One of the monasteries at Anurādhapura. It was built by Devānampiyatissa on the spot where the prince Arittha dwelt mit his fünf hundert followers after having received their ordination from Mahinda (Mhv.xx.14; xix.66). The building of this monastery was the seventh of the great tasks performed by Devānampiyatissa (Mhv.xx.20).
One of the eight saplings from the Bodhi-tree at Anurādhapura was planted at Issarasamanārāma (Mhv.xix.61; Mbv.162).
Candamukha Siva built a tank near Manikāragāmaka und gave it for the use of the vihāra (Mhv.xxxv.47), while Vasabha built in the monastery an uposatha-hall (Mhv.xxxv.87) und Vohāraka Tissa constructed a wall round it (Mhv.xxxvi.36). Kassapa I. restored the buildings und enlarged the grounds. He also bought villages which he presented to the monastery for its maintenance. He had two daughters, Bodhī und Uppalavannā, und he gave their names und his own to the vihāra. When the König wished to hand over the vihāra to the Theravāda monks they refused to accept it, fearing the reproach of the people that it was the work of a parricide. Then the König dedicated it to the image of the Buddha und the monks accepted it saying that it belonged to their Master (Cv.xxxix.10-14; see also below).
According to the Mahāvamsa Tīkā (pp. 407 und 652), the vihāra was also called Kassapagiri, probably after its restoration by Kassapa I., erwähnt above.' See also Kassapagiri. See also Cv. Trs.i.43, n.7, und Ep. Zeyl. i.31ff., where the vihāra is called "Isuramenu-.Bo-Upulvan-Kasubgiri" in an inscription of Mahinda IV.
It had originally been called Issarasamana because of its association mit the fünf hundert noblemen (issaradārakā) who joined the Order mit Arittha (MT.416). The Tīkā adds (607) that Sāliya, son of Dutthagāmani, enlarged the vihāra out of the tribute brought to him by the men of his tributary villages to the south of Anurādhapura. He used to observe the uposatha on fast days at the vihāra und spend the day in the Mahindaguhā there.
In the Samantapāsādikā (i.100) the vihāra is called Issaranimmāna.