Funday Times

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

King Kasyapa 1
1. One day, when the Commander Migara was roused by his mother, he beat his wife, mercilessly. Being unable to bear up any more, she went back to her father. She explained matters to him. It was the mother-in-law who was at the bottom of all this. The king felt so sad to see his daughter suffer.

2. This time, the king got very angry with Migara's mother - who happened to be his sister - for ill-treating his only daughter. He thought of taking revenge. He offered a lot of gold coins to his men and got her killed, by burning her alive, quite secretly. This secret could not be kept for long. The Commander-in-Chief, Migara, got wind of this. As he loved his mother dearly, he began to hate the king.

3. Migara was now planning to take revenge on the king. He began to scheme day and night. He thought of making Kasyapa a tool, to achieve his end. As he was the elder one, out of the two sons, Kasyapa was under the impression, that he would be the next king. King Dhatusena had been treating both sons, equally well.

4. Migara now got friendly with Prince Kasyapa. One day, he spoke to Prince Kasyapa and said, "Dear Prince, the kingship you are hoping for, will never be yours. Your father is planning to give it to your brother, Mugalan". Kasyapa then asked, "How could it be? Mugalan is my younger brother."

5. "Furthermore, according to the practice that has come down, up to now, the eldest son, succeeds the father". Migara could only laugh at all this. "Yes it is true. But you cannot claim heredity like that:, said Migara. When Prince Kasyapa wanted to know why, Migara said, "O Prince, do not get disturbed by listening to what I have to say. You do not belong to true royalty. Mugalan's mother is the Chief Queen". Kasyapa understood the situation. There were some who believed that Kasyapa's mother, was a Pallava princess.

6. Kasyapa got angry. He had to become king somehow thought he. So he sought Migara's assistance in this matter. Thus dawned the occasion, Migara was planning all this time. He made a suggestion like this to Kasyapa. "Let us imprison the king and take the throne by force". "Whatever has to be done, should be done immediately or else, Mugalan will become king", said Prince Kasyapa.

7. Migara then said, "Dear Prince, such things cannot be done in a hurry. Things have to be well planned out. We need the service of very loyal soldiers, for this task". The prince remained quiet for a moment. He contemplated for a while. He was thinking when he should act. One day, Prince Kasyapa and Migara came with an army, held the king and imprisoned him. The innocent king did not know what was up, until he was put in prison. The king could not understand why he was held prisoner like this, for he had been treating both sons equally well.

8. The king had not even dreamed of ill-treating Kasyapa. Meanwhile, Mugalan who observed all this, wanted to save his father. But he did not have enough military power to fight his brother. So he went out of the country - to collect an army. Meanwhile, Kasyapa was on the look out for Mugalan, to kill him. Ultimately, in 497 AD, Kasyapa was crowned as Kasyapa 1.

Back to Mirror Magazine