Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1373

v2.c31.1373

Before the parasol of the Mahā Thūpa and the plaster work could be completed, Duṭṭhagāmaṇi fell ill, and his brother, Saddhātissa, summoned from Dīghavāpi, contrived with great skill to make the Thūpa look complete, that the king might see it before he died. After the king's obsequies had been performed, in a place within sight of the Mahā Thūpa,⁵ Saddhātissa finished the work yet remaining and established celebrations to be performed three times daily at the Mahā Thūpa.⁶ Lañjatissa levelled the ground between the Mahā Thūpa and the Thūpārāma and built three stone terraces at the cost of three hundred thousand.⁷ Khal-lāṭanāga made the courtyard of sand, surrounded by a wall.⁸ Bhātika constructed two vedikā round the courtyard.⁹ It is said¹⁰ that Bhātika was taken by the arahants into the Relic Chamber, and he held great celebrations in its honour.¹¹ Mahādāthika-Mahānāga converted the sand courtyard into a wide court laid out with kiñcakkha-stones on plaster,¹² while Āmaṇḍagāmaṇi erected a parasol over the cetiya¹³ and Ilaṇāga made the Lambakaṇṇas construct a roadway leading up to the Mahā Thūpa.¹⁴ Sirināga had the whole Thūpa gilded and crowned with a new parasol,¹⁵ this work being undertaken again later by Saṅghatissa,¹⁶ while Saṅghabodhi made rain to pour down by means of prostrating himself in the courtyard.¹⁷ Jeṭṭhatissa offered two precious gems to the Thūpa,¹⁸ while Aggabodhi I. placed on the Thūpa a golden umbrella.¹⁹ From this time onward the country passed through very troublous times and the Mahā Thūpa was neglected. But it was restored by Parakkamabāhu I.²⁰ and again by Kittinissaṅka²¹; it was later pillaged by Māgha,²² and remained neglected till the time of Parakkamabāhu II., who started the work of reconstruction,²³ which was completed by his son Vijayabāhu IV.²⁴