Kingship in Ceylon from the fourth to the tenth century A.D.

K I N G S H I P IN C E YLON

F r o m the F o u r t h to the T e n t h C e n t u r y A*D*

S u j a t h a G u n a s e n a

T h e s i s S u b m i t t e d Tor the D e g r e e D o c t o r of P h i l o s o p h y in the U n i v e r s i t y of L o n d o n

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A B S T R A C T

The p r e s e n t study is an attempt to examine the i n s t i t u t i o n of k i n g s h i p in Ceylon fr o m the f o u r t h to the tenth c e n t u r y A.D, A b r i e f survey of the p o l i ­ tical b a c k g r o u n d of the p e r i o d is i n c l u d e d in the first c h a p t e r as a p r e r e q u i s i t e to the u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the v a r i o u s stages of the e v o l u t i o n of the concept of k i n g ­

ship in Ceylon; the rest of this chapter is d e v o t e d to a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n of the sources u t i l i z e d in this study.

The second chap t e r deals w i t h the v a r i o u s titles, throne n a m e s and p e r s o n a l najnes u s e d b y the ki n g s of this

period, in the d i s c u s s i o n of w h i c h we h a v e a n a l y s e d the v a r i o u s factors that led to their selection, p a r t i c u ­ l a r l y the u n d e r l y i n g r e l i g i o u s and p o l i t i c a l s i g n i f i ­ cance of the titles and their importance w i t h resp e c t to the g r o w t h of k i n g l y power. The royal f a m i l y and the part p l a y e d b y its m e m b e r s in the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of the

country are t aken into c o n s i d e r a t i o n in chap t e r XXX. A n a ttempt has b e e n made in this chapter to a n a l y s e the c o r ­ r e l a t i o n of the three titles, upara.ja. yuvara.ja and m a h a d i p a d a . Chap t e r IV is d e v o t e d to a d i s c u s s i o n of the royal

consecration. It d i s c u s s e s the n e w elements and rites a s s o c i a t e d w i t h the a b h i g e k a cere m o n y of the p e r i o d u n d e r review, its p o l i t i c a l and rel i g i o u s s i g n i f i c a n c e and the d i s p a r i t y b e t w e e n the t h e o r e t i c a l and the actual ceremony.

This also a t t e m p t s to c l a r i f y c ertain points of special

s i gnificance, which, in some i n s tances h a v e b e e n r e p e a t e d ­ ly m i s u n d e r s t o o d . This is f o l l o w e d by a c h a p t e r on the n a t u r e of k i n gship. The concepts r e l a t i n g to rulership, their s i g n i f i c a n c e and h o w far these c o n c e p t s a c t u a l l y a f f e c t e d p r a c t i c e are ta k e n into c o n s i d e r a t i o n in this chapter. The n e x t c h a p t e r deals w i t h the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the k i n g and the Sangha, p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n b e i n g p a i d to the causes that l e d to the d e v e l o p m e n t of a close c o n n e x i o n b e t w e e n them and the i m pact of that c o n n e x i o n on the e v o l u t i o n of k i n g s h i p in Ceylon, T h r e e a p p e n d i c e s are i n c l u d e d in this w o r k to e l u c i d a t e some of the points d i scussed.

k

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

This s t u d y was u n d e r t a k e n u n d e r the g u i d a n c e of Dr, J* Go de Casparis, a nd no w o r d s of min e can a d e ­ q u a t e l y express ray d e e p g r a t i t u d e to him. I hav e b e n e ­ f i t e d a great deal fr o m his v a l u a b l e c o m m e n t s and c r i t i ­ cisms w h i c h have c e r t a i n l y led to an i m p r o v e m e n t in the q u a l i t y of this thesis. T he g e n e r o u s m a n n e r in w h i c h he gave me b o t h of h is time and of his expert k n o w l e d g e of the s ubject throughout, is d e e p l y a p p r e c i a t e d . E n c o u r a g e ­ m e n t w as n e v e r l a c k i n g f r o m him. He has b e e n teacher,

c o u n s e l l o r and f r i e n d all at once, I c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n m o r e f o r t u n a t e tha n to ha v e s tudied u n d e r him. To Dr.

de Casparis, therefore, I r e m a i n d e e p l y indebted.

I should also like to express m y d e e p g r a t i t u d e a nd sincere thanks to P r o f e s s o r K* W. G o o n e w a r d h a n a ,

H e a d of the D e p a r t m e n t of History, U n i v e r s i t y of Sri Lanka, P e r a d e n i y a C a mpus and Dr. Lakshin a n S. Per era,

S e n i o r E d u c a t i o n Officer, C o m m o n w e a l t h S e c r e t a r i a t , London, for t heir k i n d help, a d v i c e and e n c o u r a g e m e n t .

It was Dr, S i r i m a K i r i b a m u n e , S e n i o r L e c t u r e r in His t o r y , U n i v e r s i t y of Sri Lanka, P e r a d e n i y a Campus, who a w a k e n e d ray i n t e r e s t in this f i e l d of study, and m y mo s t sincere thanks go to her. I am also g r e a t l y tha n k f u l to

l i b r a r i e s of the School of Oriental and A f r i c a n Studies, the B r i t i s h M u s e u m and the U n i v e r s i t y of L o n d o n for all their h e l p and assistance.

X am e q u a l l y g r a t e f u l to the U n i v e r s i t y of Sri Lanka, P e r a d e n i y a Campus, for g r a n t i n g me the s t u d y leave n e c e s s a r y for c a r r y i n g out this r e s e a r c h an d to the Schoo of O r iental and A f r i c a n Studies, U n i v e r s i t y of London, for a w a r d i n g me a G o v e r n i n g B o d y a ward d u r i n g the final s tages of m y study.

Finally, it r e m a i n s for me to e x p r e s s m y sincere and h e a r t - f e l t thanks to m y husband, Sena, who s p a r e d no p a i n s in h e l p i n g me w i t h m y work.

6

T A B L E O F CONTENTS

A b s t r a c t * ... 2-3 A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s ... 4-5

A b b r e v i a t i o n s ... . . . 7-9

C h a p t e r I I n t r o d u c t i o n and Sources • ♦ . . 10— 33 C h a p t e r II R o y a l T i t l e s and T h e i r S i g n i f i c a n c e 3 ^ — 78 C h a p t e r III R o y a l F a m i l y ...* . 7 9 - 1

36

The Part P l a y e d b y M e m b e r s of the R o y a l F a m i l y in the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a nd the P r i v i l e g e s T h e y E n j o y e d

C h a p t e r I V The R o y a l C o n s e c r a t i o n ... 137-190 C h a p t e r V N a t u r e of K i n g s h i p . # 191-236 C h a p t e r VI R e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the K i n g and

the S a n g h a ... 2 3 7 - 3 1 4

C o n c l u s i o n . , 315- 3 2 2

A p p e n d i x I S u m m a r y and D e s c r i p t i o n of the

A b h i s e k a ... * * « * 3 23— 326 A p p e n d i x II Davy* s A c c o u n t of the C o r o n a t i o n

of a S i n h a l e s e K i n g • • • • • • • 327- 3 3 3 A p p e n d i x III L a k R a j a Lo S i r i t a • • • * . * . 334-351 B i b l i o g r a p h y ... ... 352- 3 8 3

A.B.

A.I.C.

A.N.

Ap.

A.S.C.

A . S . C . A . R .

A . S . C . M •

B . E . F . E . 0.

C.A.L.R.

C.C.M.T.

C.J.Sc.

C.I.I.

