Grammatical Analysis
Abhayagiri: [m.] The Fearless Mountain. Formed by abhaya (fearless, without danger) + giri (mountain). Named after King Vaṭṭagāmaṇi Abhaya and the Jain ascetic Giri.
Orthodox Definition
Abhayagiri was the great rival monastery to the orthodox Mahāvihāra in ancient Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Built in the 1st century BCE, it eventually split from the Mahāvihāra to form its own distinct sect (nikāya).
Unlike the strictly conservative Mahāvihāra, the Abhayagiri fraternity adopted a liberal, syncretic approach. They openly studied and incorporated Mahāyāna sutras, Tantric practices, and Sanskrit texts alongside the traditional Theravāda canon. For several centuries, supported by various kings, they eclipsed the Mahāvihāra in wealth, international influence, and sheer numbers.
The sectarian rivalry lasted for over a millennium until the 12th century CE, when King Parākramabāhu I forcibly suppressed the Abhayagiri sect, defrocked its corrupted monks, and reunified the Sri Lankan Saṅgha strictly under the orthodox Mahāvihāra standard, essentially erasing the Abhayagiri doctrinal tradition from history.
Textual References
- Historical: Mahāvaṃsa – Documenting the initial schism, the political battles between the two monasteries, and the eventual triumph of the orthodox Mahāvihāra.
- Historical: Travels of Faxian – The Chinese pilgrim noted that in the 5th century, Abhayagiri housed 5,000 monks, far outnumbering the Mahāvihāra.