Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c6.2264

v1.c6.2264

**Abhidhamma Piṭaka.**—The third division of the Piṭakas. It consists of seven books: the **Dhammasaṅgaṇi**, **Vibhaṅga**, **Kathāvatthu**, **Puggala-paññatti**, **Dhātukathā**, **Yamaka** and **Paṭṭhāna**, all designated by the name of **Pakaraṇa**. Only in the Chronicles and the Commentaries is the word used as the title of a third Piṭaka.¹ In the Canon itself² the word means “special dhamma,” *i.e.* the Doctrine pure and simple (without admixture of literary treatment or personalities, etc.), and is sometimes coupled with the word *abhivinaya*.³ It has been suggested⁴ that, as the word *abhidhamma* standing alone is not found either in the Sutta Nipāta, the Saṃyutta, or the Aṅguttara, and only once or twice in the Dīgha and Majjhima, it probably came into use only towards the end of the period in which the four great Nikāyas grew up.⁵ The **Mahāsaṅghikas** refused to include the Abhidhamma in the Piṭakas at all, as they did not regard it as the word of the Buddha.⁶