Cv.

D.N.

Dv.

A B B R E V I A T I O N S

A i t a r e y a B r a h m a n a

A n c i e n t I n s c r i p t i o n s in Ce y l o n

A n g u t t a r a N i k a y a

A p a s t a m b a D h a r m a s u t r a

A r c h a e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y of C e y l o n

A r c h a e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y of Ceylon, A n n u a l R e p o r t

M e m o i r s of the A r c h a e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y of C e y l o n

B u l l e t i n de L ' E c o l e Fran<jaise d 1 E x t r e m e - O r i e n t

T he C e y l o n A n t i q u a r y and L i t e r a r y R e g i s t e r

C u l t u r e of Ceylon in M e d i a e v a l Times

C e y l o n Jour n a l of Science Corpus I n s c r i p t i o n u m I n d i e a r u m

C u l a v a m s a D i g h a N i k a y a D i p a v a m s a

8

E.I.

E. Z . Hlr • J.A.O.S.

J.P.T.S.

J #R.A .S ,

J . R •A.S « C .B.

K. S

.

Mbh • M.S.

Mv.

n.s, P.T.S, S.B.

S.B.E.

S.H.B.

S.P.

T.B.

T.S.

E p i g r a p h i a Indie a E p i g r a p h i a Z e y l a n i c a H i r a n y a k e ^ i

J o u r n a l of the A m e r i c a n O r i e n t a l S o c i e t y

J o u r n a l of the Pali Tex t S o c i e t y

The J o u r n a l of the R o y a l A s i a t i c S o c i e t y

J o u r n a l of the R o y a l A s i a t i c Society, C e y l o n B r a n c h

K a u s i t a k i S a m h i t a M a h a b h a r a t a

M a i t r l S a m h i t a M a h a v a m s a

n e w series

Pali Text S o c i e t y S a t a p a t h a B r a h m a n a

The S a c r e d Books of the East

S i m o n H e w a v i t a r a n e B e q u e s t Series

Santi P a r v a n

T a i t t i r i y a B r a h m a n a T a i t t i r l y a S a m h i t a

U n i v e r s i t y of C e y l o n H i s t o r y of C e y l o n V a m s a t t h a p p a k a s i n l

10

C H A P T E R I

I N T R O D U C T I O N A N D SOUR C E S

A c c o r d i n g to the M a h a v a m s a , it a p p e a r s that in C e y l o n m o n a r c h y was the state n o r m f r o m the v e r y b e g i n ­ n i n g of its c i vilization. However, the a u t h e n t i c h i s t o r y

of the I s l a n d b e g i n s w i t h the r e i g n of D e v a n a m p i y a Tissa, The a c c o u n t of the M a h a v a m s a p r i o r to the r e i g n of this r u l e r is b a s e d m a i n l y on legends, m y t h s and J a t a k a stories.

H e n c e it cannot be said w i t h c e r t a i n t y w h a t f o r m of g o v e r n ­ m e n t p r e v a i l e d in the I s l a n d b e f o r e the r e i g n of Devanara- p i y a Tissa, Mor e o v e r , it is not j u s t i f i a b l e to a s sume that m o n a r c h y was the o n l y fo r m of g o v e r n m e n t p r e v a i l i n g in C e y l o n f r o m the v e r y outs e t m e r e l y b e c a u s e it has b e e n s t a t e d b y the chronicler. T h e r e are some s u g g e s t i o n s of a r e p u b l i c a n fo r m of g o v e r n m e n t at the time of the first A r y a n s e t t l e m e n t s in Ceylon, 2 but i n s u f f i c i e n t d a t a are a v a i l a b l e to a s c e r t a i n the condit i o n s p r e v a i l i n g in that

1, U , H , C ,. vol. I, pt. I, pp, 45-50.

2, S, P a r a n a v i t a n a , ’Two R o y a l T i t l e s of the E a r l y S i n h a ­ lese a n d the O r i g i n of K i n g s h i p in A n c i e n t C e y l o n * , J . R . A . S . . 1936, pp. 443-462; U . H . C . . vol. I, p t . I, P. 227.

r e m o t e past. Although, it is not u n l i k e l y that there h a d b e e n some k i n d of tribal f o r m of g o v e r n m e n t among* the first A r y a n settlers of the Island, these e a r l y r e p u b ­ l i c a n ideas n e v e r d e v e l o p e d or f l o u r i s h e d in Ceylon, F r o m the e a r l i e s t times to w h i c h our a v a i l a b l e records, b o t h l i t e r a r y and m o n u m e n t a l , go back, the g o v e r n m e n t of

the I s l a n d has b e e n of the m o n a r c h i c type.

In a m o n a r c h i c state, as the n a m e implies, the k i n g b e c o m e s the soul of the b o d y p o l i t i c w ho r e p r e s e n t s

the state. A c c o r d i n g to the H i n d u conception, r a j y a or

*|

state c o nsists of s e v e n e l e m e n t s (ahgas or p r a k r t i s ), and a p p a r e n t l y the k i n g or svam i n is r e g a r d e d as the mo s t i m p o r t a n t of all, 2 K a u t i l y a observes in one p lace that ra.ja ra.jyamiti pralcrtisamksepah, that is, the p r a k r t i s in e p i t o m e m e a n 1 the k i n g is the s t a t e 1 . 3 The king, therefore, is the pi v o t a r o u n d w h i c h the p o l i t i c a l ,

1, The se v e n c o n s t i t u e n t s of a state are s v a m i n 1 the

sovereign* ; a m a t y a 1 the officials*; ,janapada 1 the t e r r i ­ t o r y and the popul a t i o n ; d u r g a 1 the c apital or f o r t i ­ f i e d c i t y 1 ; k o s a 1 the t r e a s u r y 1 ; d a n d a 1 the a r m y ’ ; mitra

’f r i e n d s and allies' (A r t h a s a s t r a , VI, chap,I; VIII, chap. I; M a n u , IX, 295; N i t i s a r a , canto IV, v, 1; see also D, R, B h a n d a r k a r , Some A s p e c t s of A n c i e n t H i n d u P o l i t y , p, 65; .U, N, Ghoshal, A H i s t o r y of I n d i a n Politi cal I d e a s , pp, 84-86,

2, J o h n W, Spellman, P o l i t i c a l T h e o r y of A n c i e n t I n d i a , p, 3# A r t h a s a s t r a , ed, R, S hamasastry, VIII (1924), p. 325;

D. R, B h a n d a r k a r , op, cit., p, 84,

12

re l i g i o u s , social and e c onomic i n s t i t u t i o n s of a c o u n t r y revolve. Hence, for a p r o p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the h i s ­ to r y of the I s l a n d - p o l i t i c a l as well as r e ligious, social an d e c o n o m i c - a k n o w l e d g e of the i n s t i t u t i o n of k i n g s h i p is i n d i s p e n s a b l e .

In his d o c t o r a l thesis, T i l a k H e t t i a r a c h c h y i n v e s t i g a t e d the h i s t o r y of k i n g s h i p f r o m the earl i e s t times up to the r e i g n of M a h a s e n a (27^-301)» and this

w o r k has r e c e n t l y b e e n p ublished. The scope of our thesis covers the p e r i o d fro m the r e i g n of S i r i m e g h a v a n n a (301- 328), the s u c c e s s o r of M a h a sena, to that of M a h i n d a V

(982-1029)# The r e i g n of M a h i n d a V is s i g n i f i c a n t in the h i s t o r y of the Island; it m a r k e d the end of the A n u r a d h a - p u r a k i n g d o m w h i c h h a d l a s t e d for mo r e than a m i l l e n n i u m . In c o ntrast to the f u l s o m e eulogies b e s t o w e d on M a h i n d a V in the P o l o n n a r u v a P i l l a r I nscription, he a p p e a r s f r o m

the c h r o n i c l e s to h a v e b e e n a w e a k a n d i n c a p a b l e ruler.

