oldenberg's 1881 study on buddhism, entitled "buddha: sein leben, seine lehre, seine gemeinde", based on pāli texts, popularized buddhism and has remained continuously in print since its first publication. with t. w. rhys davids, he edited and translated into english three volumes of theravada vinaya texts, two volumes of the (vedic) grhyasutras and two volumes of vedic hymns on his own account, in the monumental sacred books of the east series edited by max müller. with his "prolegomena" (1888), oldenberg laid the groundwork to the philological study of the rigveda.