King Choda Ganga [1196 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
Vikramabahu II [1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Choda Ganga [1196-1197 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Queen Leelavathi [1197-1200, 1202-1208, 1209-1210 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

The late twelfth century in ancient Sri Lanka was marked by severe political instability, military coups, and the rapid turnover of rulers following the death of King Niśśaṅka Malla in 1196 CE. One of the short-lived monarchs who emerged during this turbulent “twilight” of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom was King Choda Ganga (also known as Coḍagaṅga), who occupied the throne for just nine months between 1196 and 1197 CE.

Royal Lineage and Early Childhood

Choda Ganga belonged to the Kalinga dynasty and was the nephew of King Niśśaṅka Malla, the son of the king’s sister. His early years were probably spent within the royal courts of the Kalinga homeland, identified by some scholars like Paranavithana with the Śrīvijaya empire of the Malay Peninsula, or among the royal entourage that accompanied his uncle to Polonnaruwa during the relatively stable decade of Niśśaṅka Malla’s reign.

The Rise to Power: A Path of Blood

The succession crisis after Niśśaṅka Malla’s death in 1196 CE plunged the kingdom into chaos. The throne first passed to his son, Vīrabāhu I, who was assassinated after ruling for only a single day by the general Tāvuru. Tāvuru then placed Niśśaṅka Malla’s younger brother, Vikramabāhu II, on the throne, but his reign lasted merely three months.

Choda Ganga secured power by violently terminating the rule of Vikramabāhu II. Towards the end of 1196 CE, he assassinated his uncle and seized the throne of Polonnaruwa. His success was probably supported by a Kalinga faction dissatisfied with Vikramabāhu II or with the military leaders who had elevated him as a figurehead. By removing Vikramabāhu II, Choda Ganga sought to restore the line of succession associated more directly with Niśśaṅka Malla’s immediate family.

The Reign (1196–1197 CE)

Choda Ganga’s reign lasted only nine months and unfolded in a context where real authority had largely shifted from the king to the military elite. Contemporary inscriptions indicate that Polonnaruwa was “full of strangers,” a reference to the presence of mercenary groups, including Keralas and Canarese, whose allegiance was secured through payment rather than traditional loyalty.

Archaeological evidence includes a fragmentary Sanskrit inscription discovered at Trincomalee (Gokarṇa) that refers to a prince named Choda-gaṅga arriving from a foreign land. Although some scholars connect this inscription with a later event in 1223 CE, it nevertheless reflects the ongoing pattern of Kalinga and Ganga princes entering Sri Lanka to reinforce competing political factions during this unstable period.

Royal Dynasty in Plonnaruwa after Parakaramabahu the Great

References

Fernando, P. E. E. (1978). Allai Copper Plate Charter of King Nissankamalla. The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, IV(1 & 2), 73–91.
Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa Being The More Recent Part Of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part II–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
Gunasekara, B. (1895). A Contribution to the History of Ceylon: Translated from Pujavaliya. H.C. Cottle.
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
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.
Obeyesekere, D. (1911). History of Ceylon : Outlines of Ceylon History. The Times of Ceylon Colombo.
Paranavitana, S. (1961). The Arya Kingdom in North Ceylon. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), 7(2), 174-224.
Perera, J. (1957). An Examination of the Political Troubles That Followed the Death of King Parakramabāhu I. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series Volume V(Special Number), 173–182.

Predecessor		Successor
Vikramabahu II [1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Choda Ganga [1196-1197 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Queen Leelavathi [1197-1200, 1202-1208, 1209-1210 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA