King Gajabahu I [112-134 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
King Vankanasika Tissa [109-112 CE] -House of Lambbakanna-	King Gajabahu I [112-134 CE] -House of Lambbakanna-	King Mahalla Naga [134-140 CE] -House of Lambbakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

About King Gajabahu I

Gajabahu, son of King Vankanasika Tissa, ascended to the throne following his father’s death. The earliest Sri Lankan chronicles, Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa, mainly highlight his religious contributions, particularly his support for Buddhism, without any reference to military campaigns. In contrast, later works like Rajavaliya and Pujavaliya provide a more vivid account of his military actions, describing an expedition to the Chola kingdom to liberate 12,000 Sinhalese captives.

Sri Lanka’s First-Ever Innovation of a Foreign Country

The Mahavamsa does not record any foreign invasions during the reign of King Vankanasika Tissa. However, later historical texts such as the Rajavaliya and Pujavaliya reference an incident involving a Chola king who reportedly captured and transported 12,000 Sinhalese prisoners to India. The Pujavaliya suggest that these captives were used as labourers in a project along the Kaveri River.

King Gajabahu I was initially unaware of the Chola invasion that had occurred during his father’s reign, in which 12,000 Sinhalese were taken captive. After ascending to the throne, he would often roam the streets at night in disguise. On one such occasion, he learned about the prior Chola attack and the prisoners taken. Determined to avenge this defeat and reclaim the captives, King Gajabahu I swiftly assembled an army for an expedition to the Chola kingdom.

With General Nila by his side, Gajabahu crossed over to Chola territory via Yapapatuna. According to the Rajavaliya, General Nila devastated half of the Chola kingdom, compelling the Chola king to surrender. The king agreed to release the 12,000 Sinhalese captives and provided an additional 12,000 Chola subjects as compensation. These Chola prisoners were settled in regions such as Alutkuruva, Sarasiya Pattuwa, Yatinuwara, Udunuwara, Tumpane, Hewaheta, Pansiya Pattuwa, and the areas of Egoda Tiha and Megoda Tiha.

Alongside freeing the prisoners, King Gajabahu I retrieved the Bowl Relic of Buddha, which had been taken during the reign of King Valagamba, as well as the jewelled anklets of goddess Pattini and the insignia of the deities from the four main devalayas. This marked the first historical record of a Sri Lankan king leading a military campaign abroad. The arrival of the jewelled anklets by King Gajabahu I significantly contributed to the establishment and promotion of the Pattini cult in Sri Lanka.

Queen Mother Mahamatta

Following the ascension of King Vankanasika Tissa to the throne, Queen Mahamatta took the initiative to raise funds for constructing a vihara, fulfilling the wish of a dying ascetic who had urged her to remember the task upon reaching “royal rank.” Although King Vankanasika Tissa passed away before the completion of this project, Queen Mahamatta continued her efforts and finalized the collection of funds. During the reign of her son, King Gajabahu I, they jointly constructed the Matu Viharaya at the designated site.

Works of King Gajabahu I

Matu Viharaya: Built with his mother to fulfil the wish of a dying ascetic
Enlarging Abhayuttara Stupa : of Abhayagiri Viharaya
Gamini Tissa Wewa: After constructing of this wewa, he donated it to Abhayagiri Viharaya.
Added a Manteling to Mirisawetiya Stupa
Ramuka Viharaya: Built during his last year of reign.
Mahajasana Sala Hall: in the city

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.
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.
Gnanawimala Thero, K. (1960). මයුරපාද පරිවේණාධිපති බුද්ධ පුත්‍රයන් විසින් රචිත පූජාවලිය.