A tank and a district in Ceylon. When the Buddha went to Ceylon he visited the village, and on the spot where he sat in meditation a cetiya was later erected (Mhv.i.78; Dpv.ii.60; Sp.i.89). It seems to have been the central post in the country lying between the Tamil kingdom and the province of Rohana. Thus we find Dutthagámani's brother, Tissa, occupying it by the order of his father. Later, on the death of his father, he retired to Díghavápi with his mother and the elephant Kandula (Mhv.xxiv.2, 14f, 48). When he made peace with his brother, he was again sent there to look after the district.
After the conquest of the Tamils, Tissa was again in charge of Díghavápi, for we find him being sent for from there at the time of Dutthagámani's death (Mhv.xxxii.2). Tissa (afterwards called Saddhátissa) founded the Díghavápi-vihára, in connection with which he built a cetiya, to which he made valuable offerings (Mhv.xxxiii.9, 14). We hear of Díghavápi in connection with the campaigns of Parakkamabáhu I. (Cv.lxxiv.89; 98, 110, 180; lxxv.1, 10). Many years later Rájasíha II. gave the district round Díghavápi to the settlers who came from Holland (Cv.xcvi.25, 28; for its identification see Cv.Trs.ii.30, n.1). The village of Mahámuni, residence of Sumaná, wife of Lakuntaka Atimbara, was in Díghavápi (DhA.iv.50). Díghavápi was nine leagues from Tissamaháráma (AA.i.386).
For a story connected with the cetiya see Dhajagga Paritta.