Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history.
A non-violent king
Mahadathika Mahanaga was succeeded by his son, Amanda-Gamini-Abhaya. He erected a second roof over the one that existed at Ruwanveli Chetiya. He got the compounds of Thuparama and the Brazen Palace, beautifully laid. A tank was built in Magama and that was offered to the Dakkhina Vihara. Being a lover of nature, he cared for the animals and the environment. He was a ruler who followed a policy on non-violence.

This king proclaimed an order, prohibiting the killing of animals, in the entire country. He planted trees wherever possible and encouraged the people to grow them.

He took a special interest in planting trees that bore fruit. The fruits that grew like this, were offered as alms to the monks. He repaired a number of temples. He tried to be a righteous king.

This pious king had an enemy in his own brother, Prince Kanirajanu Tissa, who killed him and came to the throne in 30 AD. King Amand Gamini had ruled for 9 years and 8 months. Though Kanirajanu Tissa came to power by killing his brother, he ruled the country well. He was also loved by his subjects.

By this time a lot of indisciplined monks had joined the Order and the king was worried over this. He wanted to inquire into this and find a favourable solution. The ‘Pohoya-Geya’ of Chetiyagiri Vihara was transformed into a court of law. The monks who had been not quite religious got angry with the king. They thought of taking revenge. About 60 monks met and conspired against the king.

The king, when he got to know of this conspiracy, became very angry. He caught the monks who were at fault and saw that they were duly punished. Kaniraju Tissa, however, could not rule for long. His reign lasted for only three years. He died in 33 AD and was succeeded by his son, Prince Chulabhaya. Rajavaliya refers to his as Kuda-Aba.

King Chulabhaya got a temple erected near Gonaka Oya, to the south of the city. He could not do much for the country as he died in 34 AD, after a rule of just one year. It was Princess Sivali who came to the throne next. She was the sister of Chulabhaya. Her rule lasted for only four months, and nothing significant is recorded during this period.

Rajavaliya refers to this Queen Seevali as Sinhavallie. Her husband Ilanaga removed her from the throne and became king in 37 AD. According to Rajavaliya, there had been no proper ruler for a period of 3 years. The Mahavamsa, however does not support this. However, Ilanaga, after becoming king, organized water-sports at the Tissa tank and went there with his men.

In the crowd that accompanied the king to the tank, there were many who belonged to the Lambakarna clan. They left the king at the tank and went away. The king became furious and planned to take revenge on them. By this time, he had made plans to build a chetiya near the tank. The construction work began. The king employed the Lambakarnas to mix mud at the site. He also appointed people of ‘Chandala’ caste to supervise the work of the Lambakarnas. The caste-minded Lambakarnas were greatly offended and thought of taking revenge one day.

By Halaliye Karunathilake
Edited and translated by Kamala Silva
Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila

Back to Mirror Magazine