Sa y s the C u l a v a m s a , fAs he w a n d e r e d fr o m the p a t h of s t a t e c r a f t and w as of v e r y w e a k character, the p e a s a n t s d id not d e l i v e r h i m his share of the produce. As the k i n g in his t e n t h y e a r h a d e n t i r e l y lost his fortune, he was u n a b l e to s a t i s f y his troops b y g i v i n g them their p a y * •

1 . E^Z. , vol. IV, p. 59.

Cv, , chap, vv. 3 “^-*

At this turn of ©vents M a h i n d a V a b a n d o n e d R a j a r a t t h a_{v * *} a nd fl e d to Rohana. Thus the A n u r a d h a p u r a k i n g d o m was a b a n d o n e d to d i s o r d e r in 992 A.D. , the t e n t h y e a r of his reign, and the troops, S i n h alese as wel l as K e r a l a s and K a r natas, took control of it* The Colas, t a king a d v a n t a g e of this situation, i n v a d e d the I s l a n d and

b r o u g h t it u n d e r t heir authority* 1 T he i n e f f i c i e n t rule of M a h i n d a V thus p a v e d the w a y for the Colas to e s t a b ­ li s h their a u t h o r i t y over the Island. F or the first time, C e y l o n b e c a m e the p r o v i n c e of an e m pire w i t h its centre outs i d e the I s l a n d an d was a d m i n i s t e r e d in the i n t e r e s t s of that empire. The Colas h e l d s w a y over C e y l o n for over three q u a r t e r s of a c e n t u r y a nd this r e s u l t e d in b r i n g i n g m a n y changes in the po l i t i c a l , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , social and cultural spheres. 2

The C o l a o c c u p a t i o n of C e y l o n was b r o u g h t to an end in the y e a r 1070 A.D. b y V i j a y a b a h u I who s u c c e e d e d in l i b e r a t i n g the I s l a n d f r o m their power. W i t h the a c c e s s i o n of V i j a y a b a h u a n e w k i n g d o m e m e r g e d w i t h its

1* C v . , chap. vv* 13-20; U . H . C *. vol. I, pt. I, pp.

3 ^ - 3 5 1

.

U .H .C .. vol. I, pt. I, pp. 344-351; W. M. K. Wi j e t u n g a , 1 The R i s e and D e c l i n e of Col a Po w e r in C e y l o n 1 (Ph.D.

thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of London, 1 9 6 2), pp. 234-236, 289-

3 0 2 ; 302-340.

14

capital at P o l o n n a r u v a . F o l l o w i n g the e x a m p l e of the

Colas lie f i x e d his seat of g o v e r n m e n t at P o l o n n a r u v a , 1 and t h e r e a f t e r A n u r a d h a p u r a n e v e r r e g a i n e d its p o s i t i o n as the c a p i t a l of the Island. The p o l i t i c a l b a c k g r o u n d of the P o l o n n a r u p e r i o d d i f f e r s to a c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e n t fr o m

that of A n u r a d h a p u r a . 2 D u r i n g this period, the p o litical, r e l i g i o u s and social i n s t i t u t i o n s u n d e r w e n t s i g n i f i c a n t changes. N e w ideas, b e l i e f s and customs e m e r g e d a r o u n d the king, and in c o n t r a s t to the p e r i o d u n d e r s u r v e y the r o y a l t y of this p e r i o d came u n d e r the i n f l u e n c e of H i n d u i s m

„ 3

and B r a h m a n i c a l rites. Th e r e f o r e , a s t u d y of the i n s t i ­ tu t i o n of k i n g s h i p in the P o l o n n a r u p e r i o d can be a t t e m p t e d o n l y in a s e parate study. F o r these r e a s o n s the a b a n ­

d o n m e n t of A n u r a d h a p u r a as the capital of the S i n h a l e s e is t a k e n as the terminus ad q u e m of this study.

No st u d y of the i n s t i t u t i o n of k i n g s h i p in C e y l o n d u r i n g the p e r i o d u n d e r s u r v e y has b e e n u n d e r t a k e n , apart f r o m a f e w p a p e r s on some aspe c t s w h i c h h a v e a p p e a r e d in

1. C v , , chap* 59» vv. 8-11.

2* U . H .C ., vol. I, p t . XX, pp. 507"525; A m a r a d a s a L i y a n a - g a m a g e , The D e c l i n e of P o l o n n a r u w a and the Ris e of D a m b a d e n i y a . pp. 3^~75.

3* U . H . C .. vol. I, pt. II, pp. 53^-535; w. M. K. W ijetunga, op. cit«, p. 297*

journals* In a p a p e r p u b l i s h e d in 1952 in the C e y l o n H i s t o r i c a l J o u r n a l * V* A* J a y a w a r d a n a d i s c u s s e d in brief*

some a s p e c t s of k i n g s h i p and the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n in C e y l o n fr o m the f o u r t h to the s i x t h c e n t u r y A*D* In his pa p e r on 1 The R o y a l L i n e a g e i n the P r a s a s t i s of the 8 t h - 10th c e n t u r y I n s c r i ptions* p u b l i s h e d in 1953 in the C e y l o n H i s t o r i c a l J o u r n a l * L a k s m a n S* P e r e r a e x a m i n e d the ideas current at the time about the lineage and d e s c e n t of the k i ngs* P a r a n a v i t a n a *s a r t i c l e in the Sir Paul Pieris

F e l i c i t a t i o n V o l u m e gives an outline of the p o l i t i c a l and social con d i t i o n s of m e d i e v a l Ceylon* In 19^0, H einz B e c h e r t b r o u g h t out a p o s t h u m o u s p u b l i c a t i o n of a s tudy b y V i l h e l m G e i g e r on the C u l t u r e of C e y l o n i n M e d i e v a l T imes * Th i s w o r k c o ntains a s e c t i o n on * K i n g a nd G o v e r n ­ ment* in w h i c h G e i g e r b r i n g s t o gether the r e l e v a n t m a t e ­ rial f o u n d in the Pali chronicles. In a d d i t i o n to the w orks m e n t i o n e d above, there are some u n p u b l i s h e d m o n o ­ graphs w h i c h h a v e some b e a r i n g on the i n s t i t u t i o n of k i n g s h i p In the p e r i o d u n d e r review* Of these, The

I n s t i t u t i o n s of A n c i e n t C e y l o n from I n s c r i p t i o n s fr o m the third to the tenth c e n t u r y A . D * b y L a k s h m a n S. Perera, a d o c t o r a l thesis p r e s e n t e d to the U n i v e r s i t y of Ceylon, is of p a r t i c u l a r importance. But, u n f o r t u n a t e l y we did

16

no t get the o p p o r t u n i t y of c o n s u l t i n g this w o r k i n d e tail w h i l e the p r e s e n t s t u d y was b e i n g c a r r i e d out. I n his d o c t o r a l thesis on The H i s t o r y of the B u d d h i s t S a h g h a in C e y l o n f r o m the r e i g n of S e n a I to the i n v a s i o n of* M a g h a , R. A. L, H, G u n a w a r d a n a e x a m i n e s the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n

the k i n g and the Sangha, T h o u g h it was b e y o n d the scope of these wo r k s to ma k e a d e t a i l e d e x a m i n a t i o n of the

i n s t i t u t i o n of kin g s h i p , they form a sound b a s i s for f u r ­ ther r e s e a r c h a nd b r i n g out m a n y p r o b l e m s w h i c h are of i n t e r e s t •

