Octagonal Pillar Inscription from Chainat: the Oldest Inscription Recording Abhidhamma Atthakatha Text in Thailand

Abstract

        This article aims to examine the reading and translation of the Octagonal Pillar Inscription from Chainat province. The inscription is from the Dvāravati kingdom, and was written with Pallava script between the 6th – 7th centuries based on the Paleography background. The text is in Pāli language. Thus it is interesting to know the origin of the text.
        The study presents an up-to-date reading and translation. The Pāli text in the inscription is specifically Gāṭhā (verses) from Sammohavinodanī, from the Aṭṭhakathā (commentary) of Vibhaṅga in the Abhidhamma Piṭaka. This commentary was composed by Buddhaghosa in around 413 CE. This is the oldest evidence of a Buddhist relationship between Sri Lanka and Thailand.