Mahā Meghavana untranslated

Mahā Meghavana 01. A park to the south of Anurādhapura. Between the park and the city lay Nandana or Jotivana. The park was laid out by Muṭasīva, and was so-called because at the time the spot was chosen for a garden, a great cloud, gathering at an unusual time, poured forth rain (Mhv.xi.2f). Devānampiyatissa gave the park to Mahinda for the use of the Saṅgha and within its boundaries there came into being later the Mahā Vihāra and its surrounding buildings (Mhv.xv.8, 24; Dpv.xviii.18; Vin-a.i.81). The fifteenth chapter of the Mahā Vaṁsa gives a list of the chief spots associated with the religion, which came into existence there (Mhv.xv.27ff). Chief among these are the sites of the Bodhi-tree, the thirty-two mālakas, the Catussālā, the Mahā Thūpa, the Thūpārāma, the Lohapāsāda, and various pariveṇas connected with Mahinda: Suṇhāta, Dīghacaṅkamana, Phalagga, Therāpassaya, Marugana and Dīghasandasenāpati. Later, the Abhayagirivihāra and the Jetavanārāma were also erected there.

The Mahā Meghavana was visited by Gotama Buddha (Mhv.i.80; Dpv.ii.61, 64), and also by the three Buddhas previous to him. In the time of Kakusandha it was known as Mahā Tittha, in that of Koṇagamana as Mahānoma, and in that of Kassapa as Mahā Sāgara (Mhv.xv.58, 92, 126).

The Mahā Meghavana was also called the Tissārāma, and on the day it was gifted to the Saṅgha, Mahinda scattered flowers on eight spots contained in it, destined for future buildings, and the earth quaked eight times (Mhv.xv.174). This was on the day of Mahinda’s arrival in Anurādhapura. The first building to be erected in the Mahā Meghavana was the Kāḷapāsāda pariveṇa (q.v.) for the use of Mahinda. In order to hurry on the work, bricks used in the building were dried with torches (Mhv.xv.203). The boundary of the Mahā Meghavana probably coincided with the sīmā of the Mahā Vihāra, but it was later altered by Kaniṭṭhatissa, when he built the Dakkhiṇa vihāra. Mhv.xxxvi.12. For a deposition of the various spots of the Mahā Meghavana see Mbv.137.

Mahā Meghavana 02. A park laid out by Parakkamabāhu I. Cv.lxxix. 7, 41.