F o r the sake of convenience, the e a r l y h i s t o r y of C e y l o n is d i v i d e d into two parts, the e a r l y A n u r a d h a ­ p u r a a n d the l a t e r A n u r a d h a p u r a period. The p e r i o d that covers our st u d y is g e n e r a l l y r e f e r r e d to as the later A n u r a d h a p u r a period. Basica l l y , the p o l i t i c a l concepts and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e i n s t i t u t i o n s of the e a r l y A n u r a d h a ­ p u r a p e r i o d r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d d u r i n g the p e r i o d u n d e r review. T h e r e f o r e , in our st u d y we have t a k e n into c o n s i ­ d e r a t i o n m a i n l y the p r o b l e m s that n e e d spec i a l attention,

A b r i e f s u r v e y of the p o l i t i c a l b a c k g r o u n d of the p e r i o d is n e c e s s a r y for a p r o p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the v a r i o u s stages of the e v o l u t i o n of kin g s h i p . Our s tudy b e g i n s w i t h the a c c e s s i o n of S i r i m e g h a v a n n a , a s c i o n of

the L a m b a k a n n a d y n a s t y r o u n d e d by Vasabha, a nd the same line of* r u l e r s c o n t i n u e d in p o w e r up to the r e i g n of*

M a h a n a m a (406-428). T h e n f o l l o w e d a p e r i o d of p o l i t i c a l c o n f u s i o n and chaos in the country* A T a m i l n a m e d Pandu, who p r o b a b l y took a d v a n t a g e of this situation, i n v a d e d the I s l a n d and s e i z e d the throne. 1 The i n v a s i o n of Pa n d u_{• »} i m p o s e d f o r e i g n rule on C e y l o n for a l i ttle over a q u a r ­ ter of a century. A f t e r a p e r i o d of great struggle, D h a t u s e n a v a n q u i s h e d the T a m i l s who were i n p o s s e s s i o n of A n u r a d h a p u r a and a s c e n d e d the throne in 455 A.D.

D h a t u s e n a 1s a c c e s s i o n m a r k e d the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the f irst M o r i y a d y n a s t y in Ceylon. 2

D u r i n g the two ce n t u r i e s that f o l l o w e d the

a c c e s s i o n of S i r i m e g h a y a n n a , no s i g n i f i c a n t c h a n g e s seem to h a v e t a k e n place in the p o l i t i c a l or in a n y o ther

insti t u t i o n ; the n o r m a l course of d e v e l o p m e n t of the i n s t i t u t i o n s t r a n s p l a n t e d in the I s l a n d b y the settlers f r o m N o r t h India, some six centuries b e f o r e the b e g i n n i n g of the C h r i s t i a n era, c o n t i n u e d as in the p e r i o d e n d i n g w i t h M a h a sena.

1. C v . , chap. 38, vv. 11, 29-34.

2. C v . , chap. 3 8

f

18

The M o r i y a d y n a s t y f o u n d e d b y D h a t u s e n a b e c a m e effete i n the first h a l f of the s ixth century, and the I s l a n d w e n t t h r o u g h a p e r i o d of civil wars, in w h i c h the

scions of the two ro y a l f a m i l i e s - M o r i y a a nd L a m b a - k a n n a — f o u g h t w i t h one a n o t h e r for the cont r o l of the Island* This p e r i o d of d y n a s t i c i n s t a b i l i t y w h i c h l a s t e d for about a c e n t u r y and a h a l f had, how e v e r , i n t e r v a l s of g o o d g o v e r n m e n t u n d e r ki n g s like A g g a b o d h i I (571- 604) a n d A g g a b o d h i II (6o4-6l4).^

Stab l e p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s w e r e r e s t o r e d b y M a n a v a m m a (684-718) w h o s e r e i g n opens a n e w c h a p t e r in

the h i s t o r y of the Island* The d y n a s t y of M a n a v a m m a l a s t e d f o r we l l over three centuries, and is the second l o n g e s t in the I s l a n d * s his t o r y * The l o n g a n d e f f e c t i v e e x e r c i s e of p o w e r b y M a n a v a m m a and his s u c c e s s o r s gave the d y n a s t y a s a n c t i t y and an a u t h o r i t y w h i c h f e w of the d y n a s t i e s b e f o r e h i m possessed.

The three c e n t u r i e s w h i c h f o l l o w e d the a c c e s s i o n of M a n a v a m m a are of p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e in the d e v e l o p ­ m e n t of the c oncept of k i n g s h i p in Ceylon. It was d u r i n g

this p e r i o d of p o l i t i c a l s t a b i l i t y and p r o s p e r i t y that

1. U *H * C * * vol. I, pt. I, pp. 300-313? C v . , chap. 42, w . 1-69*

n e w ideas, b e l i e f s a nd customs emer g e d which, a d d e d a s a n c t i t y to the p o s i t i o n of the king.

A n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c feature of the p o l i t i c a l b a c k g r o u n d of the p e r i o d under, s u r v e y is the close r e l a ­ t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n C e y l o n and the S outh I n d i a n kin g d o m s * As s e e n above, in the f i f t h c e n t u r y six T a m i l rulers, p r o b a b l y from the P a n d y a country, h e l d sw a y over the I s l a n d for a bout t w e n t y — s e v e n years. A n o t h e r i n v a s i o n fr o m S o u t h I n d i a is r e c o r d e d in the C u l a v a m s a in the r e i g n of Sena I (833-853)*^ * M a n y p r i n c e s f l e d to S outh I n d i a w h e n they we r e f a c e d w i t h p o l i t i c a l u n r e s t in

C e y l o n a nd sought the aid of the S outh I n d i a n r u lers to ac h i e v e their aims* 2 As r e g a r d s the T a m i l s themselves, b y this time they w e r e f o u n d in large n u m b e r s in C e y l o n and f o r m e d part of the p e r m a n e n t po p u l a t i o n . M a n y of

these we r e e n g a g e d in m i l i t a r y and c o m m e r c i a l activities. 3 The close r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h S o u t h I n d i a was not w i t h o u t

1. C v * , chap. 50, vv. 12-42.

2. C y . , chap* 3 8 , v* 86; chap, 3 99 v. 20; chap. 44, v* 94, v. 1 2 5 , v* 1 5 2, v. 154; chap, 45, v. 13* v. 18; chap.

47, w * 4-61 ; U * H * C * * vol. I, pt. I, pp. 300-301 , p. 312.

3. U . H . C . . vol. I, pt. I, pp. 341-343.

20

an effect on the r o y a l t y of this period* The r u l e r s of our p e r i o d a p p e a r to h a v e f o l l o w e d S o u t h I n d i a n t r a d i ­ tions and customs. The a l t e r n a t e use of the throne n a m e s can be c ited as an example. 1

* * * *

T he sources p e r t a i n i n g to our s t u d y can be r o u g h l y d i v i d e d into two categories, l i t e r a r y and a r c h a e o l o g i c a l . The f o r m e r covers the chronicles, b o t h Pa l i and Sinhalese, and o t h e r l i t e r a r y works, and the l a t t e r the i n s c r i p t i o n s and a r c h a e o l o g i c a l remains. Of the l i t e r a r y sources, the C u l a v a m s a « w h i c h is o n l y a n o t h e r nam e for the c o n t i n u a t i o n of the M a h a v a m s a * is b y far the mo s t i m p o r t a n t w o r k and f i g u r e s as the f o r e m o s t source of i n f o r m a t i o n for the p r e ­ sent study. As its autho r s h i p , sources, c o n t e n t s and

a u t h e n t i c i t y h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n a d e q u a t e l y d e a l t w i t h b y

1. See pp. 65-67; U . H . C . . vol. X, p t . X, p. 3 6 5 .

m a n y s c h o l a r s , there is no n e e d to go into details except for a b r i e f survey. The c o mments made h e r e are t h e refore c o n f i n e d to those c h a p t e r s w h i c h are of s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e to u s .

