Quick Facts
- Also spelled:
- Buddhaghoṣa and Buddhaghosha
- Flourished:
- 5th century ce
- Notable Works:
- “Visuddhimagga”
- Subjects Of Study:
- Buddhism
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Buddhaghosa
Buddhaghosa offering the Visuddhimagga to the chief monk, wall painting at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya temple, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Buddhaghosa
Buddhist scholar
Also known as: Buddhaghoṣa, Buddhaghosha
Buddhaghosa (flourished 5th century ce) was an Indian Buddhist scholar, famous for his Visuddhimagga (Pali: “The Path of Purification”), a summary of current Buddhist doctrines. Scholars do not agree about Buddhaghosa’s birthplace, but it is known that he traveled to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, where he discovered many Sinhalese Buddhist commentaries; these he translated into Pali and communicated to his countrymen.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Charles Preston.
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