English

Twenty-five centuries ago, Pāli was the lingua franca of northern India, the dialect in which the Buddha taught. Just as Sanskrit is the canonical language of Hinduism and Latin the canonical language of Catholicism, Pāli is the classical language in which the teachings of the Buddha have been preserved. Tipitaka (Pali canon) i.e. literally meaning three baskets which contains teachings of the Buddha, are in Pali language.