Sa-skya Codex: Sri Lanka-Tibet Relations Through Palaeographic Analysis

Summary

The Sa-skya Codex, containing the Karmmavibhāga text, was discovered in 1936 by scholar Rahul Sankrtyayana during his second expedition to Tibet. Originally sought for Sanskrit manuscripts, Sankrtyayana found the Sinhala manuscript at the Sa-skya monastery, a historic Buddhist center linked to the Sa-skya-pa school. The codex, dating likely to the 12th or 13th century, was initially analyzed by P.E.E. Fernando in the 1960s, who suggested it might be an original copy. The Historical Manuscripts Commission of Sri Lanka supported this dating, noting its significance for studying Sinhala script development. Sankrtyayana’s discovery involved overcoming severe hardships, including limited resources and harsh conditions. He was aided by Nyâyâcârya Abhaya Singh (later identified as Abhayasimha), a Sri Lankan scholar who accompanied him to Tibet. Despite challenges, Sankrtyayana photographed and hand-copied manuscripts, including key Buddhist texts like Dharmmakîrtti’s Pramâna-vârttikâ and related commentaries. The Sa-skya monastery’s decline by the 20th century and the practice of using sacred manuscripts as relics complicated the preservation of such texts. The codex’s palaeographic analysis compares it to older Sri Lankan manuscripts, such as the Cullavagga Pali and Mahavagga Pali, to establish its historical context. The study highlights the Sa-skya monastery’s historical influence under Mongol patronage, particularly during Phags-pa’s tenure, when it became a major scholarly and political center. The codex’s survival offers critical insights into medieval Sri Lankan-Tibetan Buddhist exchanges and manuscript preservation practices.