Abhayagiri

Abhayagiri is recorded within Theravāda and is no longer extant.

Origin

Founder named in the sources: Mahātissa. No founding year is given below, because the sources read do not agree on one and a date has not been chosen for them. NO FOUNDING YEAR. [CORRECTION] The first pass set 'c. 29-17 BCE' and presented it as a quotation ('formed c. 29-17 BCE') from the Encyclopedia of Religion 'Theravāda' entry. That phrase does not occur; 29-17 BCE is the source's date for the committing of the Pali canon to writing, and it places the Abhayagiri formation after that period, undated. The source reads: 'the first major division within the Theravāda sangha in Sri Lanka occurred soon after the Pali Tipiṭaka was commited to writing, probably between 29 and 17 bce. A famous monk named Mahātissa evidently built, with royal support, an impressive new monastery in Anurādhapura. Sometime thereafter, monks of the long-established Mahāvihāra fraternity... accused Mahātissa... Monks loyal to Mahātissa then formed the fraternity of the Abhayagiri monastery.' The Mahāvihāra is the sole surviving witness to this story, which is a partisan witness to a quarrel it was party to.