[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Dictionary of Pali Proper Names](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937) › v2.c31.1578 # Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1578 Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names v2.c31.1578 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c31.1578](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.1578) 5. Mahānāma.—King of Ceylon. He was the younger brother of Upatissa II. and was for some time a monk, but he carried on an intrigue with Upatissa's wife, and she killed her husband. Then Mahānāma became a layman, assumed the sovereignty, and married Upatissa's queen. He built refuges for the sick, enlarged the Mahāpāli Hall, and erected the Lohadvāra-, Ralaggāma-, and Koṭipassāvana-vihāras, which he gave to the monks of Abhayagiri. A vihāra which he built on the Dhūmarakkha mountain, he gave, at the instigation of his queen, to the monks of Mahāvihāra. He ruled for twenty-two years (409-31 A.C.). It was during his reign that Buddhaghosa arrived in Ceylon and wrote his Commentaries, dwelling in a vihāra given by the king.¹ - [Previous: v2.c31.1577](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.1577) - [Next: v2.c31.1579](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.1579) - [Up: v2.c31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.1578](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.1578) · Pramāṇa