INDIA – SRI LANKA BUDDHIST CULTURAL RELATIONS (SIXTH CENTURY CE TO THE TWELFTH CENTURY CE)

Abstract

There has been a great deal of historical writing on the subject of India - Sri Lanka cultural relations, two countries which had close contact since prehistoric time, due to their geographical proximity. However, the Buddhist connection is the major preoccupation of the early historiography of Sri Lanka as far as Indian culture is concerned. However, the traditional literary sources amplified selected themes for certain objective reasons according to their wish. Sri Lankan Chronicles were silent about non-Therav?da Buddhist traditions because the main thrust of these Chronicles is to establish the purity and authenticity of the Therav?da point of view. The main objective of the article is to evaluate the way that the Sri Lankan were able to keep close contact of developments, in Indian Buddhist thought Therav?da as well as non-Therav?da through regular contact with Buddhist monastic centers throughout India. Cchronologically this study forces on the period from the sixth and twelfth centuries which was marked by significant changes of Buddhist culture with the new form of Buddhist traditions. This research study attempt has been made to explore India – Sri Lanka cultural relations, reevaluating previous research on the subject, while utilizing ancient historical writings, various interpretations of the recent archaeological findings and inscriptional details.