TIPITAKA
The
meaning of the term pitika‘ is basket, the term pitaka‘ was used in those days
to denote literature of dhamma‘. This
word Pitaka‘ as religious literature‘ gets revealed through Tipitaka i. The
words of the Buddha were in three divisions and preserve them safely, came to
be known as the Tipitaka‘.
CLASSIFICATION
OF TIPITAKA
1) The Vinaya Pitaka
1. Suttavibhaṅga
2. Khandhaka
3. Parivāra
2) The
Sutta Pitaka
1. Dīgha
Nikāya
2. Majjhima
Nikāya
3. Saṃyutta
Nikāya
4. Aṅguttara
Nikāya
5. Khuddaka
Nikāya
2)
The Abhidhamma Pitaka
1. Dhammasaṅgaṇī
2. Vibhaṅga
3.
Dhātukathā
4.
Puggalapaññatti
5.
Kathāvatthu
6. Yamaka
7. Paṭṭhāna
1)
The Vinaya Pitaka:-
Vinaya literally means guidance and contains the rules of monastic discipline.
Vinaya Pitaka' is the first of the Tripitaka
and it contains all the disciplinary rules of ecclesiastical acts and duties
formulated by the Buddha himself for the conduct and guidance of monks and
nuns.
It
explains all the rules which are contained in Patimokkha by the Buddha in
order
to regulate the individual life of the member of the order.
These
rules admonished the monks and the nuns to refrain from seven different kinds
of offences. These offences are arranged in the Suttavibhanga in a gradual manner
starting from grave offences and ending with lighter ones. The punishment given
varies with the nature of offence.
The
division of offences appears in Vinaya Pitaka:
The Khandhakas:-
It consists of the two books- Mahavagga and Culavagga. For the smooth functioning of the sangha, certain actions were supposed to be carried out jointly like admission and ordination processes, holding of fortnightly confession meetings, observation of rain retreats, etc.
The Parivara:-
The Parivara consisting of nineteen sections serves as a kind of manual of instructions about content of Vinaya. It is compiled in the form of catechism, enabling the reader to make an enlightening survey of the Vinaya pitaka.
