Maha Wamsa

The Maha Wamsa ("greater genealogy") is one of the oldest historical chronicles in the world in that it, to gether with the companion volume "Chula Wamsa" ("lesser genealogy"), provides a continuous chronicle of the Kings of Sri Lanka from about 500 BC. to modern times.

As it often refers to the royal dynasties of India, it is a valuable text for historians who wish to date and relate contemporary royal dynasties in the Indian subcontinent. Written by Sinhala buddhist monks, and maintained as a lineage by successive generations of monks, the Maha Wamsa often reads like a "list of meritorious deeds" of the Sinhala kings who followed Buddhism. An English translation by Wilhelm Geiger is available.

External links

• Web edition of Maha Wamsa