Mahavihara
Encyclopedia
The Mahavihara was for several centuries the center of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka
. It was founded by king Devanampiya Tissa (247–207 BCE) in his capital Anuradhapura
. The Mahavihara was the place where Theravadin
orthodoxy was established by monks such as Buddhaghosa
. The monks living at the Mahavihara were referred to as mahaviharavasims.
The term Mahavihara was also applied to a number of the larger monasteries in India, among them Nalanda
, Vikramashila, Odantipura, Somapura, Ratnagiri
, and others.
According to the Mahavamsa
, the Mahavihara was destroyed during sectarian conflicts with the (Mahayana
) monks of the Abhayagiri Vihara during the 4th century. These Mahayana monks incited King Mahasena to destruct the Mahavihara. As a result of this, a later king expelled the Mahayana monks from Sri Lanka
.
However, the traditional Theravadin account provided by the Mahavamsa is contradicted by the writings of the Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian
(Ch. 法顯), who journeyed to India
and Sri Lanka in the early 5th century (between 399 and 414 CE). He first entered Sri Lanka around 406 CE and began writing about his experiences in detail. He recorded that the Mahavihara was not only intact, but housed 3000 monks. He also provides an account of a cremation at Mahavihara that he personally attended, of a highly respected śramaṇa
who attained the arhat stage. Faxian also recorded the concurrent existence of the Abhayagiri Vihara, and that this monastery housed 5000 monks.
In the 7th century CE, Xuanzang
also describes the concurrent existence of both monasteries in Sri Lanka. He refers to the monks of the Mahavihara as the "Hīnayāna
Sthavira" (Pali: Thera), and the monks of the Abhayagiri
Vihara as the "Mahāyāna
Sthavira".
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It was founded by king Devanampiya Tissa (247–207 BCE) in his capital Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
. The Mahavihara was the place where Theravadin
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
orthodoxy was established by monks such as Buddhaghosa
Buddhaghosa
Bhadantācariya Buddhaghoṣa（Chinese: 覺音）was a 5th-century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar. His best-known work is the Visuddhimagga, or Path of Purification, a comprehensive summary and analysis of the Theravada understanding of the Buddha's path to liberation...
. The monks living at the Mahavihara were referred to as mahaviharavasims.
The term Mahavihara was also applied to a number of the larger monasteries in India, among them Nalanda
Nalanda
Nālandā is the name of an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India.The site of Nalanda is located in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from the fifth or sixth century CE to 1197 CE. It has been called "one of the...
, Vikramashila, Odantipura, Somapura, Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
, and others.
According to the Mahavamsa
Mahavamsa
The Mahavamsa is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri Lanka...
, the Mahavihara was destroyed during sectarian conflicts with the (Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
) monks of the Abhayagiri Vihara during the 4th century. These Mahayana monks incited King Mahasena to destruct the Mahavihara. As a result of this, a later king expelled the Mahayana monks from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
However, the traditional Theravadin account provided by the Mahavamsa is contradicted by the writings of the Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian
Faxian
Faxian was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India, Sri Lanka and Kapilavastu in today's Nepal between 399 and 412 to acquire Buddhist scriptures...
(Ch. 法顯), who journeyed to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka in the early 5th century (between 399 and 414 CE). He first entered Sri Lanka around 406 CE and began writing about his experiences in detail. He recorded that the Mahavihara was not only intact, but housed 3000 monks. He also provides an account of a cremation at Mahavihara that he personally attended, of a highly respected śramaṇa
Shramana
A shramana is a wandering monk in certain ascetic traditions of ancient India including Jainism, Buddhism, and Ājīvikism. Famous śramaṇas include Mahavira and Gautama Buddha....
who attained the arhat stage. Faxian also recorded the concurrent existence of the Abhayagiri Vihara, and that this monastery housed 5000 monks.
In the 7th century CE, Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
also describes the concurrent existence of both monasteries in Sri Lanka. He refers to the monks of the Mahavihara as the "Hīnayāna
Hinayana
Hīnayāna is a Sanskrit and Pāli term literally meaning: the "Inferior Vehicle", "Deficient Vehicle", the "Abandoned Vehicle", or the "Defective Vehicle". The term appeared around the 1st or 2nd century....
Sthavira" (Pali: Thera), and the monks of the Abhayagiri
Abhayagiri Dagaba
Abhayagiri vihāra is situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation. Historically it was a great monastic centre as well as a royal capital, with magnificent monasteries rising to many...
Vihara as the "Mahāyāna
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Sthavira".