Show alio sacred are three books regarded as sacred by buddhists of ceylon the first called the Maha vanso is the most highly venerated it has been very carefully handed down from generation to generation the most ancient copies not varying in the least from those of modern date the Maha vanso contains the doctrine race and lineage of buddha besides tho authentic annals of ceylon eso buddhism nest to the Maha vanso in point of veneration is the learned priests history of buddha called the cari this book also contains extracts from other antique works besides a record of the erection of the various temples and shrines of the island and a history of the kings from the year B C the third of the ceylonese sacred books is called the Ra javall or light giver it is simply a modern supa ment of the other two and brings c records down to date the main ir tion is given up to recording events in ceylonese Uey lonese history bince the advent of the the dutch especial attention being given to that portion of the work which tells of the expulsion of the portuguese st louis republic |