King Vijayabahu 2

By Halaliye Karunathilake
Edited and translated by Niluka De Silva
Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila

~This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa,’ the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history~

King Parakramabahu increased the volume of water in the Elahera canal. A tributary of the Amban Ganga was connected to it and the water was then diverted along the Yodha Ela. The Elahera canal was extended from the Amban Ganga to the Kantalai tank. It was a distance of 87 kilometres. The water thus brought, was distributed to the Kavdulu tank. Among the Kings of Sri Lanka, who built tanks and canals, King Parakramabahu I takes a prominent place.

It is to him, that we attribute the following famous saying – "Not a drop of water, that falls from the sky, should be allowed to flow to the sea, without man making proper use of it." Thus he realised the value of conserving water. At times, King Parakramabahu has deviated from the customs and practices followed by the previous kings. Scholars are of the opinion that he enforced some strict laws and the people suffered as a result. They then stooped to theft and plundering. They had been almost forced to do so, to enable them to pay taxes

King Parakramabahu the Great, passed away in 1186 A.D. His sister's son, Vijayabahu II, ascended the throne next. He is supposed to have been a poet. He is also known as Pandit Vijayabahu and also Keerthi Vijayabahu. This king has carried a righteous rule. He had developed trade and religious relations, between Burma and Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lankan history, these kings are described as kings belonging to the Kalinga Dynasty. The first of this line is King Parakramabahu I. This dynasty of kings had ruled Sri Lanka, for a period of 50 years. The Kalingas, according to their estimation had been from Malaysia – which included the Malay-peninsula, islands of Java and Sumatra and the East-Indies islands. It was then known as the Sri Vijaya Empire.

According to the new details, this dynasty did not include those who came from Kalinga – in India. In the Chulavamsa, the Kalinga rulers are described as kings of Javaka and Kerala. It is King Sena I, who had started connections with the Kalinga rulers. King Mahinda IV is said to have married a Kalinga princess.

The Kalingas became powerful in Polonnaruwa because of King Vijayabahu I, as he got married to a Kalinga princess. His sister, Princess Mitta, got married to a Kalinga prince. The most powerful in this dynasty of kings is Parakramabahu I. His mother was Princess Ratnavalee, who was the daughter of King Vijayabahu I's Kalinga queen.

King Vijayabahu II is said to have written a letter in Pali and sent it to King Arimaddhana of Burma. He had also pardoned and released quite a lot of prisoners. He could rule only for a period of one year. He had been killed as a result of a coup by a person named Mihindu. However, Mihindu did not get the support of the ministers. The people too did not like him, as he did not have any connection to a royal family.

He had ruled only for five days. He was killed by Prince Nissankamalla, who was a nephew of King Parakramabahu I. This relationship had been the result of a marriage. According to the inscriptions, the chief queen of Parakramabahu I is said to be Kalinga Subhodha Mahadevi. A dagoba built by the king, has also been named after the queen. She was related to Prince Nissankamalla.