Indian Society for Buddhist Studies

Author(s): Prachya Vidyapeeth
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapeeth

Page 98

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application in our contemporary living.
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Historical and Religious Significance of Milindapñha
Renu Shukla, Uttarakhand
The celebrated work Milindapñha, which is preserved in the Pali language, is considered as 'the most important non canonical work of the Theravada' Buddhist ideology. Though controversial but on account of internal and external evidences it is believed to be written between the first century BCE and first century CE. The illuminating discussion on Buddhist tenets in the form of a dialogue between the monk Nāgasena and king Milianda is very fruitful in order to respond to the queries of common people, to resolve the dilemmas in the religious beliefs and to expand the following of Buddha. Milindapañha is the earliest evidence of the existence of Three Piṭakas and five Nikāyas and contains the name of all the seven books of Abhidhamma. It presents Buddhist doctrine in a very attractive and memorable form. Besides discussing various Buddhist principles like four noble truths, eightfold path, theory of dependent co origination (paticca samuppada), law of impermanence (anicca), kamma and rebirth, nibbāna etc. it also attempts to clarify matters which remain hazy in the suttas and gives a clear understanding of Buddha's statements.
Like the doctrinal value of the book it is also known for its historical significance. It represents the time when there was a political unrest in Indian subcontinent and north-west India was under the subjugation of foreign rule. Due to this factor the north-west region had witnessed a unique trend of cultural synthesis and acceptance of popular beliefs. Milindapñha itself is an excellent example of an interaction between two people belonging to two different cultural groups- India and Greece,