King Parakramabahu the Great [1153-1186 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
Gajabahu II [1132-1159 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-	Parakramabahu I [1153-1186 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-	Vijayabahu II [1186-1187 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Parākramabāhu I, also known as Parākramabāhu the Great (r. 1153–1186 CE), stands as one of the most illustrious monarchs in the history of Sri Lanka. He was the son of Prince Mānābharaṇa (the elder), the ruler of Dakkhinadesa, and Queen Ratanāvalī, the daughter of the great liberator Vijayabāhu I (r. 1055-1110 CE).

Early Life and Lineage

According to tradition, his birth was accompanied by miraculous signs, leading household Brahmins to prophesy that he would become a universal ruler capable of uniting the island under a single authority. He was born at Saṅkhatthali (modern Alupota). His father died while he was still young, after which Parākramabāhu came under the guardianship of his uncle Kittisirimegha, the reigning ruler of Dakkhinadesa.

Under his uncle’s protection, Parākramabāhu received an education befitting a prince. He mastered the sixty-four arts, which included religious studies, statecraft, grammar, poetry, music, and martial disciplines such as swordsmanship and archery. A particularly strong influence on his thinking was Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which later shaped both his administrative policies and military strategy.

Reconnaissance in Rajarata

Possessed of a powerful ambition to reunite the divided kingdom, Parākramabāhu soon found the life of a provincial court restrictive. He secretly left his uncle’s palace at night, evading the guards, and travelled to Rajarata, then ruled by his cousin, King Gajabāhu II.

On arriving at Pulatthinagara (Polonnaruwa), he was received with honor as a guest of the court. Taking advantage of this position, he quietly constructed an elaborate intelligence network. Agents disguised as snake-charmers, musicians, fortune-tellers, and monks were deployed to assess the strength of Gajabāhu’s army and the loyalty of the populace.

To further allay suspicion, Parākramabāhu arranged the marriage of his sister Bhaddavatī to King Gajabāhu, while covertly mapping secret forest routes and the city’s defenses. Eventually, fearing that his intentions might be uncovered, one day he slipped away from Polonnaruwa by night and returned to Dakkhinadesa.

Accession to Dakkhinadesa

Following the death of Kittisirimegha, Parākramabāhu succeeded him as ruler of Dakkhinadesa. This accession provided him with the political authority and material resources necessary to initiate his campaigns for island-wide unification.

Wars of Unification and the Sack of Polonnaruwa

Parākramabāhu’s rise to power was marked by a series of violent internal conflicts against his principal rivals, King Gajabāhu II and Mānābharaṇa of Rohana. He launched a coordinated offensive on Polonnaruwa on multiple fronts, striking the Pearl Banks in the west and the Ālisāra (Elahera) district in the east.

The conflict culminated in a desperate seven-day battle for Polonnaruwa. His forces breached the city’s defenses and entered the capital, where widespread plundering followed, sparing neither public spaces nor private homes. At this time, Parākramabāhu himself was encamped at Nālandā.

Intervention of Mānābharaṇa

Unable to endure the devastation any longer, the people of Polonnaruwa appealed to Mānābharaṇa, who was then at Sorabora. He responded swiftly, came to the aid of Gajabāhu, defeated Parākramabāhu’s forces, and relieved both the king and the suffering population.

However, Mānābharaṇa’s ambitions extended beyond rescue. He brought the Tooth and Alms-bowl Relics from Ruhuna to Polonnaruwa, relics that had earlier been removed for safekeeping during the reign of Vikramabāhu, clearly intending to legitimize his own claim to kingship.

After seizing control of Polonnaruwa, Mānābharaṇa imprisoned King Gajabāhu and attempted to cause his death through starvation and poison. Despite these efforts, Gajabāhu managed to send a secret message to Parākramabāhu describing his plight and requesting assistance.

Parakramabahu’s Second Attack on Polonnaruwa

Responding swiftly, Parākramabāhu launched another campaign against Polonnaruwa. The combined forces loyal to Parākramabāhu and Gajabāhu defeated Mānābharaṇa’s army and freed the captive king. Once liberated, Gajabāhu did not wait to receive Parākramabāhu in the capital but fled immediately to Kottiar, intending to leave the island.

Reconcillation and Consecration

With the conflict still unresolved, the Buddhist Saṅgha stepped in as mediators. They reminded Parākramabāhu that Gajabāhu was advanced in age and without an heir, and that the succession would, in time, pass naturally to him. Their intervention led to a historic reconciliation between the two rivals.

