Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Mahadathika Mahanaga [9 CE – 21 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Bhatika Abhaya [20 BCE – 9 CE] -House of Vijaya-	King Mahadathika Mahanaga [9 CE – 21 CE] -House of Vijaya-	King Amanda Gamini Abhaya [21-30 CE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Mahadathika Mahanaga, also referred to in various chronicles as Mahadaliya Mana or Dathika, was a monarch of the early Anuradhapura period. He was the son of King Kutakanna Tissa and brother of King Bhatika Abhaya. He came to power upon the death of his brother King Bhatika Abhaya.

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

King Mahadathika Mahanaga’s devotion to religion reached extreme, sometimes absurd, levels. This was exemplified by his offering of himself, his queen, his two sons, the royal elephant, and the royal horse to the Sangha. However, the Sangha wisely managed the king’s generous offerings with a sense of propriety, especially when it came to the delicate matter of accepting the queen as part of the gift.

The chronicles state that the monks “redeemed” the royal family and the animals by allowing the king to pay a massive sum of money and goods to the Sangha, thereby technically fulfilling the vow of the gift while maintaining the social and political order of the Anuradhapura court.

Works of King Mahadathika Mahanaga

Ambastala Stupa (Sela Chethiya): Construction of Ambastala Stupa in Mihintale
set up at the four entrances and four arches with jewels of all kinds at Ambastala Stupa
Carried out Giribanda Maha Puja
Himself, the queen and children, the royal horse, and the royal elephant were offered to Sangha which the Sanga forbade him to do so.
Maninagapabbata Viharaya: in Kalayanakannika
Kalanda Viharaya
Samudda Viharaya: on the banks of Kumbukanda River
Culanaga Pabbata Viharaya: in Huvacakannika (According to the Tika a district in Rohana)
Pasanadipaka Viharaya: donated to a Samanera
Mandavapi Viharaya: donated to a Samanera

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.

Predecessor		Successor
King Bhatika Abhaya [20 BCE – 9 CE] -House of Vijaya-	King Mahadathika Mahanaga [9 CE – 21 CE] -House of Vijaya-	King Amanda Gamini Abhaya [21-30 CE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

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Mandur Archaeological Site in Kiran (මණ්ඩූර් පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
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Works of King Mahadathika Mahanaga

Ancient Manuscripts Detailing the Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

References

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