Vessagiri untranslated

Vessagiri. A monastery in Ceylon, near Anurādhapura. It was built by Devānampiyatissa for the five hundred Vessas (merchants) who were ordained by Mahinda (Mhv.xx.15; Mhv.Trs. 137, n.3). Near the monastery was a forest, where Vaṭṭagāmaṇī, in his flight, hid the alms bowl of the Buddha. There he also met the Elder Kupikkala Mahā Tissa (Mhv.xxxiii.48f). The alms bowl was discovered and taken by a Damiḷa to India, but was later recovered (Mhv.xxxiii.55). To the south of Vessagiri was the Pabbatavihāra, and, near it, the village of Silāsobbhakaṇḍaka. Mhv­ṭ.616.