Sāriputta Thera was a 12th-century Sri Lankan scholar monk of Theravada Buddhism. He was the first leader (Mahasvami) of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Sangha after Parakramabahu I's reforms and one of Theravada's greatest exegetes.^[1] He was the student of Mahakassapa Thera, who presided over the Buddhist council convened by Parakramabahu I and was likely present at the council himself.^[2] He was later abbot of the Jetavana Vihara of Polonnaruwa. He wrote at least five sub-commentaries (ṭīkā) on Buddhaghosa's commentaries to the Pali Canon as well as various compendiums and manuals on Vinaya (monastic discipline) and Buddhist Meditation practice.^[3] His Sarattha-dipani ("The Essence-Meaning Illustrator"), a sub-commentary on the Vinaya Commentary of Buddhaghosa, explains issues in Buddhaghosa's text and deals with further points from the Pali Canon and other Vinaya texts no longer extant.^[4]

• John R. Hinnells (editor); Who’s Who of World Religions.
• Thanissaro Bhikkhu; The Buddhist Monastic Code: The Patimokkha Training Rules, http://uwf.edu/wmikulas/webpage/leaves/website/lib/modern/bmc/intro.html