King Abhaya Naga [236-244 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Voharika Tissa [214-236 CE] -House of Lambbakanna-	King Abhaya Naga [236-244 CE] -House of Lambbakanna-	King Siri Naga II [244-246 CE] -House of Lambbakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

About King Abhaya Naga

King Abhaya Naga succeeded his elder brother, King Voharika Tissa, as the ruler of Sri Lanka after he slayed him in 236 CE. Following this fratricidal act, he married his brother’s widow, elevating her to the position of Queen Consort. To stabilize his reign and gain favour with the Buddhist clergy, King Abhaya Naga sought to mend relations with the religious community.

Early in his rule, he distributed gifts of clothing to all the Buddhist priests across the island as a gesture of goodwill. This act aimed to relieve tensions caused by his violent rise to power and secure the support of the Sangha, which held significant sway over the kingdom’s social and political landscape.

King Abhaya Naga ruled in Anuradhapura for 8 years until his death.

Young Prince Abhaya Naga

During the reign of King Voharika Tissa, Prince Abhaya Naga, began a clandestine affair with the queen. Upon being discovered, Prince Abhaya Naga fled the palace with several loyal followers, including Subha Deva, the queen’s father, who harboured animosity toward King Voharika Tissa. The group escaped to the northern port of Bhallatittha, intending to leave for India.

Before his journey to India, Abhaya Naga demonstrated the loyalty he expected from his followers through a dramatic and cruel act. He shot his pet dog, leaving it fatally wounded. As the animal lay dying, he called it by name. Despite its agony, the dog used its remaining strength to wag its tail and approach its master, ultimately collapsing at his feet. This display was intended as a symbolic lesson to his adherents about the unwavering loyalty he demanded from them.

Prince Abhaya Naga severed the hands and feet of Subha Deva to eliminate any suspicion of collaboration between them and sent him back to King Voharika Tissa as a spy. In his mutilated condition, Subha Deva appeared to be a victim of Abhaya Naga’s cruelty and thus gained the trust of King Voharika Tissa. Under this guise, he provided critical intelligence to Abhaya Naga about the kingdom’s developments.

Despite the severe mutilation inflicted on him, Subha Deva was entrusted with significant responsibilities under the guise of working in King Voharika Tissa‘s interest. Exploiting this position of authority, he implemented oppressive measures and corrupt practices, causing widespread dissatisfaction among the populace. The people’s trust and admiration for King Voharika Tissa began to erode due to these manipulations, ultimately weakening their loyalty to the monarch. This strategy furthered Abhaya Naga’s efforts to undermine his brother’s reign and set the stage for his eventual return and coup.

In 236 CE, Subha Deva covertly informed Prince Abhaya Naga that conditions were favourable for an invasion. Acting on this intelligence, Abhaya Naga returned to Sri Lanka with a Tamil mercenary army. King Voharika Tissa, aware of the lack of popular support needed for resistance, fled Anuradhapura with his queen—whose actions had been the root of the conflict—and their child. He sought refuge in the hills (Malaya Rata), hoping to escape his brother’s pursuit.

However, Abhaya Naga relentlessly pursued him, eventually locating the king’s hideout. Once found, Voharika Tissa was put to death by his brother. Abhaya Naga then returned to Anuradhapura, ascended the throne, and made the widowed queen of Voharika Tissa his own consort, consolidating his power and beginning his rule over the kingdom.

Interestingly, the Dipavamsa, one of the earliest chronicles of Sri Lankan history, presents a different narrative about the succession of the throne following the death of King Siri Naga I. According to this source, Abhaya Naga, the son of Siri Naga I, ascended the throne immediately after his father. Upon his death, the throne passed to his younger brother, Voharika Tissa. The chronicle does not mention any conflict or hostility between the two brothers, contrasting with the account in Mahavamsa that details rivalry and betrayal between them.

Works of King Abhaya Naga

A pavilion at Lovamahaprasada
A stone hedge at Sri Maha Bodhi

Ancient Manuscripts Detailing the Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

Sovereigns of Sri Lanka are chronicled in several ancient manuscripts. These texts not only record the lineages of kings but also the significant events and developments of their reigns. Some of the most significant ancient sources are:

Dipavamsa: compiled between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, and the earliest known historical chronicle
Mahavamsa: Initially compiled by Mahanama Thero in the 5th or 6th century CE, this chronicle was later expanded upon by other authors who added additional chapters. Covers events up until the reign of King Mahasena of Anuradhapura
Culavamsa: Starts where the Mahavamsa stops and records the history of Sri Lankan rulers from the 4th century to 1815. Mahavamsa and Culavamsa are often seen as one extended chronicle, commonly referred to simply as the Mahavamsa.
Pujavaliya: Written by a monk in or around 1266 during the reign of King Panditha Parakrama Bahu of Dambadeniya Kingdom
Rajavaliya: A 17th-century historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, covering the history of the island from its beginnings up to the accession of King Vimaladharmasurya II in 1687.

References

Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Oldenberg, H. (2001). The Dipavamsa : An Ancient Buddhist Historical Record. Asian Educational Services. (Original work published 1879)
Nicholas, C. W., & Paranavitana, S. (1961). A Concise History of Ceylon : From the Earliest Times to the Arrival of the Portuguese in 1505. University of Ceylon.
Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.
Senaveratne, J. M. (1930). The Story of the Sinhalese : From the Most Ancient Times Up to the End of “The Mahavansa” or Great Dynasty. W. M. A. Wahid & Brothers.