Funday Times

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

The king who loved animals
1. King Upatissa 11 was very generous by nature and gave very lavishly. Like his father, he too ruled the country in a righteous manner. He made improvements to the 'Mahapalai Hall' where alms were served. The meals served there, improved both in quality and quantity. He took special care of the crippled, blind and the sick. The pregnant women too were well cared for. Rest rooms, a centre for their meals, were all provided.

2. This king tried to uphold the four great Buddhist ideals of generosity, kindness, equanimity and benevolence. He is said to have built a number of temples including Gijikula, Valahasa, Ambitiya and Khandaraja. He also spent time and money on the reconstruction of tanks and canals. Among the tanks he built, a famous one is 'Topawewa'. Agriculture flourished during this period and the country was prosperous.

3. This good-hearted king did not want to see anybody worrying over him. Once when the roof of his sleeping chamber was leaking, he did not want to trouble anybody to repair it. He had spent a sleepless night, one rainy day. A minister who got to know this, conducted the king to the royal park and got workers to repair his chamber. The people thought he was a - 'Bodhisatva' - one aspiring to be a Buddha, one day.

4. However, during the reign of King Upatissa 11 there was a famine in the country and disease broke out. The king immediately consulted the 'Mahanayakes'. He asked them whether the Buddha has not preached a means of saving the people, when such a calamity occurred. The Mahanayaka's reply was, "Yes, O King, there is one mentioned in the 'Gangarohana Sutta'.

5. The king was glad to hear this. He enshrined the relics of the Buddha in a golden statue, took a bowl, similar to the bowl of the Buddha, filled it with water and kept it on the hands of the statue. He placed this statue in a carriage. He requested the subjects to observe the eight precepts (Ata-sil) and he too did so. Killing of animals was prohibited. Instead, animals were to be fed and looked after. Streets of the city were decorated.

6. He got monks from all over, to gather in Anuradhapura. The golden statue was taken in procession, along the streets. The king and the ministers followed the carriage. The monks who accompanied were reciting the 'Ratana Sutta' and sprinkling blessed water (Pirith Pen). By dawn, a heavy shower came down. All the rivers and streams that had gone dry were overflowing. Even the tanks began to overflow. The trees looked as if they had sprung up anew. The animals who suffered in thirst were overjoyed.

7. Observing this miracle, the people were jubilant. They began to rejoice. King Upatissa too derived a lot of pleasure, noticing the happiness of his subjects. He made a proclamation, that hereafter, if such a calamity were to befall, similar action should be taken. It is believed that this kind king was also in the habit of feeding the squirrels that came to the royal park.

8. The king used to have his meals in the - 'Dana-salas' - common dining halls. He got an image house erected, to the south-west of the palace. He observed the eight precepts on all four poya days of the month. The shrines that needed repair, attracted his attention. He fixed a golden pinnacle, to the Thuparama dagaba. He used to meet those men, who were convicted of theft. He secretly gave them a lot of money, advised them never to steal and set them free in the night.

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