The terms of this agreement were originally inscribed on a rock at Madirigiriya Vihāraya, though this inscription has since been lost. A copy of the treaty, however, survives in the form of a rock engraving at Sangamuwa Vihāraya. Under its provisions, both rulers pledged never to wage war against each other for the remainder of their lives, mutually recognized one another as heirs to their respective realms, and agreed that the enemy of one would be regarded as the enemy of the other. This final clause was clearly intended to counter and neutralize the ambitions of Mānābharaṇa.

“Prosperity! We are the two brothers-in-law, Gajabahu and Parakramabahu who come down in unbroken succession in the illustrious Mahasammata lineage and who valued the absolute truth. According to this treaty we shall not wage war against each other till the end of our lives. If any one of us is first to pass away, the other who survives will be in possession of the (Kingdom). If there be any kings who are enemies of either of us, they are enemies of both of us. If we do anything against this agreement, it will be as if we have transgressed the command of the Triple Gem.
We shall (also) never be delivered from hell. May this writing protect the world as long as the Moon and the Stars last. May this union of these two people, whose wealth is used for the benefit of others, be suffused with love.”

Parākramabāhu ultimately achieved undisputed sovereignty following the deaths of his rivals. He was formally consecrated in 1153 CE. Thereafter, he turned his attention to Rohana, waging a fierce campaign against Queen Sugalā, the mother of Mānābharaṇa, in order to recover the Tooth and Alms-bowl Relics, which were essential to the full legitimization of royal authority.

Northern Administration and Foreign Policy

As ruler of unified Sri Lanka, Parākramabāhu asserted firm control over the Northern Region, subjugating approximately 364 Vanni districts to secure the heartland of Rajarata against internal dissent. He strategically utilized northern ports such as Mahātittha (Mantai) and Urātturai (Kayts) as bases for an ambitious foreign policy.

He famously dispatched a fleet of hundreds of ships to invade Rāmañña (Lower Burma) in 1164 or 1165 after its king, Alaungsithu, insulted his envoys and interfered with the elephant trade. He also intervened in a succession dispute in the Pandya kingdom of South India, sending General Laṅkāpura to depose King Kulasekhara and enthrone Prince Vīrapandu about 1166 or 1169. During this campaign, coinage bearing Parākramabāhu’s own name was issued for circulation in the Tamil country.

Hydraulic Works and Restoration of Ancient Capitals

Parākramabāhu’s domestic reign is most vividly remembered for his monumental achievements in hydraulic engineering and architecture. He famously declared that not even a drop of rainwater should be allowed to flow into the sea without being made useful to humanity. His greatest undertaking was the Parākrama Samudraya (Sea of Parākrama) at Polonnaruwa, a vast reservoir created by damming the Amban Ganga and channeling its waters through the Ākāsagaṅgā canal.

In total, he is credited with the construction or restoration of 163 major tanks and 3,910 canals, bringing the island’s agricultural productivity to its historic peak. He also restored the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, rebuilding the Ruvanveli Sēya and other major shrines damaged during the Cola occupation.

Architecture, Religion, and the Sangha

In Polonnaruwa, Parākramabāhu transformed the city into a cosmopolitan capital through an ambitious program of construction. He built a seven-story palace reputed to contain a thousand rooms and adorned with gold-plated windows. Major religious edifices of his reign include the Jetavana Monastery, the Lankāthilaka Image House, and the Gal Vihāraya (Uttarārāma), where four colossal Buddha images were carved from a single granite outcrop.

His religious legacy also consists of the historic unification of the three Buddhist Nikāyas—the Mahāvihāra, Abhayagiri, and Jetavana—the purification of the Saṅgha from undisciplined monks, and the promulgation of a formal disciplinary code (katikāvata).

Although modern historians note that his costly foreign wars and monumental building programs eventually strained the economy, Parākramabāhu I endures as the architect of a unified, prosperous, and culturally vibrant Lanka. He died in 1186 CE after a reign of thirty-three years, having fulfilled his lifelong ambition of bringing the entire island under a single umbrella of dominion.

