________________ 40 Introduction later time, we find works like the Khuddaka-patha, containing lists enumerating the three saranas, sikkhapadas, kammatthanas and such other items useful for novices. It is possible that several units into which these dhammas were further analysed by the Buddha, were also tabulated (quite possibly with the approval of the Master) by elders like Sariputta, Moggallana, or Mahakachchayana, famous for their ability to expound the words of the Buddha, for the benefit of monks engaged in higher studies of the dhammas. Such tabulations called Matikas, were certainly known to the early Buddhists. It is said in the Gulissani-sutta of the Majjhima-nikaya that a bhikkhu living in forests should apply himself to abhidhamma and abhivinaya. The commentary on this passage says : "He should apply himself to the study of the Abhidhammapitaka and the Vinaya-pitaka, together with their Commentaries. As regards the Abhidhamma, he should at least know the Duka and Tika Matikas together with the Dhamma-hadayavibhanga (last chapter of the Vibhanga). As regards the Vinaya-pitaka, he must at least learn the two Patimokkhas."2 Leaving aside this commentorial identification of the term adhidhamma with the Abhidhamma-pitaka as merely traditional, we may note its emphasis on the two Matikas. The Matikas are tabulations of the topics of Abhidhamma given in the Dhammasangani, 8 the first book of the Abhidhamma-pitaka. There are two Matikas given at the beginning of this book, viz., the Tika-matika, and the Duka-matika. The first, viz., the Tika-matika consists of twentytwo triads headed by the triplet of dhammas that are good (kusala), bad (akusala) and indeterminate (abyakata). The arrangement of these triplets is on the principle of grouping the dhammas in three mutaully exclusive sets which, when put together, in some cases comprehend all nama dhamma and in others comprehend both the nama and rupa dhammas. 1 M. I. p. 472. 2 Majjhima A, III, p. 185. 3 Edited by P. V. Bapat, Poona, 1940.
