Thuparama, Thūpārāma, Thupa-arama: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Thuparama means something in Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. 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.

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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Thuparama - A monastery near the southern wall of Anuradhapura, erected by Devanampiyatissa. The spot was consecrated by the Buddha having sat there in meditation (Mhv.i.82) and also by former Buddhas doing likewise (Mhv.xv.86). The thupa there was the first of its kind in Ceylon and enshrined the Buddhas collar bone. Miracles, said to have been ordained by the Buddha himself, attended its enshrinement (Mhv.xvii.30, 50). The monastery was built later than the thupa, hence its name (Mhv.xvii.62). One of the eight saplings of the Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura was planted in the grounds and exists to this day (Mhv.xix.61). The Cittasala was to the east of the Thuparama, and on that site Sanghamitta was cremated (Mhv.xx.52). It was the monks of Thuparama who helped Thulatthana to become king (Mhv.xxxiii.17).

Lanjatissa levelled the ground between the Thuparama and the Maha Thupa (about four hundred yards away), made a stone mantling for the thupa, and built a smaller thupa to the east of it, near which he built the Lanjakasana hall (Mhv.xxxiii.23f). Ananda gamani added an inner verandah to the uposatha hall in the monastery (Mhv.xxxv.3), while Vasabha placed lamps round the thupa and built a new uposatha house (Mhv.xxxv.80, 87, 91). Bhatika Tissa erected another assembly hall, while Gothabhaya made certain restorations (Mhv.xxxvi.4, 106). The Sanghapala parivena probably formed part of the monastery (Mhv.xxxvi.114).

Jetthatissa removed from the Thuparama the stone image placed there by Devanampiyatissa and set it up in Pacinatissapabbata (Mhv.xxxvi.128).

The renegade monk Sanghamitta once threatened to destroy the Thuparama but was killed in the attempt (Mhv.xxxvii.27). Mahanama provided a gold casing for the finial of the thupa (Cv.xxxvii.207) and Dhatusena restored the thupa (Mhv.xxxviii.70), while Aggabodhi II. effected extensive repairs, almost rebuilding the whole structure (Mhv.xlii.51ff). Dathopatissa I. did the monastery great damage, as did Kassapa II., though he afterwards made amends (Mhv.xliv.133, 138, 148). Dathopatissa II. gave the village of Punnali to the Thuparama (Mhv.xlv.28), and Manavamma built a pasada (Mhv.xlvii.66). Aggabodhi VII. repaired the doors and transposed the pillars of the structure round the cetiya (Cv.xlviii.65). Mahinda II. placed a casing of gold and silver plates in the cetiya (Cv.xlviii.140), while Dappula II. covered the thupaghara with golden bricks (Cv.xlix.81); both plates and bricks were later plundered by the Pandu king (Cv.l.35). The golden plates were restored by Udaya II. (Cv.li.128), and Sena Ilanga provided a building for the monks to the west of the Thuparama (Cv.lii.16). Rakkha Ilanga did likewise (Cv.liii.11). Mahinda IV. covered the cetiya with strips of gold and silver,

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).

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India history and geography

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

1) Thūpārāma or Tumbarup-vehera is the name of a thūpa at the Mahāvihāra in Anurādhapura.—The Thūpa was built by Devānaṃpiya Tissa (B.C. 247-207), on ground said to have been consecrated by the Buddha, to enshrine the Buddha's right collar-bone Relic. The core of the thūpa was of lumps of clay taken from the bed of the Abhaya tank (Basavak-kulam) and bricks were laid over the clay. The king also founded a Vihāra for the thūpa. A sapling of the Bodhi Tree was planted in the Vihāra.

2) Thūpārāma possibly corresponds to an ancient pāsāda that once stood on the tooth relic terrace (or quadrangle) of Polonnaruva (Polonnaruwa), Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—A splendid pāsāda with a “moonlight terrace” and adorned with paintings was built in honour of the Tooth Relic by Mahinda, a high dignitary of Parakkamabāhu I: this is probably the building now called Thūpārāma.

Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early Buddhism

Thūpārāma (थूपाराम) or Thūpārāmavihāra is the name of a temple (vihāra) as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—Thūpārāma-vihāra (cf. Mahāvaṃsa) was a vihāra in Anurādhapura.

India history book cover
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.

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