Ceylon/Sri Lanka

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  • - Death, anthropology, ritual, etc
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Ceylon/Sri Lanka

Most of the books listed below only deal with Death and Funeral rites in passing and it is advisable (where nothing is indicated) to check in the index of the individual listed book for keywords such as: “funeral”, “death”, “life cycle rituals”, “chanting”, etc. For a more general bibliography on Sri Lanka see link below.

• (1995). Sāmaṇera Baṇa Daham Pota, Sri Sarananda Maha Pirivena
  [handbook for novices]
• Adikaram, E. W. (1946). Early history of Buddhism in Ceylon: or, State of Buddhism in Ceylon as revealed by the Pāli commentaries of the 5th century A.D. Migoda, Ceylon, D. S. Puswella.
• Amunugama, S. (1980). Notes on Sinhala Culture. Colombo, Gunasena.
• Ariyapala, M. B. (1956). Society in Mediaeval Ceylon (The State of Society in Ceylon as depicted in the Saddharma-ratnāvaliya and other Literature of the Thirteenth Century). Colombo, Department of Cultural Affairs.
  [see particularly pp 308-310, 359-361]
• Assman, J. M., Franz and Michaels, Axel (2005). Abschied von den Toten: Trauerrituale im Kulturvergleich. Göttingen, Wallstein Verlag.
• Bareau, A. (1957). La Vie et L'Organisation des Communautés Bouddhiques Modernes de Ceylan. Pondicherry, Institut Français d'Indologie.
• Bechert, H. (1976). "Buddha-Feld und Verdienstūbertragung: Mahāyāna-Ideen im Theravāda-Buddhismus Ceylons." Bulletin de la Classe des Lettres et des Sciences Morales et Politiques 62: 27-51.
  [on the origin of giving of merit]
• Bechert, H. (1978). Buddhism in Ceylon and Studies on Religious Syncretism in Buddhist countries: report on a Symposium in Göttingen. Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
• Blackburn, A. M. (1999). "Magic in the Monastery: Textual Practice and Monastic Identity in Sri Lanka." History of Religions 38 (No 4, May, 1999): 354-372.
• Blackburn, A. M. (2001). Buddhist Learning and Textual Practice in Eighteenth-Century Lankan Monastic Culture. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
• Bretfeld, S. and Vedeha (2001). Das singhalesische Nationalepos von König Duṭṭhagāmanī Abhaya: textkritische Bearbeitung und Übersetzung der Kapitel VII.3-VIII.3 der Rasavāhinī des Vedeha Thera und Vergleich mit den Paralleltexten Sahassavatthuppakaraṇa und Saddharmālaṅkāraya. Berlin, Dietrich Reimer Verlag.
  [interesting for King Duṭṭhagāmaṇi's death]
• Carrithers, M. (1979). "The Modern Ascetics of Lanka and the Pattern of Change in Buddhism." Man 14(2): 294-310.
• Carter, J. R. (1993). On Understanding Buddhists: essays on the Theravāda tradition in Sri Lanka. Albany, State University of New York Press.
• Davy, J. (1821). An Account of the Interior of Ceylon. London, Longman.
• De Silva, L. (1974). Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices in Sri Lanka. Colombo, The Wesley Press.
• De Silva, L. (1981). "Paritta: A Historical and Religious Study of the Buddhist Ceremony for Peace and Prosperity in Sri Lanka." Spolia Zeylanica (Bulletin of the National Museums of Sri Lanka) 36(1).
• De Silva, L. (1991). The paritta Ceremony of Sri Lanka: its antiquity and symbolism. Buddhist thought and ritual. D. J. Kalupahana. New York, Paragon House: 139-150.
• Deegalle, M. (2006). Popularizing Buddhism: preaching as performance in Sri Lanka. Albany, NY, State University of New York Press.
• Dhammatilaka, P., Ed. (1997). Theravāda Sāmaṇera Baṇadaham Pota. Colombo, M.D. Gunasena.
• Dickson, J. F. (1884). "Notes Illustrative of Buddhism as the Daily Religion of the Buddhists of Ceylon and Some Account of their Ceremonies before and after Death." J.R.A.S. (Ceylon Branch) VIII: 203-36.
• Disanayaka, J. B. (1998). Understanding the Sinhalese. Colombo, Godage Poth Mendura.
  [see pp. 87-92]
• Forbes, M. (1840). Eleven Years in Ceylon: Comprising Sketches of the Field Sports and Natural History of that Colony, and an Account of its History and Antiquities. London, Richard Bentley.
  [see vol I p 335 and vol II 104; free download available]
• Gamage, S. (1996). "Sharing Grief and Suffering: Temple Culture and the Buddhist Community in Rural Sri Lanka." Journal of Pali and Buddhist Studies 9: 1-22.
• Geiger, W. (1960). Culture of Ceylon in Mediaeval Times. Wiesbaden, O. Harrassowitz.
• Gombrich, R. F. (1971). "'Merit Transference' in Sinhalese Buddhism." History of Religions 11(2): 203–19.
