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INTRODUCTION
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The Buddhistic Book Maha-Vansa says that there were Nirgranthas at Anuradhapura in Ceylon.
A Buddhist king was displeased with them and turned them away and in their religious place he constructed a Buddha temple. The Pali words are :
Mahavansa chapter 33.
“वा सितो व सदा आसी एकवीसति राजासुतं दिखान पलायंतं निगंथो गिरिनामको पलायति महाकाल सीहलोति भुसंरवित, सुतान महाराजा सिद्धेमम मनोरथे विहारं एत्थकारेस्सं इञ्चेवं चिंतईतदा दाटिकं दमलं हत्त्वा सयं रजं अकारई ततो निग्गंथराम तं विद्धंसेत्वा महीपतिः विहारकारई तस्स द्वादस्स qrafora."
“Vå sito va sadå åsi eka visati râjasutam dis vâna palâyantam Vigantho Girinâmako palayati mahakala sihaloti bhasam ravi tam sutana mahârâjâ siddhe. mama mano ratha Viharam ettha karessam ichchevam chintaitad â Dathikam damalam hattva sayam rajjam akârai tato nigganth ârâmam tam vid.thansetva mahi patih vihara kârai tassa dva dasa pariveni kam."
“ The 21st Raja was living (at Anuradhapura) a Nirgrantha (Jain whether saint or layman) seeing him fleeing away said loudly that Maha Kala Sinhala was fleeing. Hearing this, Maharaja Sinhala resolved in his mind that when his object would be fulfilled, then he would construct a temple here. He killed Dâthika Damila and ascended the throne himself, then he destroyed the shrine of Nirgranthas and constructed (Buddha) temple with twelve pravinas.”
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