The Dominant Features in Phrasirimangalacariya’s Pali Literary Works

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study the dominant features of structures and substances, including evaluation of quality of Pali literary works of Phra Sirimaṅgalācāriya based on four works: 1) Vessantaradīpanī, 2) Cakkavāḷadīpanī, 3) Saṅkhayāpakāsakaṭīka, and 4) Maṅgalatthadīpanī. It was conducted by analytical studying the dominant features of structures, content presentation, and substances, and then summarizing data, evaluating the quality, and writing in descriptive approach. It consisted of seven content presentation styles which were as follows: 1) word analysis, 2) word explanation referenced to related scriptures, 3) subject to clarification, 4) classification, 5) reference, 6) data collection from other scriptures, and 7) evaluation of referenced data accuracy. The dominant features of substances indicated that Vessantaradīpanī was a guidebook for learning language and Pali literature, Cakkavāḷadīpanī was a profound research work expressed comments and correct evaluations with keen intelligent reasons, Saṅkhayāpakāsakaṭīka was a manual for calculations of Cakkavāḷadīpanī, and Maṅgalatthadīpanī was literary works invented for basic Dharma propagation to public. All these works were revealed the three values of literatures in the followings: language value that had a correct and smooth grammatical usage, Dharma content value that focused on preaching of the Buddha teachings for supreme beneficial lifestyle, and social value that reflected from literary works themselves which had an effective implementations for learning and teaching manual, Buddhist propagation, including other knowledge associated with daily life of people from the past until now.