• Gombrich, R. (1981). "A New Theravadin Liturgy." Journal of the Pali Text Society 9: 47-73.
• Gombrich, R. F. (1988). Theravāda Buddhism: a social history from ancient Benares to modern Colombo. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul.
• Gombrich, R. F. (1991). Buddhist Precept and Practice: traditional Buddhism in the rural highlands of Ceylon. Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
• Gombrich, R. F. and G. Obeyesekere (1988). Buddhism Transformed: religious change in Sri Lanka. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press.
• Gooneratne, D. D. S. (1865). "On Demonology and Witchcraft in Ceylon." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch) 4(13): 1-117.
• Gunavardhana, R. A. L. (1979). Robe and Plough: monasticism and economic interest in early medieval Sri Lanka. Tucson, Published for the Association for Asian Studies by University of Arizona Press.
• Holt, J., J. N. Kinnard, et al. (2003). Constituting Communities: Theravāda Buddhism and the religious cultures of South and Southeast Asia. Albany, State University of New York Press.
• Holt, J. C. (2007). Gone but not Departed: the dead among the living in contemporary Buddhist Sri Lanka. The Buddhist dead: practices, discourses, representations. B. J. Cuevas, J. I. Stone and Kuroda Institute. Honolulu, University of Hawai'i Press: 326-344.
• Ilangasinha, H. B. M. (1992). Buddhism in Medieval Sri Lanka. Delhi, Sri Satguru Publications.
• Kahandagamage, S. P. (1998). Maraṇaya, susāna bhūmiya āśrita sāhityayika saṃskṛtika adhyayanayak, Colombo University (unpublished dissertation).
• Kalupahana, D. J. (1991). Buddhist Thought and Ritual. New York, Paragon House.
  [see chapters 9, 10, 11]
• Kariyawasam, A. G. S. (1995). Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka. Kandy, Buddhist Publication Society.
  [see chapter 4 and 5;  available online]
• Karunatillake, W. S. (1979). The Religiousness of Buddhists in Sri Lanka Through Belief and Practice. Religiousness in Sri Lanka. J. R. Carter. Colombo, Marga Institute: 1-34.
• Knox, R. (1681). An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East-Indies Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and divers other Englishmen now living there, and of the Author’s Miraculous Escape: Illustrated with figures and a map of the Island. An Historical Relation of Ceylon by Robert Knox: Text of the First Edition 1681 Together with the Introductory pages of the Autobiography Written by Knox in June 1696. S. D. Saparamadu. Dehiwala, Tisara Prakasakayo.
  [particularly chapter XI; free download available]
• Langer, R. (2002). Synkretismus und Inklusivismus am Beispiel der buddhistischen Beerdigungsriten im zeitgenössischen Sri Lanka. Buddhismus in Geschichte und Gegenwart 4. Hamburg, Universität Hamburg: 48–64.
  [available as .pdf file]
• Langer, R. (2005). Von Göttern, Geistern und Krähen: Buddhistische Beerdigungsriten in Sri Lanka. Abschied von den Toten: Trauerrituale im Kulturvergleich. J. M. Assman, Franz and Michaels, Axel. Göttingen, Wallstein Verlag: 125-149.
• Langer, R. (2007). Buddhist rituals of death and rebirth: contemporary Sri Lankan practice and its origins. Abingdon, Routledge.
• Legge, J. (1886). A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
  [for cremation of an arahant in Sri Lanka see pp. 107-110]
• Ling, T. O. (1976). The Buddha: Buddhist civilization in India and Ceylon. Harmondsworth; Baltimore, Penguin.
• Lokuliyana, L., Ed. (1993). The Great Book of Protections: Sinhala Maha Pirit Pota. Singapore, Singapore Buddhist Meditation Centre.
• Malalasekera, G. P. (1928). The Pāli Literature of Ceylon. Kandy, Sri Lanka, Buddhist Publication Society.
• Malalasekera, G. P. (1967). "'Transference of Merit' in Ceylonese Buddhism." Philosophy East and West XVII(Jan-Oct): 85-90.
• Malalgoda, K. (1976). Buddhism in Sinhalese Society, 1750-1900: a study of religious revival and change. Berkeley, University of California Press.
• Mirando, A. H. (1985). Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 17th and 18th centuries, with special reference to Sinhalese literary sources. Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, Tisara Prakasakayo.
• Narada Maha Thera, V. a. K. T., rev. by Bhikkhu Khantipalo, Ed. (2008). The Mirror of the Dhamma: A manual of Buddhist chanting and devotional texts. The Wheel Publication No 54 A/B. Colombo, Buddhist Publication Society.
