A rocky fortress in the Malaya district of Ceylon. Now Sígiri, about thirty eight miles south east of Anurádhapura (Cv.Trs.i.42, n.1). Perhaps the rock itself resembled the form of a recumbent lion, especially the forepart of his body.
When Kassapa I. had slain his father, he took refuge there, clearing the land about the rock, surrounding it with a wall, and building a staircase to it in the form of a lion. Kassapa and his retinue lived in the fortress till he was defeated by his brother Moggallána, and then killed himself (Cv.xxxix.2f). Mention is made of several viháras on Síhagiri, among them being Dalha and Dáthákondańńa, which Moggallána I. gave to the Dhammaruci and Ságalika schools. Cv.xxxix.41. Perhaps the fortress was originally a centre of the Dhammarucikas, and Kassapa may have borrowed from them the idea of making use of it.
King Sanghatissa, his son, and his minister, were executed on Síhagiri, at the command of Moggallána III., (Cv.xliv.32f) and later Moggallána himself was slain there by Silámeghavanna (Cv.xliv.60).
The rock is now famous for its frescoes, which are very similar to those of Ajantá.