King Vattagamini Abhaya [104 BCE & 89-76 BCE]

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

Be the first to rate

Predecessor		Successor
King Khallata Naga [109-104 BCE]	King Vattagamini Abhaya (Walagamba) [104 BCE] [89-76 BCE]	Five Tamil Invaders [104-89 BCE] King Mahaculi Mahathissa [76-62 BCE]
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Vattagamini Abhaya, also known as King Walagamba and King Walagambahu was a brother of King Khallata Naga and son of King Saddhatissa. King Khallata Naga was assassinated by his own commander-in-chief, Kammaharattaka (referred to as Maharattaka in the Deepavamsa). However, Kammaharattaka’s rule lasted just a single day, as he was subsequently killed by Prince Vattagamini, the youngest brother of King Khallata Naga.

Attacks on the Anuradhapura Kingdom

Vattagamani Abhaya faced serious threats only five months after ascending the throne. In the southern region of Rohana, a Brahmin named Tissa (referred to as Tiya in older commentaries) believed a prophecy declaring that he was destined to rule Sri Lanka. Encouraged by this prediction, he raised an army and marched toward Anuradhapura.

At the same time, a fleet led by seven Tamil chiefs landed at Mahatittha (modern-day Mannar) and began advancing toward the capital.

Faced with these simultaneous threats, King Vattagamani Abhaya adopted a strategic response. He sent a message to Tissa, stating that he was willing to surrender the throne but that Tissa should first defeat the invading Tamil forces. Accepting the challenge, Tissa confronted the invaders but was ultimately defeated. The Tamil forces then advanced toward Anuradhapura, where the king himself attempted to defend the kingdom but was also defeated in battle.

Retreat of King Vattagamini Abhaya

During his retreat from Anuradhapura, Vattagamani Abhaya gathered his family and fled the capital. Among those with him were Queen Anuladevi, who was pregnant with the son of Khallata Naga (the king’s nephew), her young son, and another of the king’s sons. To lighten the chariot and allow the group to escape more quickly, the king’s own consort, Queen Somadevi, voluntarily stepped down. She was subsequently captured by the invaders while the king continued his flight and eventually went into hiding, preparing to reclaim his kingdom.

During this retreat, a Jain ascetic named Giri, who had earlier been involved in the coup against King Khallata Naga, reportedly mocked the fleeing monarch, shouting that “the great black lion is fleeing.” Angered by the insult, Vattagamani Abhaya is said to have vowed that if he regained his throne he would build a monastery on that very site. After his eventual restoration to power, this vow was fulfilled with the construction of the famous Abhayagiri Vihara.

According to the Mahavamsa, one of the invading Tamils abducted Queen Somadevi, while another carried away the sacred rice-bowl relic believed to have been used by the Buddha and departed from the island’s shores. The remaining five Tamil leaders ruled in Anuradhapura one after another, each killing the previous ruler before taking power.

However, the Pali commentaries, which were composed earlier than the Mahavamsa, present a somewhat different account of these events. Their version of the episode varies in several details regarding the so-called “Five South Indian Invaders.”

The Comeback of King Vattagamini Abhaya

After spending 14 years in exile seeking refuge in caves and gathering support, King Vattagamini Abhaya launched a successful attack on the Anuradhapura Kingdom, defeating the last of the Tamil rulers who had taken control. Upon reclaiming the throne, his first significant act was to demolish the shrine of the Jain ascetic Giri, who had mocked him during his retreat. In its place, he constructed a new Buddhist monastery, which he named Abhayagiri Viharaya, symbolizing the merger of his own name, “Abhaya,” and that of Giri.

Sometime later, the Abhayagiri Viharaya attracted Mahatissa Thera, a monk who had been expelled from the Maha Vihara for disciplinary reasons. His arrival at Abhayagiri led to the formation of a separate monastic community which fractured the establishment of two Buddhist fraternities, the Maha Vihara and Abhayagiri Vihara Monastery, marking the start of a division within Sri Lankan Buddhism that would influence the religious and political landscape of the island for centuries.

Documenting Tripitaka for the First Time

Before being written down, the Buddhist doctrine, known as the Tripitaka, was preserved orally and passed from teacher to student for centuries. However, as influence shifted toward the Abhayagiri Vihara and concern grew over preserving the original teachings, the monks of the Maha Vihara saw the need to document these teachings. To ensure the preservation of the Buddha‘s words, they undertook the historic task of committing the Tripitaka to ola (palm) leaf manuscripts. This monumental work took place at the Alu Viharaya Temple in Matale, Sri Lanka.

Tragically, these original manuscripts, a critical part of Buddhist heritage, were destroyed by the British in 1848 during the Matale Rebellion, leading to an irretrievable loss for Buddhists worldwide. The documentation at Alu Viharaya remains one of the most significant events in Buddhist history, marking the first time the sacred teachings were committed to writing and helping ensure their continuity despite subsequent challenges.

Other Works of King Vattagamini Abhaya

After reclaiming the throne, King Vattagamini Abhaya reinstated Queen Somadevi, who had been left behind during his escape years earlier. In her honor, he constructed Somarama (also known as Manisomaramaya) monastery. Fulfilling his vow to honor the places where he found refuge, he transformed each cave that had sheltered him into a temple. As a result, there are numerous cave temples throughout Sri Lanka attributed to his reign.

King Vattagamini Abhaya ruled for an additional 12 years after reclaiming his throne, during which he continued his support of Buddhism and the infrastructure of the kingdom. Upon his death, he passed the kingdom to Mahaculi Mahathissa, his adopted son and the biological son of his brother Khallata Naga. His legacy includes the Abhayagiri Vihara, Somarama, and his role in preserving Buddhism, as well as the many cave temples all over th country that stand as a testament to his resilience.

Works of King Vattagamini Abhaya

Abhayagiri Viharaya: was built on the site of the Jain ascetic Giri, who had mocked him during his retreat.
Somarama Viharaya: Also called Manisomaramaya, built in honor of his queen, Somadevi, at the site where she got off the chariot so that it could travel faster, ensuring the king’s escape from Anuradhapura after the defeat by the Tamil invaders. Geiger (1912) believes that the place called Queens Pavilion (Biso Maligawa) may be the site of this viharaya.
Silasobbhakandaka Dagaba: believed to be modern Lankaramaya.
Dhakkina Viharaya: Built by Uttiya, one of the ministers of King
Mulavokasa Viharaya: Built by Mula, one of the ministers of King
Saliyarama: Built by Saliya, one of the ministers of the King
Pabbatarama: Built by Pabbata, one of the ministers of the King
Uttaratissarama: Built by Tissa, one of the ministers of the King
Dambulla Cave Temple
Hundreds of other cave temples all over the country are attributed to this king.

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.
Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.

Predecessor		Successor
King Khallata Naga [109-104 BCE]	King Vattagamini Abhaya (Walagamba) [104 BCE] [89-76 BCE]	Five Tamil Invaders [104-89 BCE] King Mahaculi Mahathissa [76-62 BCE]
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA