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Cittalapabbata

A mountain in Rohaṇa on which Kākavaṇṇa Tissa built a vihāra (Mhv.xxii.23) and Vasabha ten thūpas (Mhv.xxxv.81). Dāṭhāsiva (Dāṭhopatissa) gave to the vihāra the village of Gonnaviṭṭhi (CV.xlv.59). The mountain is described as being healthy (utusappāya) (MT.552), and sometimes there lived on it as many as twelve thousand monks (VibhA.445; Mhv.xxiv.9).

Attached to the vihāra was the Niṅkapoṇṇa padhānaghara (VibhA.489) and the Koṭagerukapāsāda — the residence of Bhāgineyya Saṅgharakkhita (MT.552) — and also, probably, a nunnery. (See VibhA.498).

The Elders Mahānāga and Cūḷanāga lived at Cittalapabbata for three years (SA.ii.125). The Commentaries contain several stories connected with the mountain. (e.g., VibhA.264, 498; DhsA.351, 399; AA.i.386; MA.i.18, 66, 150, 223, 351, 399). Nearby (AA.i.386) was the village of Kālumbara and the bathing place of Kuruvakatittha (MA.ii.1024).

It was evidently a very important monastic centre in Sri Lanka, and is mentioned on a par with Abhayagiri and Cetiyapabbata (DA.ii.478).

Cittalapabbata is sometimes called Cittalakūṭa. e.g., Mhv.xxxv.81.