T he C u l a v a m s a deals w i t h the h i s t o r y of C e y l o n f r o m the a c c e s s i o n of S i r i m e g h a v a n n a to m o d e r n times. It has b e e n p o i n t e d out that this lo n g h i s t o r y was c o m p i l e d

in three pa r t s a nd at d i f f e r e n t times b y d i f f e r e n t authors. 2 The first part of the C u l a v a m s a covers the p e r i o d up to

the end of the r e i g n of Paralcramabahu I (1153“ 1186) -

c h a p t e r X X X V I I to L X X I X -; the second part b e g i n s w i t h the r e i g n of V i j a y a b a h u II (1186-1187)* the s u c c e s s o r of

P a r a k r a m a b a h u I, and ends w i t h that of P a r a k r a m a b a h u I V (1302-1326) - c h a p t e r L X X X to XC the r e m a i n i n g chapters co n s t i t u t e the third part. Of these o n l y the f irst part p e r t a i n s to our study. It is g e n e r a l l y b e l i e v e d that

t vol. I, pp. I-VI; Cv. * t r a n s . Geiger, pp. IV-XIV;

G. P. M a l a l a s e k e r a , Pali L i t e r a t u r e of C e y l o n , pp.

142, 215* 2 3 6 ; C. E. Goda k u m b u r a , 1 The C u l a v a m s a 1 , J . R . A . S . C . B . , vol. X X X V I I I (1949), pp. 123-126; S.

W i c k r e m a s i n g h e , 1 The A g e of P a r a k r a m a b a h u I 1 (Ph.D.

thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of London, 1958), pp. 8 — 33; U . H .C ..

vol. I, pt. I, pp. 51-53* L a k s h m a n S. Perera, * The

Pali C h r o n i c l e s of C e y l o n * , H i s t o r i a n s of India, P a k i s t a n and C e y l o n , ed. C.. H. Philips^ p p . 2 9 — 4 3*... """ " ...

2. C v . , vol. I, pp. II-VI; U . H . C .. vol. I, pt. I, pp. 49, 51-53* 0* C* M e n d i s , The E a r l y H i s t o r y of C e y l o n , pp.

1 1 7

-

.

2 2

the f irst part of the C u l a v a m s a was c o m p i l e d b y a thera n a m e d D h a m m a k i t t i , 1 but some a t t r i b u t e this to a n o t h e r

- - 2

t h e r a c a l l e d M o g g a l l a n a who w r o t e the A b h i d h a n a p p a d i p i k a * In this connexion, the d i s c u s s i o n b y W i c k r e m a s i n g h e of the a u t h o r s h i p of the d i f f e r e n t parts of the C u l a v a m s a is p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t e w o r t h y * 3 She has d e m o n s t r a t e d quite c o n v i n c i n g l y that chap t e r s X X X V I I to LXXIX, the first part of the C u l a v a m s a a c c o r d i n g to G e i g e r * s view, we r e w r i t t e n b y two d i f f e r e n t auth o r s in two sections, one fr o m the

r e i g n of S i r i m e g h a v a n n a to the Co l a c o n q u e s t and the ot h e r fr o m the rise of V i j a y a b a h u I to the end of the r e i g n of P a r a k r a m a b a h u I. — A l t h o u g h no d i v i s i o n m a r k s e p a r a t i n g the two parts h as b e e n d e t e c t e d b y Geiger, there is a

m a r k e d d i f f e r e n c e in the tre a t m e n t of * the epic of P a rak- karaa1 f r o m that of the p r e v i o u s rulers as s h o w n b y W i c k r e - ma s inghe. A n d there is g o o d r e a s o n to r e g a r d the first part as the w o r k of a d i f f e r e n t author# It is not

1. Cv*, vol. I, p. III.

U * H * C * * vol. I, pt. I, p. 51.

3# S. W i c k r e m a s i n g h e , 1 The A g e of P a r a k r a m a b a h u I* (Ph.D.

thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of London, 1958), see c h a p t e r on So u r c e s #

4# S# W i c k r e m a s i n g h e , op. cit., pp. 12-13, 18-19*

un l i kely, as she p o i n t s out, that this part was c o m p i l e d d u r i n g the time of1 C o l a o c c u p a t i o n b y s c h o l a r s who h a d

t a k e n r e f u g e in R o h a n a . Xf this v i e w is correct, it

a p p e a r s that the part p e r t a i n i n g to our s t u d y was w r i t t e n in the e l e v e n t h century.

The s i g n i f i c a n c e of the C u l a v a m s a w i t h r e s p e c t to our s tudy lies in the fact that it g e n e r a l l y appe a r s

to give a r e l i a b l e a c c o u n t of the period; it r e c o r d s events of the past a n d m o s t of its contents are c o r r o b o r a t e d b y c o n t e m p o r a r y i n s c r i p t i o n s and other sources. Th e r e f o r e , in a st u d y of k i n g s h i p in Ceylon, the d a t a that are a v a i l ­ able in the C u l a v a m s a . a l t h o u g h of a l i m i t e d nature, are i n v a l u a b l e •

As to the a u t h e n t i c i t y of the a c c o u n t in the r e l e ­ v a n t s e c t i o n of the C u l a v a m s a , the chapters d e a l i n g w i t h the h i s t o r y of our period, fr o m S i r i m e g h a v a n n a to M a h i n d a V, a p p e a r to i n s p i r e g reat c o n f i d e n c e as m o s t of the events m e n t i o n e d there are r e a d i l y c o n f i r m e d b y c o n t e m p o r a r y

i n s c r i p t i o n s . One e x a m p l e m a y be s u f f i c i e n t to elu c i d a t e this point. In r e f e r r i n g to the r e i g n of K a s s a p a V (91^- 923) the C u l a v a m s a says that this k i n g was the son of Samgha, - 1 who was the t w i c e - a n o i n t e d queen, spou s e of

,£Y>> chap. 5 1 9 v. 9*

24

-j _

Sena II; that ICassapa was g i v e n the title of u p a r a j a s o o n a f t e r his birth; 2 that w h e n king, he b u i l t a h o s p i -

3 - „

t a l ; that he b u i l t the Silaraeghapabbata v i h a r a a nd en- k

f o r c e d the rules of d i s c i p l i n e a mong the Sangha; that he h ad the M a r i c a v a t t i v i h a r a rebuilt; 5 that he e x p o u n d e d

the A b h i d h a m m a and h a d it w r i t t e n on plates of gold.

It is r e m a r k a b l e that e v e r y m i n o r deta i l in the above

a c c o u n t is c o n f i r m e d b y the A n u r a d h a p u r a Sl a b I n s c r i p t i o n of K a s s a p a V*7

Th e r e are also c e r t a i n l i m i t a t i o n s in the C u l a ­ v a m s a and w i t h r e g a r d to our study the m a j o r d e f i c i e n c y

1. Cv. , E.Z.

chap.

