An Interpretation into the Ambiguous Jina-patisatariya in the Inscriptions of the middle Anuradhapura Period

Abstract

An ambiguous word, Jinapatisatariya or its variants have occurred in a series of similar inscriptions found from Buddhist monasteries in the middle Anuradhapura period, i.e circa 2nd - 5th centuries A.C. All these inscriptions have been certainly referred to a grant or grants made to Buddhist monasteries for a particular purpose, but this purpose has not been properly identified in spite of some possible interpretations on it. D.M. de Z. Wickramasinghe has interpreted this word as having the meaning of ‘repairing of dilapidated buildings’ and understood the grants as made for that purpose. Gaiger believed that it was a ritual associated with the Buddha’s ‘Pati Dhatu’, the belt or a piece of cloth belonging to the cheevara of the Lord Buddha. Paranavitana interpreted Jinapatisatariya as the ‘spreading of deer skins’ in Buddhists monasteries, which he believed as a sacred ritual performed in these monasteries. In spite of the previous interpretations, the present study shows that the meaning of the Jinapatisatariya is the performance of the Vinayakamma known as ‘ Patisãraniyakamma’ by the Buddhist Sanga in Uposathagaras in the monasteries. ‘Jina’ in this case can be a derivation of Cinna ( Cinna-Jinna-Jina) which means ‘performed’, ‘practiced’, ‘accomplished’, ‘done’ and so on. Patisaraniyakamma referred to in the Vinaya literature can be easily identified with Patisaraniya or Patisaraniyakamma in the inscriptions. This Vinayakamma was a kind of action taken against a monk who attempted to cause a damage or a loss to a householder. The guilty monk had to make presents to the Sanga before he is interrogated for his offence by the body of Sanga. This shows why such grants were needed for this performance. It may well be ceremoniously performed in the monasteries in Anuradhapura and elsewhere in ancient Sri Lanka where these inscriptions are found.