Abstract

                 This Thesis has three objectives, namely :- to study Ajitamānava’s biography and his matters, to study the doctrinal principles in Ajitamānava Problems as appearing in Theravāda Buddhist Scriptures, to study the principles of developing the Insight Meditation in Ajitamānavapañhā. This research work is to study the data from Theravāda Buddhist Scriptures such as the The Pali Canon, The Commentaries, The Sub-Commentaries and The other special and related texts such as Visutthimagga Scripture etc.

                 From the study, it found that Ajitamānava was born in the Brahmin family. He was a son of Aggāsanīya Brāhmana in Mahākosala King’s age at the time buddha. He completed the study of Tri Vedas. After that he was ordained as a hermit (Tāpasa) in the Bāvalī Brāhmana’s school which was called Kapitathārama situated the bank of Gothāvarī river. He was the chief of the group of the 16 persons who were the Bāvalī Brāhmana’s pupils. Ajitamānava was of 1,000 pupils. Later on, Bāvarī Brāhmana called all his disciples to meet together and later sent these disciples to meet the Buddha and ask Him questions at Pāsanakajētiya, at Magadha state. Ajitamānava was the first one to ask the Buddha. After the Buddha answered his questions, Ajitamānava and his 1,000 pupils had attained the Arahantaship.

                 Ajitamānavapañhā was one of the Solasapañhās (sixteen questions). Ajitamānavapañhā was found in Khuddakanikāya Suttanipāta (no. 25) and Khuddakanikāya Cūlaniddēsa (No. 30) of 45 Pali Cannon version. Ajitamānavapañhā was the questions regarding world, the Dhamma for preventing the stream of the defilements, cessation of the name and form (Nāma and Rūpa) and the way of carrying out the life by Sekha (the learner) and Asekha (one who does not require any further training, Arahant). Ajitamānavapañhā was consisted of eight Gāthās. Ajitamānava asked four Gāthās (verses) and the Buddha answered all four of Gāthās.

                 In Ajitamānavapañhā, the Buddha had preached the method for meditation development, that is to say, he taught the process of arising of all suffering by this statement “this world is covered by Avijjā (Ignorance)” then showed the method of how to distinguish all suffering by this statement “the mindfulness (Sati) is the Dhamma which prevent the streams of all defilements and the wisdom is the Dhamma for cutting off the streams of all defilements” This teaching of meditation development taught by The Buddha in Ajitamānavapañhā was the path leading to cessation of a suffering.

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