Phra Ñāṇakitti Thera

Phra Yanakitti Thera was a learned Buddhist monk from Chiang Mai who lived around 1492–1500 CE (B.E. 2035–2043), during the reigns of King Tilokaraj and King Yotchiangrai.^[1] He resided at Wat Ponsaram (Suan Ton Khanun), located northwest of Chiang Mai city.

He is said to have studied Theravāda Buddhism in Sri Lanka during the reigns of King Parakkamabāhu VI and King Bhuvanekabāhu VI (B.E. 1955–2014 / 1412–1471 CE). Phra Yanakitti Thera was deeply versed in the Pāli Canon and served as a preceptor to King Tilokaraj. He composed a number of works entirely in the Pāli language.^[2]

He composed twelve Pali-language scriptures written in the Northern Thai (Lanna) script:^[3]

• Samantapāsādikā Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary explaining terms and meanings in the Samantapāsādikā.
• Bhikkhupāṭimokkha-Kanṭhī-Ṭīpanī — Composed around B.E. 2035; discusses disciplinary issues concerning the 227 monastic rules.
• Sīmāsankara-Vinaya — Written around B.E. 2039; explains the concept of overlapping sīmā (ordination boundaries).
• Aṭṭhasālinī Aṭṭhayojanā — A commentary expanding upon the Dhammasangani, part of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, originally authored by Buddhaghosa.
• Sammohavinodanī Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary on the Vibhaṅga.
• Dhātukathā Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary on the Dhātukathā.
• Puggalapaññatti Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary on the Puggalapaññatti.
• Kathāvatthu Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary on the Kathāvatthu.
• Yamaka Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary on the Yamaka.
• Paṭṭhāna Aṭṭhayojanā — Commentary on the Mahāpaṭṭhāna.
• Abhidhammatthavibhāvini Aṭṭhayojanā — A ṭīkā-level commentary elaborating on the Abhidhammatthavibhāvini, dealing with mind, mental factors, matter, and Nibbāna.
• Mūlakaccāyana Aṭṭhayojanā — Written around B.E. 2037–2046; a grammatical commentary on the Kaccāyana Sutta, a foundational Pāli grammar text from Sri Lanka, still used today.