, vol • 52, I,

V.

p*

37; see Cv.

5 0 , n o t e 17*

2. Cv. , c h a p . 51, v. 12.

3. Cv. , c h a p . 52, v. 57.

4. Cv. , chap • 52, V. 58, v. 44.

5* Cv. , chap . 52, V. 45.

6. Cv. , chap. 52, v v . 49-50.

7. * • • m a p u r u m B u d d a s S i r i - S a h g - b o y A b a h a y m a h a r a j hat .ja S a n g - B a n d ay a pa b i s e v rajneLpiyan k u s h i h e v S d u n u - sanahi me yuva-ra.j b i s e v - s i r i p £ m £ n a . . . d e b i s e v a ,ja S a l a m e y v a n A b a h a y mahara.j-yutar M i r i s i v i f i S a h g s e n - a r a m

. . . lcaray . • • ra.j-ved—hal k a r a y . . . Bud r u v a n a r i - y a y D h a m - r u v a n k a v a r i - s e y e k i n pu.janemi ho y a n a adahas

p u r a y A b h i d h a m - d e s u n k a s u n pat a r a v a y maha-pu.ja kot s asun s i tavami y a n a sit d o l n e n h.jara-paya h a m u y e h i eme dham

d e s u n v i y a k h a n k a l a . . . turnan sat l a h g u s a v a n a h a y u r u d u ye h i S a l a m e y v a n - p a v u k a r a y . . • me me n a k a y abadi avasat me sirit t a b a v u h u

\ \ \

T]

3

-

).

1 The great k i n g S a l a m e y v a n A b a h a y was c o n c e i v e d in

is that it c o n c e n t r a t e s m a i n l y on the r e l i g i o u s a c t i v i t i e s of* the kings; its i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g o t h e r aspe c t s of k i n g s h i p is r a t h e r meagre. Moreover, the a u t h o r s of the

C u l a v a m s a m a y o f t e n h a v e seen the past in the light of their o wn days, so that the p o s s i b i l i t y of a n a c h r o n i s m s and m i s t r a n s l a t i o n s of the terms is not e x c l u d e d h e r e and there* The r e n d e r i n g of the term apa into a d i p a d a can be c ited as an example. 1

A l t h o u g h the c o m p i l a t i o n of the V a m s a t t h a p p a k a s i n i , S a h a s s a v a t t h u p p a k a r a q a and the S i h a l a v a t t h u p p a k a r a n a has b e e n a s s i g n e d to the p e r i o d b e t w e e n the e i g h t h and tenth centuries, the f o r m e r is m a i n l y a c o m m e n t a r y to the M a h a - v a m s a a nd m o s t of the even t s r e c o r d e d in the l a t t e r two wo r k s fall w i t h i n the e a r l y A n u r a d h a p u r a period* T h e r e ­ fore the u t i l i t y of these wo r k s c o n c e r n i n g the p e r i o d

the w o m b of our a n o i n t e d q u e e n Sang-Bahday, b e i n g b o r n unto His M a j e s t y B u ddas Siri S a h g b o y A b a h a y M a h a r a j * • . (His M a j e s t y ) b o r n of the t w i c e - a n o i n t e d queen, r e c e i v e d at the v e r y i n s t a n t of his b i r t h the a u s p i c i o u s u n c t i o n of y u v a - r a j a • • . He r e b u i l t the M i r i s i v i t i , the S a n g s e n a r a m

• . • B y e s t a b l i s h i n g r o y a l m e d i c a l h a l l s n e a r the S o u t h e r n Gate . . . he a l l a y e d the fea r of d i s e a s e . . . In f u l f i l ­ m e n t of the r e s o l u t i o n (a p p e a r i n g in his w o r d s ) *how shall I h o n o u r the D h a m m a g e m ' , he caused the A b h i d h a m m a d i s ­ c our s e s to be t r a n s c r i b e d on plates of g o l d and t h e r e w i t h

ma d e a great offering. Y e a r n i n g in his h e a r t to e s t a b l i s h the B u d d h i s t religion, he p r e a c h e d that same d h a m m a in the p r e s e n c e of his e s t e e m e d t e a c h e r . . . Our s o v e r e i g n L o r d

• • . b u i l t in the si x t h y e a r . . . the m o n a s t e r y Salameyvai pavu. • • and e n a c t e d these r e g u l a t i o n s for the m o n a s t e r i e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h this fr a t e r n i t y . • • (B. Z .. vol. I, pp. 51-5^

1. See pp. 99-102.

26

u n d e r s u r v e y is r a t h e r limited.

A m o n g ot h e r Pali chronicles, the M a h a b o d h i v a m s a w h i c h d e a l s w i t h the h i s t o r y of the Bodhi Tree, the T h u p a - yarnsa w h i c h r e l a t e s the h i s t o r y of the stupas and the

D a t h a y a m s a w h i c h deals w i t h the h i s t o r y of the T o o t h R elic m a y be men t i o n e d . T h o u g h the object of* these worlcs was to

set f o r t h the h i s t o r y of a p a r t i c u l a r R e l i c or sacr e d

object, th e y also give the h i s t o r y of the I s l a n d up to the events th e y p u r p o r t to describe.

A n o t h e r c a t e g o r y of Pali sources are the c o m m e n t a ­ ries w r i t t e n b y B u d d h a g h o s a and other scholars. T h e s e

wo r k s c o n t a i n m a n y i n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e s of v a l u e r e g a r d i n g the religi o u s , social and p o l i t i c a l h i s t o r y of the Island, M u c h of this m a t e r i a l h as a l r e a d y b e e n c o l l e c t e d by A d i k a r a m

_ 2 ^-

and B u d d h a d a t t a m a h a t h e r a . The c o m p o s i t i o n of the Pali c o m m e n t a r i e s fall w i t h i n the p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , but their va l u e as sources of i n f o r m a t i o n fo r our p e r i o d is r a t h e r restr i c t e d . The p u r p o s e of B u d d h a g h o s a as well as other c o m m e n t a t o r s 'was not to wr i t e a series of

1, Fo r d e t a i l s see U . H , C , , v o l , I, pt. I, pp,

2. E, W* Adi k a r a m , E a r l y H i s t o r y of B u d d h i s m in C e y l o n , pp, 1-33; see also T i l a k H e t t i a r a c h c h y , 'History of K i n g s h i p in C e y l o n u p to the f o u r t h c e n t u r y A , D , 1

(Ph,D, thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of London, 1970), p, 5*

o r i g i n a l books on B u d d h i s m but to put into Pali in a

c o herent and i n t e l l i g e n t f o r m the m a t t e r a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g in the v a r i o u s S i n h a l e s e commentaries.1 * T he c o m p i l a t i o n of these S i n h a l e s e c o m m e n t a r i e s has b e e n a s s i g n e d to the p e r i o d b e t w e e n the third and the first c e n t u r y B.C. 2

Thus it is clear that the contents of the Pali c o m m e n t a r i e s do n ot ha v e a d i r e c t b e a r i n g on the p e r i o d in w h i c h they wer e composed. But, it is not u n l i k e l y that the c o m p i l e r s

of these wo r k s were i n f l u e n c e d b y the ideas of their own times an d that they m a d e use of i l l u s t r a t i o n s d r a w n fr o m c o n t e m p o r a r y life and h i story. However, a c e r t a i n amount of c a u t i o n is n e e d e d in u t i l i z i n g t heir m a t e r i a l for the p e r i o d u n d e r con s i d e r a t i o n *

A m o n g the m a n y S i n h a l e s e l i t e r a r y w o r k s of a l a t e r period, w h i c h c o n t a i n h i s t o r i c a l d a t a r e l e v a n t to our study, the P u j a v a l i y a . the S i m h a l a T h u p a v a m s a . the D a l a d a s i r i t a . the N i k a y a s a n g r a h a y a . the Ra.jaratnakaraya and the Ra.j aval iy a f i g u r e foremost. The i m p o r t a n c e of these w o r k s as sources of h i s t o r y as w e l l as the age of

1. E. W. A d i k aram, op. cit., p. 2.

2. G. P. M a l a l a s e k e r a , The Pali L i t e r a t u r e of C e y l o n , p.

4^5 see pp* 145-146 below.

