Maps of Ancient Buddhist Asia
Pesanakāle Laṅkādīpe
Lanka at the time of the Missions
The map shown above is approx. 1,000 km from East to West and 650 km from North to South
Devanampiyatissassa Anurādhapūraṁ
King Devanampiyatissa’s Anurādhapūra
The map shown above is approx. 4.5 km from East to West and 2.5 km from North to South
from Extended Mahāvaṁsa, Chapter XX
Mahāvihāraṁ paṭhamaṁ, dutiyaṁ Cetiyaṁ subhaṁ,
First the Great Monastery, second the lovely Cetiya (monastery),
Thūpārāmaṁ tu tatiyaṁ, Thūpapubbaṅgamaṁ subhaṁ, [27]
but the Sanctuary monastery was third, preceding the lovely Sanctuary (itself),
catutthaṁ tu Mahābodhipatiṭṭhāpanakāraṇaṁ.
and fourth he had the Great Bodhi planted.
Mahācetiyaṭhānamhi silāyūpassa cāruno [28]
* Fifthly, he established the beautiful stone pillar (marking) the Great Shrine
Sambuddhagīvādhātussa patiṭṭhāpanapañcamaṁ,
and (inside it) the relic of the Sambuddha’s neck (bone),
Issarasamaṇaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ, Tissavāpiṁ tu sattamaṁ, [29]
the Nobles Ascetics’ (monastery) was sixth, the Tissa tank seventh,
aṭṭhamaṁ Paṭhamathūpaṁ, navamaṁ Vessagirivhayaṁ,
eighth was the First Sanctuary, ninth the (monastery) called Trader’s Mountain,
Upāsikāvihārañ-ca tathā Hatthāḷhakāvhayaṁ, [30]
The Lay-Womens’ Monastery, and then the (one) called the Elephant’s Measure.
...
Kāretvā bhattasālaṁ so Mahāpālikam-avhayaṁ,
Having made a reception hall called the Great Range,
pāṭiyekkaṁ pāṭiyekkaṁ, sampannaparivāritaṁ, [33]
for each of the assemblies separately,
vatthabhojanapānādi, upakaraṇasampadaṁ,
* the King furnished (it) with (all) utensils,
tassev' Ubhatosaṅghassa adāsi Manujādhipo. [34]
and gave clothes, food, drinks and so on for both Communities.
...
Nāgadīpe Jambukole vihāre tamhi paṭṭane
In the port of Jambukola (he built) the monasteries (known as)
Tissamahāvihārañ-ca, Pācīnārāmam-eva ca, [36]
Tissa’s Great monastery, and the Eastern monastery,
ettakamhi vihāramhi bahudānaṁ nirantaraṁ
* and in all these monasteries he continually had
paṭiyattaṁ paṭiyattaṁ sakkaccaṁ pi dine dine. [37]
great donations prepared with respect day by day.