Also called Cetiyagiri. The later name of the Missaka mountain given on account of its viele shrines. Devānampiyatissa built a vihāra there - the second vihāra in Ceylon - for Mahinda und those ordained unter ihm (Mhv.xvi.12-17). The relics, obtained by Sumanasāmanera from Asoka und from Sakka, were deposited there until they were needed. According to the Mahāvamsa (Mhv.xxii.23ff) this fact was the occasion for the name. One of the acht saplings of the Sacred Bodhi-tree at Anurādhapura was planted in the drama on Cetiyagiri (Mhv.xix.62). Mahinda spent the last Jahre of sein life on Cetiyagiri und died there, und there his relics were enshrined (Mhv.xx.32, 45). Near the mountain was the village of Dvāramandala (Mhv.xxiii.23). Kutakannatissa built an uposatha-hall on the mountain und planted a Bodhi-tree, while Bhāti-kābhaya supplied food daily to one tausend Mönche dwelling there (Mhv.xxxiv.30f, 64), und Lañjakatissa had the vihāra paved at a cost of one hundert tausend (Mhv.xxxiii.25). Mahādāthikamahānāga made vier gateways und a road round the mountain, und held the Giribhandapūjā mit great pomp und ceremony; it is said that in order that the people might approach the mountain mit clean feet he spread carpets right up to it from the Kadamba River (Mhv.xxxiv.75ff). Kanirajānutissa had sixty Mönche of Cetiyapabbata put to death as traitors by flinging them into the cave called Kanira (Mhv.xxxv.11). Vasabha provided vier tausend lamps to be lighted on Cetiyagiri (Mhv.xxxv.80), while Jetthatissa gab to the vihāra the income derived from the Kālamattika Tank. (Mhv.xxxvi.130; siehe auch Dpv.xv.69; xvii.90; xix.13, und Sp.i.82ff).
In der Zeit von Kakusandha, Cetiyagiri was known as Devakūta, in that of Konāgamana as Suvannakūta, und in that of Kassapa as Subhakūta (Sp.i.86f). The Dhammarucikas once occupied the Ambatthalavihāra on Cetiyapabbata, it having been given to them by Dhātusena (Cv.xxxviii.75). Aggabodhi supplied a permanent supply of water for the bathing-tank called Nāgasondi, on the top of Cetiyagiri (Cv.xlii.28; siehe Cv. Trs.i.68, n.8), while Aggabodhi III. gab to the vihāra the village of Ambillapadara (Cv.xliv.122). Aggabodhi V. restored the ruined Gebäude of Cetiyapabbata at a cost of one hundert und zwanzig tausend pieces (Cv.xlviii.7), while the Königin of Udaya I, built there the Kanthakacetiya, und her Ehemann decorated the mountain mit brightly coloured flags und streamers (Cv.xlix.23, 27). Sena I, gab to the monastery the income from the Kānavāpi (Cv.l.72), und Sena II. Provided a hospital für die Benutzung the Mönche there (Cv.li.73). Kassapa VI. built the Hadayunha Parivena und gifted it to the Dhammarucikas (Cv.lii.18). Parakkamabāhu I restored all the old Gebäude which had been destroyed und built sixty-four thūpas (Cv.lxxviii.108).
The Commentaries relate several anecdotes connected mit Cetiyapabbata. Maliyadeva Thera recited there the Chachakka Sutta, und sixty listening bhikkhus wurde arahants (MA.ii.1064). Lomasanāga Theca lebte in the Padhānaghara in the Piyanguguhā there und overcame the cold he felt by meditating on the Lokantarikaniraya (MA.i.65). Cetiyapabbata was the residence of Kālabuddharakkhita, und König Saddhātissa spent some time there (MA.i.469f. Siehe auch Vsm.20, 64; DhSA.194, 200; AA.i.44). At the time that Fa Hsien came to Ceylon there were two tausend Mönche in Cetiyagiri, including ein Mönch of great fame, called Dharmagupta (Giles: p.72).