28

c o m p i l a t i o n and authorships have b e e n d i s c u s s e d in g r e a t e r detail b y several s c h o l a r s J The s i g n i f i c a n c e of these w orks is that th e y c o n t a i n a fe w p o p u l a r t r a d i t i o n s and a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n not g i v e n in the C u l a v a m s a .

Xn a d d i t i o n to these sources, L a k R a j a Lo S i r i t a , a m a n u s c r i p t w r i t t e n in 1769 A.D, , p r o v i d e s v a l u a b l e

i n f o r m a t i o n on the i n s t i t u t i o n of k i n g s h i p in Ceylon, T h i s is a c a t e c h i s m on the tr a d i t i o n a l laws and customs

of the c o u n t r y and its rulers. A l t h o u g h this w o r k has b e e n c o m p o s e d at a later date, it refers n o t o n l y to the c o n d i t i o n s of its d a y but also to the t r a d i t i o n s and laws e x i s t i n g in the c o u n t r y f r o m ancient times. Th i s m a n u s c r i p t is i n fact the o n l y w o r k so far d i s c o v e r e d of this n a t u r e and is c o n s u l t e d in d e t a i l for the first time in the

p r e s e n t study,

Xt is n o t e w o r t h y that n e i t h e r the C u l a v a m s a no r a n y of the other C e y l o n e s e c h ronicles was w r i t t e n as a h i s t o r i c a l treatise in the m o d e r n sense. The e m phasis was la i d m a i n l y on the r e l i g i o u s m a t t e r s and the m e r i t o r i o u s

1. C. E. Goda k u m b u r a , S i n h a l e s e L i t e r a t u r e (1955)* PP*

107-110, 111-115, 122-124, 127-129, 222-224; S, W i c k r e - mas i n g h e , fThe A g e of P a r a k r a m a b a h u I ! (Ph.D. thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of London, 1958)* pp. 33~*69 > U»H. C . , vol. I, pt. I, pp. 5 3 “ 58; A. L i y a n a g a m a g e , The D e c l i n e of

P o l o n n a r u w a and the Ris e of D a m b a d e n i y a (19 6 8 ) , p p • 11-27*

de e d s of the kings; i n t e r w o v e n w i t h these are the i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t s of ea c h reign* As h i s t o r i c a l wo r k s they m a y r e v e a l m a n y d e f i c i e n c e s but that s h o u l d not

d e t e r us fr o m u s i n g th e i r material* H o w e v e r , b e i n g r e l i ­ g i o u s l y b i a s e d these w o r k s do not p r o v i d e us w i t h a

b a l a n c e d p i c t u r e of all aspe c t s of h i s t o r y * This d e f i ­ c i e n c y is g r e a t l y felt in a study of k i n g s h i p in Ceylon*

Mo r e o v e r , we do n ot p o s s e s s for anci e n t or m e d i e v a l C e y l o n a n y t h e o r e t i c a l texts on p o l i t i c a l ph i l o s o p h y . Theref o r e , the d a t a that can be o b t a i n e d fr o m the C u l a v a m s a and other l i t e r a r y sources w i l l hav e to be s u p p l e m e n t e d b y the

n o t i o n s of k i n g s h i p r e f e r r e d to in l a t e r p o l i t i c a l and l i t e r a r y w o r k s and also b y c o m p a r i s o n w i t h p a r a l l e l i n s t i ­ tuti o n s in India*

E p i g r a p h i c r e c o r d s const i t u t e the o t h e r m a i n source of i n f o r m a t i o n for our study. Generally, e p i g r a p h i c

re c o r d s are c o n s i d e r e d mo r e r e l i a b l e b e c a u s e of their close p r o x i m i t y to the events th e y deal w i t h and the d o c u m e n t a r y n a t u r e of their contents.

The p e r i o d u n d e r r e v i e w is r i c h in i n s c r i p t i o n s but the y are n ot e v e n l y d i s t r i b u t e d over the period.

I n s c r i p t i o n s b e c o m e rare f r o m the time of D h a t u s e n a (latter h a l f of the f i f t h c e n t u r y ) ; those that are f o u n d are r a r e l y

30

d a t a b l e and m o s t l y deal with, the m a n u m i s s i o n of* slaves w ho s e r v e d in m o n a s t e r i e s . T h e y b e come a b u n d a n t fr o m the

time of* Se n a X (middle of* the n i n t h century) • I n s c r i p ­ tions of* this p e r i o d are m o s t l y w r i t t e n on pillars, o c c a ­ s i o n a l l y on stone slabs, but r a r e l y on n a t u r a l rock. T h e y are m o s t l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h the grant of* i m m u n i t i e s to

v i l l a g e s o w n e d b y the great m o n a s t e i r e s and s o m e t i m e s b y p u b l i c i n s t i t u t i o n s • A r e m a r k a b l e feat u r e of* these records is that th e y all a p p e a r to ha v e b e e n w r i t t e n i n the same style. 1 I n Tact in the n i n t h and tenth centuries, a

f o r m u l a in w h i c h such d o c u m e n t s were w o r d e d seems to have b e e n in use. Th e r e are m a n y v a r i a t i o n s in detail, but, in the main, all these grants of* i m m u n i t i e s we r e d r a w n up a c c o r d i n g to a s t e r e o t y p e d model. T h e y o p e n w i t h the

date in the r e gnal y e a r of* the r e i g n i n g m o n a r c h and, a fter g i v i n g the na m e s of the land and the i n s t i t u t i o n or p e r s o n concerned, m e n t i o n the or d e r delivered, w i t h the consent of the Council, b y the k i n g or the h e i r - a p p a r e n t , g r a n t i n g the i m m u n i t i e s specified. This is f o l l o w e d b y the na m e s of the o f f i c i a l s who we r e d e p u t e d to p r o c l a i m the edict in the v i l l a g e c o n c e r n e d and the d etails of the immunities,

1. See for example, E .Z .. vol. I, nos. 11-13; 16 and 17;

vol. II, nos. 1-12.

suc h as the dues from w h i c h the land was exempted, or the o f f i c i a l s w h o s e e n t r y to the land in q u e s t i o n was forbidden. Sometimes, the n a m e s of the o f f i c i a l s who p r o c l a i m e d the edict f o l l o w the d e t a i l s r e g a r d i n g the immuni ties.

A l t h o u g h there are d i f f i c u l t i e s in c l a r i f y i n g c e r t a i n terms u s e d in these records, th e y are of great i m p o r t a n c e b e c a u s e they are the only o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n t s w h i c h are s t r i c t l y c o n t e m p o r a r y w i t h the c o n d i t i o n s m e n t i o n e d in them* T h e y give i m p ortant i n f o r m a t i o n on

the k i n g fs r i g h t s on land, on imm u n i t i e s and o t h e r p r i v i — leges e n j o y e d b y the donees, on d e s i g n a t i o n s of royal

o fficers, on s y s t e m of t a x a t i o n and the p o w e r of local g o v e r n m e n t etc* Th e s e i n s c r i p t i o n s also shed some v a l u ­ able light on the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the Icing and the S a n g h a of this period.

