AraññavÄsÄ« NikÄya
A group of monks in Sri Lanka who seem to have spent most of their time in solitary spots engaged in meditation. They owed allegiance to the MahÄvihÄra. They are first heard of in the sixth century when, in the reign of Aggabodhi II, the King of Kalinga came over to Sri Lanka and joined the Order under the famous Elder JotipÄla. This fraternity seems to have been closely associated with the Buddhists of KÄlinga. Among famous scholars belonging to it were: Ä€nanda Vanaratanatissa, Vedeha, Cola Buddhappiya, Culla DhammapÄla, Medhankara, his pupil Ä€nanda and Siddhattha.
The AraññavÄsins were specially esteemed by ParakkamabÄhu of Dambadeniya. For details about them see P.L.C. 210-13, 226, 229.
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