King Bhatika Abhaya [20 BCE - 9 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Kutakanna Tissa [42- 20 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Bhatika Abhaya [20 BCE – 9 CE] -House of Vijaya-	King Mahadathika Mahanaga [9 CE – 21 CE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

At the time of Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, King Bhatika Abhaya ruled ancient Sri Lanka from the Anuradhapura Kingdom. He was the son of King Kutakanna Tissa and was commonly referred to as Bhatikaraja (Bhatika Raja). Known for his commitment to Buddhist teachings, the Mahavamsa highlights King Bhatika’s significant contributions to the Maha Viharaya, particularly to the Ruwanweli Maha Seya.

A stone-carved statue believed to depict King Bhatika Abhaya stands on the welimaluwa (sand terrace) of Ruwanweli Maha Seya. According to the Mahavamsa, the king once overheard Arhats chanting pirith inside the relic chamber of the stupa. Filled with devotion, he lay at the foot of a stone pillar, vowing to fast and remain there until he was granted the opportunity to see the sacred relic chamber. Moved by his unwavering faith, the Arhats miraculously created a doorway in the stupa, allowing him to enter and offering figures modeled in clay to the relic chamber.

According to legend, upon entering, the king was so mesmerized by the sacred relics that he had no desire to leave. The Arhats, understanding his reverence, stood before him, guiding him as he walked backward, still gazing at the relics. Without realizing it, he suddenly found himself outside in the courtyard. It is believed that the statue of King Bhatika Abhaya was erected at the very spot where he emerged from the relic chamber (Vanarathana Thero, 1990, p. 34).

Bhatika Abhaya’s reign was relatively peaceful, with no significant internal or external threats to the kingdom. He was succeeded by his brother, Mahadathika Mahanaga, who continued similar policies of state support for Buddhism.

Statue of King Bhatika Abhaya (20 BC-9 CE) — Statue of King Bhatika Abhaya at Ruwanweli Seya (20 BC-9 CE)

Works of King Bhatika Abhaya

Repairing Lovamahapaya: Repaired Lovamahapaya of Maha Vihara monastery
Two new platforms for Ruwanweli Maha Seya
An Uposthaghara for Thuparama Viharaya
Planted flowering trees for a yojuna around the city of Anuradhapura
A flower puja to Ruwanweli Maha Seya: Covered Ruwanweli Maha Seya with a four-finger thick plaster and covered the stupa with flowers.
A flower puja to Ruwanweli Maha Seya: Another time, covered Ruwanweli Maha Seya with an eight-finger thick plaster and covered the stupa with flowers.
A flower puja to Ruwanweli Maha Seya: Another time, covered the same stupa with flowers
Water Puja to Runwanweli Maha Seya: Used machines to draw water from the Abhaya Wewa reservoir to make the water-offering
Plastering of Ruwanweli Maha Seya
A flower puja to Ruwanweli Maha Seya – Built a mesh around the Maha Seya placed golden lotuses size of wagon wheels and hung pearl strings to the floor.
Offered clay replicas of the relics enshrined within the Maha Stupa: Upon hearing the chanting of pirith by the Arhats emanating from the relic chamber, the king lay in fasting near the stupa to listen. The monks constructed an entrance within the stupa’s structure, brought the king inside, and displayed the enshrined relics. After emerging from the chamber, the king made a ceremonial offering of clay replicas of the sacred items he had seen inside.
Instructing for the annual renewal of the plasterwork of Maha Seya.
Instructing the festival of watering of Sri Maha Bodhi
Twenty-Eight Wesak festivals
Eighty-four thousand lesser festivals

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)
Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.
Vanarathana Thero, K. (1990). Sculpture and carvings of Sri Lanka from the 1st to 5th century A.D. In N. Wijesekara (Ed.), Archaeological Department Centenary (1890-1990) : Commemorative Series : Volume Four : Sculpture (1st ed., Vols. 4–4, pp. 1–44). Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

Predecessor		Successor
King Kutakanna Tissa [42- 20 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Bhatika Abhaya [20 BCE – 9 CE] -House of Vijaya-	King Mahadathika Mahanaga [9 CE – 21 CE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA