King Sangha Tissa I[247-251 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Vijaya-Kumaraka [246-247 CE] -House of Lambakanna I-	King Sangha Tissa I [247-251 CE] -House of Lambakanna I-	King Siri Sangha Bodhi I [251-253 CE] -House of Lambakanna I-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

About King Sangha Tissa I

King Sanghatissa I ascended to the throne after assassinating King Vijaya Kumaraka. Sangha Tissa , hailing from the Lambakanna Clan in the Mahiyangana region, was one of the three close allies of King Vijaya Kumaraka who were invited to serve in the royal court. Before claiming the throne, he held the prominent position of Commander-in-Chief of the Army under King Vijaya Kumaraka. His reign lasted four years, ending when he was killed by the inhabitants of Pacinadipaka Island.

Like many rulers who gained power through violent means, King Sangha Tissa I sought to legitimize his reign by gaining the support of the Buddhist Sangha, a group that held considerable influence over the masses.

For instance, the king was once moved by a sermon from Thera Mahadeva of Damahalaka Viharaya (Damgala Viharaya). The Thera preached the merit of offering rice gruel (rice milk), inspiring the king to order a daily distribution of well-prepared rice gruel (rice milk), to monks at the four gates of the capital.

Death by Jambu Fruit (Rose Apple)

Periodically, King Sangha Tissa I, accompanied by the women of his palace and his ministers, visited Pacinadipaka Island (East Island), located between the northern tip of Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent, to enjoy the highly prized jambu fruit (rose apple), renowned as the finest on the island.

These royal excursions placed a heavy burden on the island’s inhabitants, who were required to bear significant expenses for hosting the king and his entourage. Over time, the repeated visits and associated costs drove the locals to desperation. In an act of rebellion, they poisoned the jambu fruits they expected the king to consume.

Following King Sangha Tissa’s death from the poisoned fruit, Siri Sanghabodhi, the second of the three Lambakanna princes from Mahiyangana, ascended the throne. Gothabhaya, the youngest of the three, was appointed as his treasurer.

Works of King Sangha Tissa I

The pinnacle of the Ruwanwelisaya was gilded with gold
Four precious gems valued at one hundred thousand pieces of money each were embedded in the square enclosure of the Ruwanwelisaya.
Placed a precious ring of crystal upon the spire of the Ruwanwelisaya stupa.

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)
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.
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.