I n the course of the tenth century, and e s p e c i a l l y towards the end of it, there are a f e w v e r y l o n g i n s c r i p ­ tions w h i c h r e c o r d the p r o m u l g a t i o n of r e g u l a t i o n s b y the k i n g for v a r i o u s purposes* Several of these i n s c r i p ­ tions c o n t a i n d e t a i l e d ru l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s p e r t a i n i n g to the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of m o n a s t e r i e s and m o n a s t i c property.

The M i h i n t a l e T a b l e t s of M a h i n d a IV, the A n u r a d h a p u r a

32

Slab I n s c r i p t i o n of K a s s a p a V, the K a l u d i y a p o k u n a I n s c r i p ­ tion of Se n a III and the P u l i y a n k u l a m Slab I n s c r i p t i o n

- 1

of U d a M a h a y a fall w i t h i n this category. T h e s e reco r d s not o n l y p r o v i d e v a l u a b l e d a t a c o n c e r n i n g m o n a s t i c admi n i s

t r a t i o n but th e y are also u s e f u l for the u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the S a ngha and the r o y a l t y of this period. A m o n g o t h e r i n s c r i p t i o n s the B a d u l l a P i l l a r I n s c r i p t i o n w h i c h contains r ules e n a c t e d b y U d a y a IV in c o n n e x i o n w i t h the m a n a g e m e n t of a m a r k e t town is n o t e ­ worthy.

A n o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t feat u r e of the i n s c r i p t i o n s of this p e r i o d is the a d d i t i o n of a p a n e g y r i c a l intro- d u c t i o n or a p r a s a s t i at the b e g i n n i n g of the record.

U p to the r e i g n of K a s s a p a IV (898-91*0 the i n s c r i p t i o n s ha v e but a bare i n t r o d u c t i o n . But b y the t e n t h c e n t u r y

it b e c a m e a l most an i n v a r i a b l e p r a c t i c e to incl u d e

p r a s a s t i s in all i m p o r t a n t records of kings. The p r a s a s - tis in their f u l l e s t c o n t a i n m a n y types of data. T hese

1. E . Z . . vol. I, pp. 75-1135 E.z., vol. X, pp. 42-56;

E. Z . . vol. XXX, pp. 253-269} E . Z . . vol. I, pp. 182-190.

2. L a k s h m a n S. Perera, 'The R o y a l L i n e a g e in the P r a s a s t i s of the 8 th - 10th c e n t u r y I n s c r i p t i o n s ' f The C e y l o n H i s t o r i c a l J o u r n a l , vol. II, nos. 3 &nd *f (1953) » PP •

230-231.

i n c l u d e the r o y a l l i n e a g e and descent, r o y a l titles and s pecial a c h i e v e m e n t s of kings* But one h as to be r a t h e r c i r c u m s p e c t i n u t i l i z i n g the m e t e r i a l of the P r a s a s t i s for h i s t o r y for th e y c o n t a i n f i c t i t i o u s as w e l l as

fact u a l details.

On the whole, the i n s c r i p t i o n s p r o v i d e m a n y v a l u a b l e d a t a for our study, but one m a i n d i s a d v a n t a g e is that a l arge n u m b e r of i n s c r i p t i o n s still a wait publi cation* Moreover, the e d i t i o n and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of m a n y of the p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d s requ i r e a c o n s i d e r a b l e amount of revision* The d i f f i c u l t y in a s s i g n i n g some i n s c r i p t i o n s d e f i n i t e l y to a p a r t i c u l a r k i n g and the o b s c u r i t y of the m e a n i n g of some of the w o r d s u s e d in these r e c o r d s can be cited as two other d i s a d v a n t a g e s . In spite of these s h o r t c o m i n g s , the i n s c r i p t i o n s as well as l i t e r a r y sources p r o v i d e m a n y b asic d a t a for the

p r e s e n t study.

3^

C H A P T E R II

R O Y A L T I T L E S A N D T H E I R S I G N I F I C A N C E

E p i g r a p h s c o n t a i n m o s t v a l u a b l e d a t a c o n c e r n i n g the titles u s e d b y the k i n g s of this period* The C u l a - v a m s a w h i c h is c o n s i d e r e d to be the b a s i c source in

almo s t a n y s t u d y of the h i s t o r y of ea r l y m e d i e v a l C e y l o n does n ot p r o v i d e us w i t h suffic i e n t d a t a in this p a r t i ­

cular a s pect of k i n g s h i p *

The c o m p i l e r s of the C u l a v a m s a h a v e u s e d n u m e r o u s d e s i g n a t i o n s to d e n o t e k i n g s in their w o r k su c h as n a r i s -

1 2

sara "lord of men", m a h a y a s a "illustrious one", n a r a -

3

k

sa b h a "bull a m o n g m e n * , m a h i p a t i "lord of the e a r t h " ,

- 5 6

b h u p a t i "lord of the earth", m a h a m a t i "the d i s c e r n i n g

1. Cv. , c h a p • 37, v* 56.

2 . Cv* , chap * 37, v* 77.

3. Cv* , chap* 37, ^V. 81 .

k.

V.

# c h a p • 91 .

37, v v * 95, 105, ^{1 2 2}, 1^5, ^{1 5}^; c h a p • 41,

5. Cv* , chap. 37, v v . 51, 109, 179, ^{2 1 0} ; chap. 3 8 , vv. 5, 109.

6 o C v , , chap. 37, v* 111.

— 1 - ~ 2

o n © 1 , b h u m i p a * p r o t e c t o r of the earth.1 , b h u p a l a !protec-

3 4

tor of the e a r t h 1 , n a r a d h i p a 1 chief of m e n 1 , n a r a p a l a

5 - -

1 p r o t e c t o r of m e n 1 , n a r u t t a m a !n o b l e s t of m e n 1 , m a h i p a l a 1 p r o t e c t o r of the e a r t h 1 , mahate.ja 7 • illustrious o n e 1,

8 9 _

n a r i n d a •lord of m e n 1 , r a t h e s a b h a • c h a r i o t - b u l l 1 , b h u —

1 0 1 1

m i n d a 1 l o r d of the e a r t h 1 , d h a r a p i p a t i 1 lor d of the

1 2 1 3

earth* , d h a r a n i p a l a 1 r u l e r of the earth* , Lanlcinda

• 14 ^*

•lord of L a n k a 1 and L a n k i s s a r a 1 lo r d of L anka*. But

1 . C v . , chap • 37, v. 1 7 0 2 . Cv. , chap. 38, v. 95.

3. C v0 , chap. 37, ^V. 198 4. ^{C Vq}

,

5. Cv. , c h a p . 38, ^V. 51 .

6. Cv. , c h a p . 38, ^V* 33;

7. Cv. , chap. 48, V. 133

8 . Cv. , chap. 49, ^V. 37.

9. Cv. , chap* 49, ^V. 38.

1 0. Cvo , c h a p . 50, V. 65.

1 1 . Cv. , chap. 37, ^V. 248

12 o Cv. , c h a p . 51, ^V. 97.

13. Cv. , chap • 52, ^V. 49.

14. Cv. , c h a p . 52, V. 71 .