King Mutasiva [367-307 BCE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
King Pandukabhaya [437-367 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Mutasiva [367-307 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Devanampiya Tissa [250-210 BCE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Mutasiva (r. 367–307 BCE) was the son of King Paṇḍukābhaya, the celebrated founder of Anurādhapura. His most lasting achievement was the establishment of the Mahāmēghavana, the “Great Cloud” park, which would later emerge as the spiritual center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Rise to Power and the Question of Chronology

According to the Mahāvaṁsa and the Dīpavaṁsa, Mutasiva was the son of King Paṇḍukābhaya and Queen Suvaṇṇapālī. However, the later ola leaf manuscript of the Rājāvaliya presents a different genealogy. It states that Paṇḍukābhaya’s son was Ganatissa, who ruled for forty years, and that Mutasiva was in fact the son of Ganatissa.

Mutasiva ascended the throne around 367 BCE following the death of his father. The royal chronicles credit him with a sixty-year reign. Modern historians often approach this lengthy tenure—and the preceding seventy-year reign attributed to his father—with caution. It has been proposed that such extended reigns in the Mahāvaṁsa and related chronicles were designed to align the arrival of King Vijaya with the Parinirvāṇa of the Buddha.

Despite chronological debates, the traditional narrative depicts Mutasiva as a stable and long-lived ruler. His reign was notably free from the internal conspiracies and foreign invasions that later afflicted the kingdom. The orderly succession reflects the consolidation and administrative maturity of the Sinhala state by the mid-fourth century BCE.

The Creation of the Mahāmēghavana

The most distinguished accomplishment of Mutasiva was the creation of the Mahāmēghavana park on the southern side of Anurādhapura. Tradition relates that during the preparation of the garden, a great cloud unexpectedly gathered and brought heavy rain. In commemoration of this auspicious event, the king bestowed upon it the name “Great Cloud Grove.”

The park was more than a royal pleasure ground. It was planted with a wide array of flowering trees and fruit-bearing groves, forming an extensive and carefully designed landscape. Its importance became fully apparent during the reign of Mutasiva’s son, Devānampiya Tissa, when Buddhism was formally introduced to the island. The Mahāmēghavana was donated to the Saṅgha and subsequently became the site of the Mahāvihāra, the principal center of the Theravāda tradition. It was also here that the Sacred Bodhi Tree was planted, permanently sanctifying the grounds.

Family: Ten Sons and Two Daughters

Mutasiva fathered ten sons and two daughters, whose roles would shape the political trajectory of Lanka for decades. The chronicles describe his sons as united and mindful of their royal responsibilities.

The eldest, Abhaya, was initially involved in court administration. The second son, Devānampiya Tissa, would become the most renowned for his conversion to Buddhism and patronage of the new faith. Other sons—Uttiya, Mahāsiva, and Sūratissa—would each ascend the throne in succession. The youngest, Asela, would later restore Sinhala sovereignty from Tamil usurpers.

His daughters were Anulā and Sīvalī.

The Eventual End and Succession

King Mutasiva died in 307 BCE at Anurādhapura, having reached an advanced age and presided over a prolonged era of stability and growth. He was succeeded by his second son, Devānampiya Tissa.

King Mitasiva had 12 children out of which 10 were sons. The names of the sons were Abhaya, Tissa, Naga, Utti, Mattabhaya, Mitta, Siva, Asela, Tissa, and Kira. The daughters were Anul and Sivala.

Works of King Mutasiva

Mahameghawana Garden – The Mahameghawana Garden, also known as Mahamevuna Park, was created by King Mutasiva in Anuradhapura. The king planted numerous flowering and fruit-bearing trees, transforming it into a lush garden space intended for leisure and relaxation. According to legend, when the site was designated, a remarkable event occurred: a large cloud appeared, followed by an unexpected downpour, despite it being outside the typical rainy season. This phenomenon inspired the garden’s name, “Mahameghawana,” which translates to “Great Cloud Garden,” signifying the auspicious nature of its creation. This park later became a significant cultural and spiritual site, later housing the Sacred Bodhi Tree brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, adding to its historical importance.

References

Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya or a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Oldenberg, H. (2001). The Dipavamsa : An Ancient Buddhist Historical Record. Asian Educational Services. (Original work published 1879)
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.

Predecessor		Successor
King Pandukabhaya [437-367 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Mutasiva [367-307 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Devanampiya Tissa [250-210 BCE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA