[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Dictionary of Pali Proper Names](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937) › v2.c29.592 # Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c29.592 Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names v2.c29.592 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c29.592](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c29.592) 1. \*\*Buddhaghosa Thera.\*\*—The greatest of Commentators on the Tipiṭaka. He was a brahmin¹ born in a village near \*\*Buddhagayā\*\* and became proficient in the Vedas and allied branches of knowledge. One day he met a monk, named \*\*Revata\*\*, and on being defeated by him in controversy, entered the Order to learn the Buddha's teachings. Because his speech was profound, like that of the Buddha, and because his words spread throughout the world (like those of the Buddha), he came to be called Buddhaghosa. While dwelling with Revata, he wrote the \*\*Ñāṇodaya\*\* and the \*\*Aṭṭhasālinī\*\*, and also began to write a \*\*Parīṭṭhaṭhakathā\*\* (a concise commentary) on the Tipiṭakas. In order to complete his task, he came over to Ceylon at the suggestion of Revata² and studied the Sinhalese Commentaries at the Mahāvihāra, under Saṅghapāla. When his studies were ended he wrote the Visuddhimagga, and having thereby won the approval of the Elders of the Mahāvihāra, he rendered the Sinhalese Commentaries into Pāli. During this peroid he lived in the Ganthākara-vihāra,³ and on the accomplishment of his task he returned to Jambudīpa.⁴ - [Previous: v2.c29.591](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c29.591) - [Next: v2.c29.593](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c29.593) - [Up: v2.c29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c29) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c29.592](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c29.592) · Pramāṇa