Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1365

v2.c31.1365

Mahā-Thupa.—The great Thūpa in Anurādhapura, built by Duṭṭhagāmaṇi. The site on which it was erected was consecrated by the visit of all the four Buddhas of this kappa and was at the upper end of the Kakudhavāpi. It was one of the spots at which Mahinda scattered campaka-flowers by way of homage, and the earth trembled. When Mahinda informed Devānaṃpiyatissa of the great sanctity of the spot and of its suitability for a Thūpa, Tissa immediately wished to build the Thūpa himself, but Mahinda bade him desist, telling him that the work would be carried out in the future by Duṭṭhagāmaṇi. Tissa recorded this prophecy on a pillar of stone.¹ When Duṭṭhagāmaṇi had won his victory over the Damiḷas and had brought peace to the country, he saw the prophecy inscribed on the stone pillar, but was unwilling to start the work as the people were too crippled with regard to money to be able to support such an immense undertaking. But the devas read his thoughts and provided him with all the necessaries for the building of the Thūpa. Prepared bricks were found on the banks of the Gambhīranadī, copper near Tambapiṭṭha, silver in the Ambaṭṭhakolaleṇa, pearls at Uruvelā, and gems in a cave near Peḷivāpigāma. The building was started on the full-moon day of Visākha. The foundation stone was laid on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Āsāḷha. Great celebrations marked the event, arrangements for which were in the hands of the ministers Visākha and Sirideva. Monks were present not only from all over Ceylon but from many other places: eighty thousand under Indagutta from Rājagaha, twelve thousand under Dhammasena from Isipatana, sixty thousand under Piyadassī from Jetavanārāma, eighteen thousand under Mahā-Buddharakkhita from Mahāvana in Vesāli, thirty thousand under Mahā-Dhammarakkhita from Ghositārāma in Kosambī, forty thousand under Mahā-Saṅgharakkhita from Dakkhiṇāgiri in Ujjeni, one hundred and sixty thousand under Mittinna from Asokārāma in Pāṭaliputta, two hundred and eighty thousand under Uttinna from Kasmīra, four hundred and sixty thousand under Mahādeva from Pallabhogga, thirty thousand under Yonamahā-Dhammarakkhita from Alasandā, sixty thousand under Uttara from Viñjhāṭavī, thirty thousand under Cittagutta from Bodhimaṇḍa-vihāra, eighty thousand under Candagutta from Vanavāsa, and ninety-six thousand under Suriyagutta from Kelāsa-vihāra. Of arahants alone ninety-six crores were present.