Vācissara

1. Vācissara. A Singhalese monk who wrote Commentaries to Buddhadatta’s works:

• the Abhidhammāvatāra
• the Vinaya-Vinicchaya
• the Uttara-Vinicchaya
• the Khemappakarana

He probably belonged to the twelfth century, and was also the author of the Rūpārūpa-Vibhānga and the Sīmālankāra (q.v.). P.L.C.108f., 156, 174, 202; also Gv.62, 71.

2. Vācissara. A monk of Ceylon, pupil of Sāriputta.

Numerous works are assigned to him, among them commentaries on the various books of grammar:

• the Sambandhacintā tīkā,
• the Subodhālankāra tīkā
• the Vuttodayavivarana.

He also wrote the Sumangalapasādanī on the Khuddasikkhā and a commentary on the Moggallānavyākarana (P.L.C. 204).

He seems also to have written the Pāli Thūpavamsa and several books in Singhalese. P.L.C.217; also Gv.62, 71.

3. Vācissara Thera. Probably identical with (2) above.

He was at the head of the Sangha in the reign of Vijayabāhu III., and had hidden the Alms bowl and Tooth relic of the Buddha in Kotthumala, in order to preserve them. After that, he went to South India for protection. Later, he was sent for by Vijayabāhu, whom he helped in the reformation of the Sangha. Cv.lxxxi.18ff.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from