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Kāñcī

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

Kāñcī. An important south-eastern Indian city (present-day Kachipuram), the capital of the ancient Dravidian state of Drāviḍa. Buddhism is thought to have reached this area by the 3rd century bce due to its close connections with Sri Lanka, and over the following centuries flourished in this renowned centre of learning. Several great Buddhist scholars are associated with Kāñcī, including Buddhaghoṣa and Buddhadatta. At a later date, Kāñcī seems to have had a degree of importance in the development of tantric Buddhism, with some scholars suggesting that it is the true identity of the legendary land of Oḍḍiyāna. Buddhism maintained a presence in this area and Sri Lankan sponsored temples were built here as late as the 14th century ce.

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