widesutra-mcp

MCP server for WideSutra -- query Buddhist scriptures directly from Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf. Ask your AI assistant about Pali Canon passages, Mahayana sutras, Buddhist figures, and core concepts backed by 5 collections, 5,326 texts, Pali + English translations, 10 figures, and 15 concepts.

Explore Buddhist scriptures at widesutra.com -- Collections | Figures | Concepts | Glossary

Table of Contents

• Install
• Configure
  • Claude Desktop
  • Cursor
  • Windsurf
• Available Tools
• Example Conversations
• Buddhist Scripture Collections
• Environment Variables
• Also Available
• WideHoly Scripture Platform
• License

Install

pip install widesutra-mcp

Or with uvx (no install needed):

uvx widesutra-mcp

Configure

Claude Desktop

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "widesutra": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["widesutra-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

In .cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "widesutra": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["widesutra-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

In ~/.windsurf/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "widesutra": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["widesutra-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Available Tools

Tool	Description	Example Args
get_text	Get a specific Buddhist scripture passage by book, chapter, and verse	book="dhammapada", chapter=1, verse=1
search_sutra	Search across 5,326 Buddhist texts by keyword	query="four noble truths", limit=10
get_collection	Get scripture collection details (Tipitaka, Mahayana Sutras, etc.)	slug="tipitaka"
get_figure	Get Buddhist figure info (Buddhas, bodhisattvas, arahants)	slug="siddhartha-gautama"
get_concept	Get Buddhist concept details (Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, etc.)	slug="four-noble-truths"

Example Conversations

Reading scripture passages:

"Show me the first verse of the Dhammapada"

"What does the Heart Sutra say about emptiness?"

"Find passages about compassion in the Pali Canon"

Exploring Buddhist teachings:

"Explain the Four Noble Truths with the original Pali terms"

"What is the Noble Eightfold Path?"

"Tell me about dependent origination"

Learning about Buddhist figures:

"Who was Nagarjuna and what did he teach?"

"Tell me about Avalokiteshvara in Mahayana Buddhism"

"What collections are in the Tipitaka?"

Buddhist Scripture Collections

WideSutra covers 5 major collections of Buddhist scriptures spanning Theravada and Mahayana traditions:

Collection	Tradition	Description
Tipitaka (Pali Canon)	Theravada	Three baskets: Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma Pitaka
Mahayana Sutras	Mahayana	Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and more
Chinese Agamas	East Asian	Chinese translations of early Buddhist discourses
Tibetan Kangyur	Tibetan	Translated words of the Buddha in the Tibetan canon
Gandharan Manuscripts	Early Buddhist	Ancient Gandhara region texts in Kharosthi script

Translations include Bhikkhu Sujato (English), Bhikkhu Bodhi (English), and the original Pali texts. The API returns both translated text and original Pali where available.

Environment Variables

Variable	Default	Description
WIDESUTRA_BASE_URL	https://widesutra.com/api/v1/sutra	API base URL

Also Available

Platform	Package	Install
PyPI	widesutra	pip install widesutra
npm	widesutra	npm install widesutra
Go	widesutra-go	go get github.com/dobestan/widesutra-go
Rust	widesutra	cargo add widesutra
Ruby	widesutra	gem install widesutra

WideHoly Scripture Platform

Part of the WideHoly multi-religion scripture platform.

Site	Domain	Focus
WideBible	widebible.com	66 books, 4 translations (KJV, ASV, BBE, YLT), 3,000+ people, 942 places
WideQuran	widequran.com	114 surahs, hadith collections, tafsir commentary
WideTorah	widetorah.com	Tanakh, 54 parashot, Talmud tractates, Rashi commentary
WideGita	widegita.com	18 Gita chapters, Upanishads, Yoga Sutras, Hindu deities
WideSutra	widesutra.com	5 collections, 5,326 texts, Pali + English, 10 figures, 15 concepts
WideHoly	wideholy.com	Cross-religion search, verse comparison, religious calendar

Learn More About Buddhist Scriptures

• Scripture: Collections · Translations
• Reference: Figures · Topics · Glossary
• Study: Concepts · Pali Canon
• Tools: Search · Developer Docs
• API: Developer Docs · OpenAPI Spec

License

MIT