-commentary on the MÅ«latÄ«kÄ.