ITBMU, Diploma class assignment question 1 (Second Semester) January, 2026

Question: Critically analyze the religious reforms of King Dhammazedi in Lower Myanmar and evaluate the significance of these reforms in the purification, perpetuation, and propagation of orthodox Theravāda Buddhism.

Outline (Short Notes)

Introduction

• Lower Myanmar ruled by the Mon kingdom with capital at Bago (Hamsavadi)
• Buddhism flourished despite political changes
• King Dhammazedi (1472–1492 AD) was a former monk
• He carried out major religious reforms
• Aim: purification, unification, and strengthening of the Sangha

Body

1. Religious Background

• Buddhism developed since the reign of King Wareru
• Wareru’s Dhammathat showed strong monastic scholarship
• Differences in Vinaya practice existed among monks
• Mahāvihāra tradition of Sri Lanka regarded as the orthodox authority

2. Kalyāṇī Sima Ordination Reform

• Dhammazedi was educated in Sri Lankan Vinaya tradition
• Sent 22 senior monks to Sri Lanka in 1476 AD
• Re-ordination at Kalyāṇī Sima under Mahāvihāra Sangha
• Built a duplicate Kalyāṇī Sima at Bago
• Restored valid and orthodox ordination in Lower Myanmar

3. Purification and Unification of the Sangha

• Strict enforcement of Vinaya discipline
• Monks practicing arts, medicine, astrology expelled
• Sangha Council formed to handle discipline
• Secular authority used carefully to protect the Sangha
• Sangha became purified and unified

4. Expansion and International Recognition

• 396 Kalyāṇī ordination halls built
• Over 15,000 monks ordained
• Monks from Laos, Chiang Mai, Cambodia, and Ayutthaya participated
• Lower Myanmar became a center of Theravāda Buddhism

Conclusion

• Dhammazedi’s reforms restored orthodox Buddhism
• Sangha was purified and unified
• Vinaya discipline strengthened
• International recognition achieved through Sri Lankan connection
• King Dhammazedi regarded as a great religious reformer in Lower Myanmar

Main points of the achievements of religious reforms of King Dhammazedi:

• Having spent many years as a monk, King Dhammazedi understood how to reform the Sangha wisely and carefully.
• As an absolute monarch, he used his secular power to protect and control the Sangha.
• He strengthened the Sangha by enforcing Vinaya and restoring ordination.

First: Check whether the assignment paper is written according to the outline provided.

Second: Comment on the introduction and conclusion (excellent, good, or normal).

Third: The assignment paper is limited to 500 words. However, the paper can be written in the range of 500 to 550 words. Papers that contain fewer than 500 words or more than 550 words will be reviewed, and a warning will be issued.

Fourth: Check for serious spelling and grammatical errors.