  [available online]
• Norman, K. R. (1978). The Role of Pāli in Early Sinhalese Buddhism. Buddhism in Ceylon and studies on religious syncretism in Buddhist countries: report on a Symposium in Göttingen. H. Bechert. Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
• Perera, A. A. (1904). Glimpses of Singhalese Social Life. Bombay, Bombay Education Society's Press.
• Pertold, O. (1923). "A Protective Ritual of the Southern Buddhists." Anthropological Society of Bombay 12(6): 744-89.
• Premasiri, P. D. (1991). Significance of the Ritual Concerning Offerings to Ancestors in Theravada Buddhism. Buddhist thought and ritual. D. J. Kalupahana. New York, Paragon House: 151-158.
• Rahula, V. W. (1966). History of Buddhism in Ceylon: The Anuradhapura Period 3rd Century BC - 10th Century AD. Colombo, M.D. Gunasena & Co. Ltd.
• Saddhatissa, H. (1991). Significance of paritta and its Application in the Theravada Tradition. Buddhist Thought and Ritual. D. J. Kalupahana. New York, Paragon House: 125-137.
• Samuels, J. (2003). Establishing the Basis of the Sāsana: Social Service and Ritual Performance in Contemporary Sri Lankan Monastic Training. Approaching the Dhamma: Buddhist texts and practices in South and Southeast Asia. A. M. Blackburn and J. Samuels. Seattle, BPS Pariyatti Editions.
• Samuel, J. (2004). "Toward an Action-Oriented Pedagogy: Buddhist Texts and Monastic Education in Contemporary Sri Lanka." Journal of the American Academy of Religion 72(4): 955-971.
• Schalk, P. (1972). "Der Paritta-Dienst in Ceylon."
  [detailed and comprehensive study]
• Schalk, P. (1983). "Die Botschaft der friedvollen Lehre (sānta dharmay paṇiviḍaya): Einfūhrung in die buddhistische Predigt in Sri Lanka." Temenos 19: 68-111.
• Schalk, P. (1988). Ohne Denken an den Tod ist Kein Leben: Analyse einer buddhistischen Totenpredigt (mataka baṇa) aus Sri Lanka. On the meaning of death: essays on mortuary rituals and eschatological beliefs. S. Cederroth, C. Corlin and J. Lindstrom. Uppsala, Stockholm, Sweden, [Ubsaliensis Academiae]; distributed by Almqvist & Wiksell International, 229-255.
• Selkirk, J. (1844). Recollections of Ceylon. London, J. Hatchard and Son.
• Senaratne, P. M. (2000). Shree Lankave Avamangalya Caritra. Colombo, M.D.Gunasena & Co.
  [Funeral Rites in Sri Lanka]
• Siripala, B. D. (1997). Jatika Sirit Virit Sangrahaya. Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, Dipani Ltd. (Collection of National Customs [in Sri Lanka]).
• Southwold, M. (1983). Buddhism in Life: the anthropological study of religion and the Sinhalese practice of Buddhism. Manchester [Greater Manchester]; Dover, N.H., Manchester University Press.
• Tillakaratne, M. P. (1986). Manners, Customs and Ceremonies of Sri Lanka. Delhi, Sri Satguru Publications.
  [see chapters V, VI and Conclusions]
• Trainor, K. ( 1997). Relics, Rituals and Representation in Buddhism: Rematerializing the Sri Lankan Theravada Tradition. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
• Waldschmidt, E. (1934). "Das Paritta: Eine Magische Zeremonie der Buddhistischen Priester auf Ceylon." Baessler-Archiv 17: 139-50.
• Walpola, R. (1966). History of Buddhism in Ceylon; the Anuradhapura period, 3d century BC--10th century AD. Colombo, M. D. Gunasena.
• Wickramasinghe, S. (1960). "Ceylon's Relations with South-east Asia, with Special Reference to Burma." Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies 3(1): 38-58.
• Wickremeratne, S. (2006). Buddha in Sri Lanka: remembered yesterdays. Albany, NY, State University of New York Press.
  [particularly chapters 6, 7, 10, 11, 13]
• Wijesekera, N. D. (1949). The People of Ceylon. Colombo, M.D. Gunasena & Co.
  [see chapter VII, XVI, XVII and XVIII]
• Wirz, P. (1941). Exorzismus und Heilkunde auf Ceylon. Bern, Verlag Hans Huber.
  [great on ghosts, for pretas and pirit see pp 201-212]
• Wirz, P. (1954). Exorcism and the Art of Healing in Ceylon. Leiden, E.J. Brill.
• Yalman, N. (1964). The Structures of Sinhalese Healing Rituals. Religion in South Asia. E. B. Harper. Seattle, University of Washington Press: 115–50.
  [good on ritual specialists]

A further useful general bibliography about Sri Lanka is available online:

• Journal of Buddhist Ethics - Bibliography on Sinhala Buddhism

Free Sri Lanka book downloads available online:

• Gutenberg Project Ink-less Books on Ceylon

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