Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history.
King Mahadathika Mahanaga
King Mahadathika Mahanaga was also a righteous king. He did a lot of religious work. He renovated some temples, added new features and beautified the surroundings of Ruwanveli Chetiya. He got the ‘Sela’ Chetiya built by enshrining the relics of the Buddha. He covered this stupa with a gem-studded jacket. New roads were constructed to reach the ‘stupa’. Lamps were kept burning in the surrounding area and the entire neighbourhood was well-illuminated.

Dancers and musicians were brought from all over the land to perform religious ceremonies here. Mihintala took on a festive mood because of the Sela Chetiya. This king wanted to give a new look to the city of Anuradhapura too. He built four halls at the four entrances to the city, to be used as ‘Dana Sala’ (dining halls). These were used to serve the poor with meals, on a daily basis. The entire city was illuminated throughout the night.

King Mahadathika enjoyed having ‘Pahan-Pooja’ (lighting lamps and illuminating). Hence, he once illuminated the entire country, going as far as the sea. For this ceremony, he spent an immense amount of money. In front of the Great Stupa, he performed a ceremony called ‘Giribhanda’. Thousands of people who participated in this ceremony were provided with meals. He respected his predecessors, who were pious rulers and followed in their footsteps.

He behaved like a ‘Bodhisatva’ (one aspiring to Buddhahood). He offered to the Brotherhood (Sangha), his wife, two sons, the royal elephant, the royal horse and himself. The Buddhist priests did not approve of this and tried to prevent him from doing so. He kept to his decision. Later on, however, he gave in to the words of the monks and redeemed himself and the rest. For this, he donated many things to the monks and the nuns.

King Mahadathika’s activities were not confined to the city of Anuradhapura. He organized religious ceremonies even in the temples of the south. New temples like Mani-naga-pabbata and Kalanda were erected in the south. There is mention of a temple named Kumbuk-bandana.

King Mahadathika took a special liking to a novice (samanera) monk who resided in ‘Panduve’ temple. He donated a lot of land around to this new temple. There was no scarcity of food during his period of rule. People led religious lives and peace and prosperity prevailed in the entire land.

Kutakanna Tissa, Bhatika-Abhaya, Mahadathika Mahanaga, all belonged to one dynasty of pious kings. They won the hearts of the people. Mahavamsa refers to them as pious kings. There is inscriptional evidence to support this fact.

An inscription found in Molahitiya refers to this king. Another inscription found in Batticaloa too refers to him. This is the Sastravela inscription which was found near Namal-ar-Oya. This inscription mentions how the priests who came to Naga-parvata temple were well entertained. It also adds that villages were donated to this temple. This king who possessed qualities of Bodhisatva, died in 21 AD.

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

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