Grammatical Analysis
Saddhammappakāsinī: [f.] The Clarifier of the True Dhamma. Formed by saddhamma (true doctrine) + pakāsinī (clarifying, making known).
Orthodox Definition
The Saddhammappakāsinī is the commentary on the highly technical Paṭisambhidāmagga. It was authored by Venerable Mahānāma, a monk of the Mahāvihāra lineage in Sri Lanka, likely in the 6th century CE.
The Paṭisambhidāmagga is the supreme canonical manual on meditation mechanics and insight knowledge. Because it is written in a dense, Abhidhamma-style format, it requires significant unpacking. Mahānāma’s commentary acts as the essential bridge between Sāriputta’s ancient map of insight and Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga. It clarifies the complex terminology regarding the 73 types of knowledge and the practical mechanics of mindfulness of breathing (ānāpānasati).
Textual References
- Subject Matter: Commentary on the Paṭisambhidāmagga.