Piruwana Poth Wahanse
| Author | (compilation; traditional) |
|---|---|
| Original title | පිරුවානා පොත් වහන්සේ |
| Translator | (various — Pāli–Sinhala editions) |
| Language | Pāli, Sinhala |
| Subject | Pirith (Buddhist protective chants, paritta) |
| Publisher | (multiple; Buddhist presses) |
Publication date | (various editions) |
| Publication place | Sri Lanka |
| Pages | (varies by edition) |
| Part of a series on |
| Theravāda Buddhism |
|---|
| Buddhism |
Piruwana Poth Wahanse (Sinhala: පිරුවානා පොත් වහන්සේ; sometimes romanized as Piruwana Poth Wahanse) is one of the most familiar Buddhist books in Sri Lanka. It gathers a collection of traditional pirith—protective chants and recitations in Theravāda Buddhism—presented in both Pāli and Sinhala. Over the centuries, this text has served as a spiritual companion for monks and lay devotees alike, offering guidance, blessings, and protection.[1][2]
Etymology
In Sinhala, the phrase poth wahanse (පොත් වහන්සේ) is an honorific expression meaning "revered book" or "venerable volume." The word piruwana (also written as pirith or piruvana) refers to protective Buddhist chants, known in Pāli as paritta. Together, the title conveys the idea of a highly respected collection of paritta verses, recited to safeguard, heal, and bless individuals and communities.[3]
Contents
The Piruwana Poth Wahanse typically contains a carefully arranged set of parittas drawn from the Pāli Canon and Sri Lankan ritual tradition.[4][5] Among the most familiar are the Ratana Sutta, Metta Sutta, and Mangala Sutta—well-loved chants believed to protect against harm, bring peace of mind, and cultivate compassion.[6] Many editions provide the original Pāli text alongside Sinhala translations and explanatory notes, allowing both monastics and laypeople to engage with the chants in a meaningful way.[7]
Religious use and cultural context
According to the Anuśāsanāva of the Piruwana Poth Wahanse, the Buddha’s voice was described as possessing eight remarkable qualities: it was sweetly enchanting (madhu), uplifting (mada), joyful (muditā), gracefully soft (lalita), delightfully pleasant (ratikara), wonderfully captivating (manohara), resonant like the gentle cooing of a Kalaviṅka bird (kuravīkan-āda), and smooth in consistency without variation (nirviśeṣa). Pirit chanting in Sri Lanka has evolved over centuries, with many protective suttas compiled into the Mahā Pirit Pota (also called Catubāṇavārapāli or Piruwana Poth Wahanse). During the late Anurādhapura period, King Kassapa V issued a decree that only those who had memorized the Catubāṇavāra Pāli were eligible for ordination, highlighting the central importance of the Pirith tradition in early Sri Lankan Buddhist monasticism.[8]
For Sri Lankan Buddhists, the Piruwana Poth Wahanse is more than just a book—it is a central part of everyday religious life.[2] Its verses are recited at alms-giving ceremonies, during temple festivals, on Vesak, at memorials, and even at household blessings. Monks often lead extended pirith chanting sessions that can last throughout the night, with the book serving as their primary guide.[6] In certain customs, a copy of the book itself is carried in processions or placed near relics to represent its sacred function of merit and protection.[9][10]
Editions and translations
Over time, numerous editions of the Piruwana Poth Wahanse have been published by Buddhist presses, monasteries, and cultural centers in Sri Lanka and abroad.[4][2] Many of these editions are bilingual, presenting the original Pāli alongside Sinhala, and some modern versions have been standardized with pagination and ISBNs for wider circulation.[7] Today, the text remains widely available through bookshops, monastery bookstalls, and online repositories.
See also
References
- ^ "Piruwana Poth Wahanse : Ven. Weragoda Sarada Thero : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b c "පාලි – සිංහල පිරුවානා පොත් වහන්සේ – Piruwana Poth Wahanse (Hard Cover) – Mahamevnawa Melbourne – Namo buddhaya!". Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "MAHA PIRUWANA POTH WAHANSE - ISBN 9789553107060 | Buy Online at Sarasavi". www.sarasavi.lk. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b "Piruwana Poth Wahanse | Buy Online | BuddhistCC Online BookShop". online.buddhistcc.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "In Mahamevna Pali-Sinhala" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-07-04.
- ^ a b "Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka". www.accesstoinsight.org. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b "Pali and Sinhala Piruwana Poth Wahanse – Lakpura®". us.lakpura.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Venerable Chandawimala. "Tantric Buddhist Influence on Sri Lankan Pirit (Paritta)". Academia.edu. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Sri Lanka Navy". news.navy.lk. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "Agenda of Vesak and Opening Ceremony – Lion of Wisdom". lionwisdom.org. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
External links
- Piruwana Poth Wahanse — English edition (archive.org)
- Piruwana Poth Wahanse — Sinhala edition (archive.org)
- Buddhist ceremonies and rituals (Kariyawasam) — overview and practices