In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A province of Ceylon, the territory west of the mountains and reaching up to the sea. It was so called from the relation of its position to that of Anuradhapura. At one time it was united with the Malayarattha and formed part of the territory governed by the kings second son (E.g., Cv.xli.35; but see Cv.Trs.i.54, n.4). Later, it seems to have become the special province of the heir apparent (E.g., Cv.xliii.8; xliv.84; lxv.23; lxviii.33; li.12, etc.).

It is also referred to as Dakkhinapassa (E.g., Cv.lviii.41) and Dakkhinabhaga.

Among the strongholds of Dakkhinadesa are mentioned Muhunnaru, Badalatthala, Vapinagara, Buddhagama, Tilagulla, Mahagalla and Mandagalla (Cv.lviii.42), and among its villages, Punkhagama (Cv.lxi.42) and Bodhisenapabbata (Cv.lxi.33).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963

Dakkhiṇadesa represents one of the four original divisions of Anurādhapura. Dakkhiṇadesa or Dakkhiṇapassa (in inscriptions, Dakuṇpasa), the southern division, extending in the 10th century to the Kalu Gaṅga.

Anurādhapura was first founded as a village settlement in the second half of the 6th century B.C. by a Minister named Anurādha of the first, traditional King, Vijaya. The original kingdom of Anurādhapura extended over the entire northern and north-central plain. It was divided into four main divisions (e.g., Dakkhiṇadesa), named after the four cardinal directions, and this nomenclature persisted long after the whole of Ceylon had been united as one kingdom in B.C. 161.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

dakkhiṇadesa : (m.) the southern country.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text (+28): Mahipalarattha, Tabbarattha, Padavarasunnakanda, Porogahali, Tabbavapi, Giribarattha, Rattakara, Rajininijjhara, Ratanakara, Sirivaddhamanavapi, Sukaraggama, Bodhisenapabbatagama, Moriyarattha, Venu, Manyagama, Nagindapalliya, Kadalinivataka, Pilavitthi, Malavalli, Kantakapetaka.

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