Grammatical Analysis
Aṭṭhakathā: [f.] Commentary; explanation of meaning. Formed by attha (meaning, sense, purpose) + kathā (talk, speech, discourse).
Orthodox Definition
The Aṭṭhakathā constitutes the vast body of classical Theravāda commentaries. While the Tipiṭaka contains the words of the Buddha, the Aṭṭhakathā contains the orthodox Mahāvihāra interpretations of those words.
According to tradition, the original commentaries were brought to Sri Lanka by Venerable Mahinda in the 3rd century BCE and preserved in the old Sinhalese language. In the 5th century CE, great scholars—most notably Venerable Buddhaghosa, along with Dhammapāla, Buddhadatta, and Upasena—traveled to Sri Lanka and translated these massive works back into Pāli.
The Aṭṭhakathās are indispensable. They provide word-for-word grammatical breakdowns, clarify obscure geographical or historical references, provide the backstory to every sutta and verse, and most importantly, enforce the strict Abhidhammic interpretation of the teachings, ensuring the Tipiṭaka cannot be misinterpreted by rogue sects.
Textual References
- Historical Commentaries: Samantapāsādikā (on Vinaya), Sumaṅgalavilāsinī (on Dīgha), Papañcasūdanī (on Majjhima), Atthasālinī (on Dhammasaṅgaṇī).