Araññavāsīnikāya untranslated

Araññavāsīnikāya. A group of monks in Ceylon who seem to have spent most of their time in solitary spots engaged in meditation. They owed allegiance to the Mahā Vihāra. They are first heard of in the sixth century when, in the reign of Aggabodhi II., the King of Kaliṅga came over to Ceylon and joined the Saṅgha under the famous Elder Jotipāla. This fraternity seems to have been closely associated with the Buddhists of Kaliṅga. Among famous scholars belonging to it were: Ānanda Vanaratanatissa, Vedeha, Coḷa Buddhappiya, Cūḷa Dhammapāla, Medhaṅkara, his pupil Ānanda and Siddhattha.

The Araññavāsins were specially esteemed by Parakkamabāhu of Dambadeniya. For details about them see PLC. 210-13, 226, 229.