This dissertation entitled ‘The Significance of Theravada Aṭṭhakathã in Studying the Tipiṭaka’ has three objectives: 1) to study the origin and development of Theravada Aṭṭhakathã, 2) to study the principles and approaches used by Theravada Aṭṭhakathã in explaining the Lord Buddha’s words, and 3) to study the significance of Theravada Aṭṭhakathã in Studying the Tipiṭaka.
The results are as follows: Aṭṭhakathã or Commentaries were originated by Lord Buddha as the first commentator. Because Lord Buddha explained his Dhamma himself. Upon revision of the Tipiṭaka, the exegesis was done to revise the other category of the Lord Buddha’s words together with the disciples’ proverbs as to the so-called Mahã-Aṭṭhakathã. In the Abhinava-Aṭṭhakathã era in Lanka, Buddhaghosa and other commentators transliterated the Sinhala Purãṇa-Aṭṭhakathã to Pali Abhinava-Aṭṭhakathã used until now. The Commentaries are categorized into four types: 1) Buddhasaṁvaṇṇita Aṭṭhakathã, 2) Anubuddhasaṁwaṇṇita Aṭṭhakathã, 3) Purãṇa-Aṭṭhakathã, and 4) Abhinava-Aṭṭhakathã.
In this research, the researcher proposed the ways by which the commentators describe Lord Buddha’s words in Tipiṭaka, and the use of commentary as a guide to study the Lord Buddha’s words in various aspects such as translating or interpreting the Pãli texts, explaining the Dhamma principles, classifying the Pãli texts, and searching the history of Buddhism comcerning individuals, places or events. Apparently, Aṭṭhakathã is significant to study the Tipiṭaka. Because it explains the vocabulary forms and meanings,
the Dhamma and Discipline, and the stories to enhance the better understanding of the Lord Buddha’s words in Tipiṭaka.
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