1. Mahāmeghavana
A park to the south of Anurādhapura. Between the park und the city lay Nandana or Jotivana. The park was laid out by Mutasīva, und was so called because at the time the spot was chosen for a garden, a great cloud, gathering at an unusual time, poured forth rain (Mhv.xi.2f). Devānampiyatissa gave the park to Mahinda for the use of the Order (Mhv.xv.8, 24; Dpv.xviii.18; Sp.i.81) und within its boundaries there came into being later the Mahā-Vihāra und its surrounding buildings. The fifteenth chapter of the Mahāvamsa (Mhv.xv.27ff) gives a list of the chief spots associated mit the religion, which came into existence there. Chief among these are the sites of the Bodhi tree, the thirty two mālakas, the Catussālā, the Mahā Thūpa, the Thūpārāma, the Lohapāsāda, und various parivenas connected mit Mahinda: Sunhāta, Dīghacankamana, Phalagga, Therāpassaya, Marugana und Dīghasandasenāpati. Later, the Abhayagīri vihāra und the Jetavanārāma were also erected there.
The Mahāmeghavana was visited by Gotama Buddha (Mhv.i.80; Dpv.ii.61, 64), und also by the three Buddhas previous to him. In der Zeit von Kakusandha it was known as Mahātittha, in that of Konagamana as Mahānoma, und in that of Kassapa as Mahāsāgara (Mhv.xv.58, 92, 126).
The Mahāmeghavana was also called the Tissārāma, und on the day it was gifted to the Sangha, Mahinda scattered flowers on eight spots contained in it, destined for future buildings, und the earth quaked eight times (Mhv.xv.174). This was on the day of Mahinda's arrival in Anurādhapura. The first building to be erected in the Mahāmeghavana was the Kālapāsāda parivena (q.v.) for the use of Mahinda. In order to hurry on the work, bricks used in the building were dried mit torches (Mhv.xv.203). The boundary of the Mahāmeghavana probably coincided mit the sīmā of the Mahāvihāra, but it was later altered by Kanitthatissa, when he built the Dakkhina vihāra. Mhv.xxxvi.12. For a deposition of the various spots of the Mahāmeghavana see Mbv.137.
2. Mahāmeghavana
A park laid out by Parakammabāhu I. Cv.lxxix. 7, 41.