Tribes in Ancient India c38.2

c38.2

The Damiḷas,¹ commonly known as the Tamils, were a powerful S. Indian tribe, frequently mentioned in Buddhist texts, particularly the Ceylon Chronicles (*Dīpavaṃsa*, *Mahāvaṃsa*, *Cūḷavaṃsa*). It is interesting to note that a Vinaya Commentary called *Vimativinodanī* was written by Kassapa Thera, an inhabitant of the kingdom of Damiḷa.² In the *Mahāvaṃsa Ṭīkā*, however, we are told that the Damiḷas were disrespectful to the Buddhist stūpas.³