Piruwana Poth Wahanse (Sinhala: à ¶´à ·Âà ¶»à ·Âà ·Âà ·Âà ¶±à · à ¶´à ·Âà ¶Âà · à ·Âà ·Âà ¶±à ·Âà ·Âà ·Â; sometimes romanized as Piruwana Poth Wahanse) is one of the most familiar Buddhist books in Sri Lanka. It gathers a collection of traditional pirithâÂÂprotective chants and recitations in TheravÃÂda BuddhismâÂÂpresented in both PÃÂli and Sinhala. Over the centuries, this text has served as a spiritual companion for monks and lay devotees alike, offering guidance, blessings, and protection.
In Sinhala, the phrase poth wahanse (à ¶´à ·Âà ¶Âà · à ·Âà ·Âà ¶±à ·Âà ·Âà ·Â) is an honorific expression meaning "revered book" or "venerable volume." The word piruwana (also written as pirith or piruvana) refers to protective Buddhist chants, known in PÃÂli as paritta. Together, the title conveys the idea of a highly respected collection of paritta verses, recited to safeguard, heal, and bless individuals and communities.
The Piruwana Poth Wahanse typically contains a carefully arranged set of parittas drawn from the PÃÂli Canon and Sri Lankan ritual tradition. Among the most familiar are the Ratana Sutta, Metta Sutta, and Mangala SuttaâÂÂwell-loved chants believed to protect against harm, bring peace of mind, and cultivate compassion. Many editions provide the original PÃÂli text alongside Sinhala translations and explanatory notes, allowing both monastics and laypeople to engage with the chants in a meaningful way.
According to the Anuà ÂÃÂsanÃÂva of the Piruwana Poth Wahanse, the BuddhaâÂÂs voice was described as possessing eight remarkable qualities: it was sweetly enchanting (madhu), uplifting (mada), joyful (muditÃÂ), gracefully soft (lalita), delightfully pleasant (ratikara), wonderfully captivating (manohara), resonant like the gentle cooing of a Kalaviá¹ ka bird (kuravëkan-ÃÂda), and smooth in consistency without variation (nirvià Âeá¹£a). Pirit chanting in Sri Lanka has evolved over centuries, with many protective suttas compiled into the MahàPirit Pota (also called CatubÃÂá¹ÂavÃÂrapÃÂli or Piruwana Poth Wahanse). During the late AnurÃÂdhapura period, King Kassapa V issued a decree that only those who had memorized the CatubÃÂá¹ÂavÃÂra PÃÂli were eligible for ordination, highlighting the central importance of the Pirith tradition in early Sri Lankan Buddhist monasticism.
For Sri Lankan Buddhists, the Piruwana Poth Wahanse is more than just a bookâÂÂit is a central part of everyday religious life. Its verses are recited at alms-giving ceremonies, during temple festivals, on Vesak, at memorials, and even at household blessings. Monks often lead extended pirith chanting sessions that can last throughout the night, with the book serving as their primary guide. In certain customs, a copy of the book itself is carried in processions or placed near relics to represent its sacred function of merit and protection.
Over time, numerous editions of the Piruwana Poth Wahanse have been published by Buddhist presses, monasteries, and cultural centers in Sri Lanka and abroad. Many of these editions are bilingual, presenting the original PÃÂli alongside Sinhala, and some modern versions have been standardized with pagination and ISBNs for wider circulation. Today, the text remains widely available through bookshops, monastery bookstalls, and online repositories.