Kakavanna Tissa, Kākavanna-tissa: 1 definition
Introduction:
Kakavanna Tissa means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA king of the Rohana dynasty in Ceylon. He was the great grandson of Mahanaga, brother of Devanampiya Tissa, and his father was Gothabhaya (Mhv.xv.170f; Mbv.132). His capital was at Mahagama. He had as wife, Devi (better known as Viharadevi), daughter of Tissa, king of Kalyani, who had been cast into the sea to expiate her fathers crimes (Mhv.xxii.20ff). Their children were Dutthagamani Abhaya and Saddha Tissa. Kakavanna Tissa gathered round him all the foremost Sinhalese warriors of the time so that they should be available for Gamani, when the time came for his campaign against the Damilas (Mhv.xxiii.2).
But at the start Kakavanna Tissa was very reluctant to allow his son to make preparations for such a campaign (Mhv.xxii.82f), so much so that, in exasperation, the young prince once sent his father some female ornaments to indicate that the king was no man (Mhv.xxiv.4). Kakavanna Tissa was very pious, and is said to have built sixty four viharas, sixty four years being also the length of his reign (Mhv.xxiv.12; see also AA.i.279). Among the religious edifices built by him were the Tissamaharama, the Cittalapabbatavihara (Mhv.xxii.23) and the Mahanuggala Cetiya. He was cremated at Tissamaharama (xxiv.8, 13). He evidently received his name on account of his dark colour. The Dipavamsa (Dpv.xviii.20; were their names Mahila and Samanta?; see also xix.21f) speaks of Kakavanna Tissas daughters as having been proficient in the history of the, Religion (saddhammavamsakovida).
He was once a milakkka in India and looked after a Pacceka Buddha. One day he gave the Pacceka Buddha a meal of ripe jack fruit. On another occasion, when the Pacceka Buddha visited his house in his absence, his wife tried to tempt him. Having failed, she complained to the husband that the Pacceka Buddha had assaulted her. The latter sought the Pacceka Buddha to kill him, but, seeing him in mid air putting on his robe, he was filled with wonder and asked the Pacceka Buddhas forgiveness. Later he was born in a hunters village near Amaruppala lena, his name being Amaruppala, and did various good deeds.
He was called Kakavanna Tissa because he knew the speech of crows. Ras.ii.53f; see also p.64, where a crow announces various things to him.
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).
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Tissa, Kākavaṇṇa.
Full-text: Gamitthavali Vihara, Girikali, Tissamahavihara, Cittalapabbata, Akasacetiya.
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The Great Buddhist Emperors of Asia (by Shibani Dutta)
A Short history of Lanka (by Humphry William Codrington)