Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.1404

v1.c12.1404

Kāñcipura (v.l. Kāñcīpura).—A city in Southern India on the Coromandel coast, capital of the Pallavas, and one of the seven sacred towns of India; it is the modern Conjevaram. It was once the centre of Buddhism in South India and was one of the places of pilgrimage visited by Hiouien Thsang. He mentions that during his stay there three hundred monks came to Kāñcipura from Ceylon, fleeing from the political disturbances in that country.¹ In Pāli Literature the locality is noteworthy as the birthplace of the Commentator Dhammapāla and perhaps also of Anuruddha, author of the Abhidhammattha-Saṅgaha.² Some identify Kāñcipura with Satiyaputta of Asoka’s Rock Edict II.³