Works of Parakramabahu the Great

Built a seven-story palace with thousand rooms and named it Vejayanta Pasada
Built Mandalamandira (circle house). Bell believes this to be Pothgul Vehera near Parakrama Samudraya
Built Pancasattatimandira (house of the seventy-five). It’s unclear why the name was chosen. The structure was intended to be used for paritti ceremonies. Among the ruins discovered today, this has not been identified.
Near his palace, Sarassatimandapa was built with shimmering golden pillars. Paintings depicting Parakramabahu’s deeds adorned it. It was adorned with a wishing tree that offered everything desired and glistened with various ornaments like necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and expensive clothing.
Built the three-story Rajavesibhujanga. It was ornamented with colored paintings and enclosed by rows of graceful vedikās, exquisitely adorned, and furnished with a costly throne beneath a wishing tree that bestowed desired gifts upon singers and others. The entire structure shimmered with an array of precious stones.
Built Ekatthambha-pasada (a one-pillar palace), which ended with a Makara. It was adorned with a golden chamber placed on a golden column.
Established Deepa Uyana, known as the “Island Garden,” which featured several specialized structures:
- Vijjamandapa (Science Pavilion): Designed to showcase and celebrate various branches of scientific knowledge.
- Dolāmandapa (Swing Pavilion): Equipped with a decorative swing adorned with small, delicate golden bells.
- Kiļāmandapa (Games Pavilion): A recreation center where the King joined officials and masters of entertainment for sports and leisure.
- Sanimandapa (Ivory Pavilion): An ivory structure whose name translates to the Pavilion of Saturn, Carpets, or Curtains.
- Moramandapa (Peacock Pavilion): A distinctive pavilion named after the peacock.
- Adāsamandapa (Mirror Pavilion): A unique building featuring walls entirely lined with mirrors.
- Anantapokkharani (Ananta Pond): A bathing pool with stone masonry layered to resemble the coils of the serpent king, Ananta.
- Cittapokkharani (Picture Pond): A vibrant area decorated with colorful paintings that brought joy to King Parakkamabāhu.
- Singāravimāna (Palace of Splendor): A magnificent four-story palace, unique in its design and covered in diverse mural paintings.
Built a Prasada for the Tooth Relic. This is possibly Hetadage at Dalada Maluwa
His queen, Rupavathi, built Rupavati Chethiya, probably the Kiri Vehera or Pabalu Vehera.
Built Thuparamaya of Polonnaruwa
Built Alahana Pirivena
Built Lankatilaka Image House at Alahana Pirivena
Built the Baddasimaprasada of Alahana Pirivena which was the Uposatha House of the monastery
Built Subhadda Chethiya
Built Uttararamaya, better known as Gal Viharaya
Built Demala Maha Seya
Built Jethavanaramaya, including the Thivanka Pilima-Ge and nearby Lotus Pond.
Rebuilt Ruvanweli Maha Seya and all other important stupas in Anuradhapura, which had been abandoned for 160 years.
Rebuilt the entire Mihintale Monastery
Built Parakrama Samudraya, the sea of Parakrama, a vast reservoir created by damming the Amban Ganga and channeling its waters through the Ākāsagaṅgā canal
Restored the dams that had burst of the following reservoirs: the great reservoir Manihīra (Minneriya Wewa), Mahādāragallaka, Suvannatissa, Duratissa, the Kalavāpi (Kala Wewa), the reservoir in Brahmanaggama by name, Nalikera-mahāthamba, Rahera, Giritaļāka (Giritale Wewa), Kumbhilasobbba; Kānavāpi, Padīvāpi (Padaviya Wewa), Kaţi, Pattapāsānavāpi, Mahanna, Mahānāmamatthaka, Vaddhana, Mahādatta, Kānagāma; Vīra, Valāhassa, Suramāna, Pāsānagāma, Kalavalli, Kahalli , Angagāma, Hillapattakakhanda and the Madagu.

References

Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa: Being The More Recent Part of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part I–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa Being The More Recent Part Of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part II–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
Gunasekara, B. (1895). A Contribution to the History of Ceylon: Translated from Pujavaliya. H.C. Cottle.
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
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.
Obeyesekere, D. (1911). History of Ceylon : Outlines of Ceylon History. The Times of Ceylon Colombo.
Wijesekera, N. (1990). The Sinhalese. M. D. Gunasena & Co Ltd.

Predecessor		Successor
Gajabahu II [1132-1159 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-	Parakramabahu I [1153-1186 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-	Vijayabahu II [1186-1187 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA