Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2111

v2.c31.2111

**Mahāvihāra.**—The great monastery at **Anurādhapura**, for many centuries the chief seat of Buddhism in Ceylon. It was founded by **Devānampiyatissa**, on the counsel of **Mahinda**, and included the **Mahāmeghavana**. The Mahāmeghavanārāma henceforth came to be included in the Mahāvihāra. The boundary of the vihāra was marked out by the king ploughing a circular furrow starting from near the **Gaṅgalatittha** on the **Kadambanadī** and ending again at the river.¹ A list is given in the **Mahābodhivamsa**² of the places through which the *simā* (boundary) of the Mahāvihāra passed—Pāsāṇatittha, Kuddavāṭakapāsāṇa, **Kumbhakārāāvāṭa**, the Mahānīpa-tree, Kakudhapāli, Mahāaṅgana-tree, Khujjamātula-tree, **Marutta-pokkharaṇī**, the northern gate of the Vijayārāma park, Gajakumbhakapāsāṇa, then passing Avaṭṭimajjha, Bālakapāsāṇa on the Abhayavāpi, Mahāsusāna, Dīghapāsāṇa, the left side of Caṇḍalagāma, the Nīcasusāna to the left of Kammāradeva, Sīmānigrodha, Veḷuvaṅgana, round the hermitages of the Nigaṇṭhas Jotiya Giri and Kumbhaṇḍa, to the right of the various hermitages of the Paribbājakas, by Hiyagalla, along the shrine of the brahmin Dīyavāsa, through Telumapāli, Tālacatukka, to the right of the stables (assamandala), on to Sasakapāsāṇa and Marumbatittha. It then proceeded up the river to Sīhasinānatittha, on to Pāsāṇatittha, ending at Kuddavāṭakapāsāṇa.