A cetiya in Anurádhapura and a monastic building attached to it. The cetiya was built by Dutthagámaní on the spot where the king's spear, containing the Buddha's relic given to him by the monks (Mhv.xxv.1), was planted, when Dutthagámaní went to the Tissavápí for his ceremonial bathing after his consecration. When the king's men attempted to remove the spear they found it impossible, and the king, after consultation with the monks, decided to build a cetiya enclosing the spot with a vihára attached. The work was completed in three years and a great ceremony of dedication was held, the building and the ceremony costing nineteen crores. The vihára was called Maricavatti because it was intended by the king as expiation for having once eaten a pepper pod (maricavatti) without sharing it with the monks, thus violating the vow of his childhood. For the building of the vihára, see Mhv.xxvi.1ff.; the vow is mentioned at Mhv.xxii.80; the Dpv. makes no mention of Maricavatti.
Vohárika Tissa renovated the vihára (Mhv.xxxvi.33, 36), while Gothábhaya built an uposatha hall (Mhv.xxxvi.107) and Vasabha provided a mantling for the thúpa (Mhv.xxxv.121).
Kassapa II. built a pásáda in the vihára and gave it to the Thera who, at one time, lived in Nágasálá (Cv.xliv.149). Kassapa IV. entrusted the care of the Bodhi tree at Maricavatti to the bhikkhunís at the Tissáráma, which he built for them (Cv.lii.24), while Kassapa V. restored the whole vihára, gave it to the Theravádins and granted five hundred maintenance villages (Cv.lii.45). Devá, mother of Sakkasenápati, provided a diadem jewel for the Buddha image in the vihára, also a halo, an umbrella and a garment (Cv.lii.65). Dappula III. gave a maintenance village to the vihára (Cv.liii.2), while Mahinda IV. started to build in it a pásáda called Candana, which does not seem to have been completed (Cv.liv.40). Parakkamabáhu I. found the thúpa destroyed by the Damilas and rebuilt it to the height of eighty cubits (Cv.lxxviii.99).