Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

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Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 30 bund, which may seems safety margin is not sufficient. But due to low rainfall in this region of the country, it is found that ancient Engineer was right. Mahanaga was a builder of reservoirs. Mahavamsa says that while going to the Tharachcha reservoir he was building, his nephew ate a mango and died. Apparently, poisonous mango was placed there by one of the wives of King Devanam Piya Tissa to kill Mahanaga. After this incident Mahanaga ran away to southern Lanka and lived there. King Dutugamunu was the great grand son of Mahanaga. (I do not know whether Tharachcha reservoir is identified. Thrachcha is a group of people who lived in Lanka). Dam at an Angle in Southern Tissa Reservoir: Ingenuity of the ancient Engineer who designed the dam across the river could be seen by the angle he selected. Instead of constructing the dam perpendicular to the river, he built the dam inclined to the riverbank. This design reduced the water pressure on the dam. Uttiya: (266 BC – 256 BC): After the death of King Devanam Piya Tissa his younger brother Uttiya became the ruler. Death of Mahinda Thera: During King Uttiya’s time Mahinda Thera passed into nibbana. When King Uttiya heard this he was stricken by a dart of sorrow. King had the body of the great Thera to be placed in Mahavihara for a week. The burial of Mahinda Thera was conducted at a place known as Isibhumangana. Mahinda Thera died at an age of sixty. Death of Sanghamittha Theri: After the death of Mahinda thera, his sister Sanghamittha died at an age of fifty nine. King commanded great honor for her as well. The body of great Theri was buried east of Thuparama in sight of Bodhi tree. (Author’s Note: There is a long stretch of land between Thuparama and Bodhi tree. Exact location of Theri Sanghamittha burial site is not known). One of the earliest inscriptions: An inscription had been found indicating King Uttiya’s wife Abhi Anuradhi donating a cave to the Sangha. This is one of the earliest inscriptions found in Lanka. Hence, inscriptions of Lanka are ancient as the inscriptions of India. Earliest inscriptions of India were made by King Ashoka, contemporary of King Devanam Piya Tissa. “ Raja Naga jita Raja Uti Jaya Abhi Anuradhi cha Raja Uti ca karapitase ima lena chathu disasa sagaya agathagatha na pasu wiharaye aparimita loke ditu yasa tana ” Translation: “Abhi Anuradhi the wife of King Uttiya and daughter of King Naga and King Uttiya have caused the cave to be made for the community of the four quarters present or future at the Pasu vihara an illustrious famous in the boundless world” (Ref: H. Parker, Ancient Ceylon)
Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 31 Some words such as lena, aparimita, chatu disa, wiharaye can be recognized by a person with the knowledge of modern Sinhalese even after a passage of time exceeding 2,200 years. Interestingly Abhi Anuradhi, the wife of Uttiya was the daughter of King Mahanaga. Mahanaga and Uttiya were brothers, most probably with different mothers. Mahasiva: (256 BC – 246 BC) After the death of King Uttiya, his younger brother Mahasiva became the King. Mahasiva was a pious King and ruled the country according to law for 10 years. Suratissa: (246 BC – 236 BC) After the death of King Mahasiva, his younger brother Suratissa ascended to the throne. King Suratissa constructed 500 Viharas (Buddhist temples) throughout the country. He reigned the country for 60 years. During Suratissa’s time period two Damila horse traders from Chola country came to Lanka and defeated Suratissa. Sena and Guttika: (236 BC – 214 BC) Sena and Guttika ruled the country for 22 years. While Sena and Guttika were ruling the country, Asela started a campaign to capture power from Sena and Guttika. He was successful. Author’s Note: As per Mahavamsa, Sena and Guttika ruled the country justly. Mahavamsa states “Rajena Dhammena Kareyum” or in Sinhalese “Rajyaya Dharmayen Karagena Giyeya”. Asela: (214 BC – 204 BC) Asela became the King of Lanka after overpowering Sena and Guttika. He reigned for 10 years. Another Damila Prince named Elara came from Chola country and dethroned King Asela. ~King Elara~ (204 BC – 164 BC) After capturing the throne of Lanka, Elara ruled the country justly. He ruled the country for 44 years. King Elara had a bell hanging near his bed. If someone feels that injustice was done to him, that person could ring this bell. Story of young calf: While King Elara’s son was going to Tissa reservoir in a chariot, he accidentally went over a calf. The cow, (mother of the calf) went and rang the bell. King Elara found out that his son had killed a calf, ordered him to death same exact way the calf died. Old woman and the rice story: An old woman laid rice in her backyard to dry them. Unfortunately unseasonal rain destroyed the rice. The old woman complained to King Elara that an out of season rain destroyed her rice. King Elara
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