Samantakuta, Samantagiri, Sumanakuta, Sumanagiri, Sumanacala, Samantakūta, Sumanakūta: 1 definition
Introduction:
Samantakuta 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 mountain peak in Ceylon. It was the residence of the Deva Mahasumana (Mhv.i.33) and when the Buddha visited the Island for the third time, he left on the mountain the mark of his footprint (Mhv.i.77; cf. Nammada, and Saccabaddha). Owing to this, the mountain became a sacred place of pilgrimage. In later times many kings of Ceylon paid the shrine great honour. Vijayabahu I. gifted the village of Gilimalaya for the feeding of pilgrims, and set up rest houses for them on the different routes, for the maintenance of which he provided. (Cv.ix.64f)
Kittinissanka made a special pilgrimage to Sumanakuta and mentioned it in his inscriptions (Cv.lxxx.24; Cv.Trs.ii.128, n.4). Parakkamabahu II. did likewise, and also gave ten gavutas of rich land for the shrine on the top of the peak (Cv.lxxxv.118). He further gave orders to his pious minister, Devappatiraja, to make the roads leading to the mountain easy of access. The minister repaired the roads, and built bridges at Bodhitala over the Khajjotanadi, at Ullapanaggama, and at Ambaggama. He constructed rest houses at suitable spots, and placed stepping stones on the way to the summit. Then the king himself visited the peak and held a great festival there lasting for three days (Cv.lxxxvi.9, 18 ff). Vijayabahu IV., too, made a pilgrimage to the sacred mountain (Cv.lxxxviii.48).
King Viravikkama also went there and lit a lamp, fifteen cubits in girth and five cubits high (Cv.xcii.17). Rajasuha I., in his desire to take revenge on the Buddhist monks, handed the shrine over to Hindu priests (Cv.xciii.12), but Vimaladhammasuriya II. restored to it all honours and held a great festival, lasting for seven days, at the peak (Cv.xcvii.16f). His son, Narindasiha, made two pilgrimages there (Cv.xcvii.31), while Vijayarajasiha had a feast of lamps celebrated there (Cv.xcviii.84). Kittisirirajasiha had a mandapa built round the footprint surmounted by a parasol, and assigned the revenues from the village of Kuttapiti to the monks who looked after the shrine (Cv.c.221).
The districts round Samantakuta were, in early times, the habitation of the Pulindas. It was believed (Mhv.vii.67) that, when Vijaya forsook Kuveni, her children fled thither and that their descendants were the Pulindas. In later times, too, mention is made (E.g., Cv.lxi.70) of the fact that the people dwelling in the neighbourhood of Samantakutta refused to pay taxes to the king. From very early times the mountain was the dwelling of numerous monks. Thus, in the time of Dutthagamani, there were nine hundred monks there, under Malayamahadeva Thera (Mhv.xxxii.49). The Damila Dighajantu offered a red robe to the Akasacetiya in Samantagiri vihara, and, as a result, won heaven, because he remembered the gift at the moment of his death (AA.i.376; MA.ii.955). The rivers Mahavaluka and Kalyani rise in Sumanakuta.
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)
Starts with: Samantakutavannana.
Full-text: Sumanakutla, Sumanagiri Vihara, Gilimalaya, Bodhitalagama, Suvannakuta, Sindhuravana, Samantakutavannana, Kadaligama, Silakuta, Dighajantu, Viravikkama, Akasacetiya, Sirivira Parakkamanarinda Siha, Devappatiraja, Mahasumana, Rajasiha, Vimaladhammasuriya, Lanka, Mahaganga, Malaya Mahadeva.
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Search found 4 books and stories containing Samantakuta, Samantagiri, Sumanakuta, Sumanagiri, Sumanacala, Samantakūta, Sumanakūta; (plurals include: Samantakutas, Samantagiris, Sumanakutas, Sumanagiris, Sumanacalas, Samantakūtas, Sumanakūtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Banner of the Arahants (by Bhikkhu Khantipalo)
Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)
Chapter 1 - The Visit Of The Tathagata
Chapter 7 - The Consecrating Of Vijaya
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Part 4 - Buddha’s Visits to Sihala (Sri Lanka) and Nagadipa < [Chapter 26 - The Buddha’s Eighth Vassa at the Town of Susumaragira]
A Short history of Lanka (by Humphry William Codrington)