Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c22.48

v1.c22.48

1. Thūpārāma.—A monastery near the southern wall of Anurādhapura, erected by Devānampiyatissa. The spot was consecrated by the Buddha having sat there in meditation¹ and also by former Buddhas doing likewise.² The thūpa there was the first of its kind in Ceylon and enshrined the Buddha's collar-bone. Miracles, said to have been ordained by the Buddha himself, attended its enshrinement.³ The monastery was built later than the thūpa, hence its name.⁴ One of the eight saplings of the Bodhi-tree at Anurādhapura was planted in the grounds and exists to this day.⁵ The Cittasālā was to the east of the Thūpārāma, and on that site Saṅghamittā was cremated.⁶ It was the monks of Thūpārāma who helped Thūlatthana to become king.⁷