Overview for Studies on Pali Commentaries
Studies on Pali Commentaries are undoubtedly Dr. K.L. Hazra’s most brilliant contribution to the field of Buddhism. T he present book is a storehouse of information on Pali commentaries, and bears evidence on every page of it. It shows the authors indefatigable research, his genius for analysis and his familiarity with the Pali language and commentaries. It is no doubt a pioneering contribution to a field or study in which there have been too few works done by scholars. The author with singly-minded devotion has written it for the cause of Pali language and literature. The lucidity and immaculate style of the author’s description has been one of its special features. It is a work of considerable breath. The book is divided into four chapters. This valuable research work, suffixed with preface, abbreviations, bibliography and footnotes, shall be of great help to those people who are interested in Pali literature and language in general and Buddhism in particular. The work contains a detailed description of the Atthakathas, their origin and growth, biographical sketches of Buddhadatta, Buddhaghosa and Dharmapada, enumeration of the works of those scholars, outline of the contents of these works and historical and geographical importance of the Pali commentaries. This study will satiate every research minded person in his movement to find out true knowledge in this field of Buddhism. Students, scholars and the general readers alike will find this book highly interesting, useful and valuable for study and references. This will surely be of interest not only to specialists but also to those who are looking for an authentic picture of the Pali commentaries. It is a work of scholarship, for it contains much new material on the Pali commentaries. The author offers fresh insights into the religion of the Buddha, and Buddhist history and culture. This book must find an honoured place in the library of every Pali-minded people. It no doubt would inspire future generation of scholars to take up Pali studies.
Kanai Lal Hazra (Author)
Dr. Kanai Lal Hazra is Reader and Head of the Department of Pali at the University of Calcutta. He obtained his M.A. and L.L.B., and Diploma in French Language fromthe University of Calcutta. He had his Ph.D. degree at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is the Author of a number of papers poblished inthe noted journals and periodicals in English and Bengali. He is widely recognised as one of the leading authorities inthe field of Buddhism. He is also a well-known author of South-East Asian History, Religion and culture. He has severla books to his credit. His published works are: History of Theravada Buddhism in south-East Asia: The Buddhist Annals and Chronicles of South East Asia: Buddhism in India as described by the Chinese Pilgrims; and The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in India. At present he is one of the most influential thinkers of Buddhist History in India.
Bagchee
