Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Mahinda I [730-733 CE] (පළමුවන මහින්ද රජතුමා)

King Mahinda I, referred to as Midel in Pujavaliya and Midelpana in Rajavaliya, the youngest son of King Manavamma, ascended the throne of Anuradhapura in 733 CE, following the death of his brother King Kassapa III. Like his elder brothers, Mahinda was born during Manavamma‘s exile in the Pallava Kingdom, and his early life was shaped by the political turbulence of the previous decades.

However, unlike his predecessors, Mahinda made an unprecedented decision in the annals of Anuradhapura: he declined to undergo the traditional Abhisheka consecration ceremony. Deeply grieved by the recent death of his lifelong friend Nila, Mahinda chose to mourn in silence rather than celebrate with royal pomp. As a result, he ruled not as a consecrated monarch but under the title of Adipada.

Despite this unusual beginning, Mahinda I ruled the kingdom with diligence. He made key appointments to maintain political stability and provincial governance. He named Aggabodhi, the son of his late brother Kassapa III, as Uparaja (Deputy King) and granted him control over the Pacinadesa (Eastern Province), instructing him to reside there.

Mahinda also appointed his own son—also named Aggabodhi—as the ruler of Dakkhinadesa (Southern Province), a region traditionally reserved for the heir apparent in the past.

Although his reign was brief—lasting only three years—Mahinda I is remembered for his strong commitment to Buddhist religious institutions and the continuation of royal patronage that had been revived by his father. According to the Culavamsa, he made generous endowments to the Sangha, restored temples and monasteries that had suffered neglect or damage, and upheld the ideals of righteous kingship.

Upon his death in 734 CE, he was succeeded by his son, King Aggabodhi VI, marking the beginning of a new generation of rulers from Manavamma’s lineage.

Works of King Mahinda I

1. Built a adobe for the bhikkunis, called after himself

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:

1. Dipavamsa: compiled between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, and the earliest known historical chronicle
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Pujavaliya: Written by a monk in or around 1266 during the reign of King Panditha Parakrama Bahu of Dambadeniya Kingdom
5. 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

1. Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa: Being The More Recent Part of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part I–II. Pali Text Society.
2. Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
3. 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.
4. Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.

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