A monastery in Anurādhapura, situated in the Jotivana (q.v.) and founded by Mahāsena at the instigation of a monk named Tissa of the Dakkhiṇārāma. The monks of the Mahāvihāra protested against this and Jetavana was later given to them (Mhv.xxxvii.32 ff). Attached to the vihāra is a large thūpa. The work was completed by Sirimeghavanna (Cv.xxxvii.65). Dāṭhāpabhuti held in the vihāra the ceremony in honour of the Dhammadhātu (Cv.xli.40; also Cv.Trs.i.55, n.2), while Mahānāga gave to it the village of Vasabha in Uddhagāma and three hundred fields, to ensure a permanent supply of rice gruel to the monks (Cv.xli.97 f). Aggabodhi II crowned the thūpa with a lightning conductor (cumbata) (Cv.xlii.66), Jetthatissa I gave for its maintenance the village of Gondigāma (Cv.xliv.97), and Aggabodhi III bestowed on it the Mahāmanikagāma (Cv.xliv.121). Potthasāta, a General (senāpati) of Aggabodhi IV, built in the vihāra the Aggabodhi-pariveṇa (Cv.xlvi.22), and Aggabodhi IX made a golden image to be placed in the shrine-room (Cv.xlix.77).

Sena I erected in the monastery grounds a mansion of several storeys (Cv., l.65). Kassapa V gave a village for the maintenance of the refectory (Cv.lii.59), while four officials of Mahinda IV built four pariveṇas attached to the vihāra (Cv.liv.49).

The monks of Jetavana, though nominally forming part of the Mahāvihāra fraternity, held divergent views in regard to the teachings of the Buddha, and were considered as a separate sect (the Sāgaliyas) until Parakkamabāhu I united all the fraternities (Cv.lxxviii.22).

The thūpa at Jetavana was restored by Parakkamabāhu I to a height of two hundred and ten feet (Cv.lxxviii.98).