A locality in the old Mahānāga garden, on the banks of the
Mahāvālukagangā. It was there that the Buddha hovered in the air on his first
visit to Ceylon, in order to frighten the Yakkhas. Later, Mahāsumana built there
a shrine seven cubits in diameter, all of sapphire, and containing the hair
given to him by the Buddha. After the Buddha's death, Sarabhū, a disciple of
Sāriputta, brought there the collar bone of the Buddha, which he deposited in
the thūpa, increasing the height of the thūpa to twelve cubits. Uddhacūlābhaya
raised it to thirty cubits, while Dutthagāmanī, dwelling there during his
campaign against the Tamil Chatta, increased it to eighty cubits (Mhv.i.24,
33ff.; xxv.7; Cv. Trs.i.154, n.3). Vohārika Tissa erected a parasol over the
thūpa (Mhv.Xxxvi.34). Attached to the thūpa was a vihāra, near which lived the
three Lambakannas, Sanghatissa, Sanghabodhi and Gothābhaya (Mhv.Xxxvi.58).



In later times, Sena II. gave maintenance villages to the
vihāra (Cv.li.74), as did also Kassapa IV. (Cv.lii.14). Vijayabāhu I. found the
vihāra in a bad state of decay and had it restored, (Cv.lx.59) while
Parakkamabāhu VI. carried out repairs to the thūpa (Cv.xci.29). King Vīravikamma
went from his capital to Mahiyangana, a distance of seven gāvutas on foot, and
held a great festival in honour of the thūpa (Cv.xcii.17). King Narindasīha is
mentioned as having visited Mahiyangana three times once alone and
twice with his army and as having held magnificent festivals in its
honour (Cv.xcvii.27ff). Vijayarājasīha held a festival there (Cv.xcviii.85), as
did Kittisirirājasīha, who made a pilgrimage to the spot (Cv.xcix.38); he also
made arrangements for travelers from Siam to Ceylon to visit the spot and hold
celebrations there (Cv.c.125ff). Rājasīha II. was born in Mahiyangana, while his
parents were staying there for protection from their enemies. Cv.xcv.12.


See also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Durutu_Poya_Day.htm

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