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

Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 33
~King Dutugamunu~
(Hero of Mahavamsa)
(164 BC – 140 BC)
Prince Gamini was born to a royal family in southern Lanka. His parents were King Kakavanna Tissa
and Vihara Maha Devi.
The Birth of Prince Gamini:
Mahanaga: Mahanaga was the brother of King Devanam Piyatissa. Mahanaga was second in line to
the throne. One of the wives of King Devanam Piyatissa, decided to kill Mahanaga in order to get the
crown to her son after King Devanam Piyatissa. At that time Mahanaga was constructing the
Tharachcha reservoir. One day Mahanaga and the little Prince were planning to go to the Tharachcha
reservoir and the queen gave a basket of mangoes to Mahanaga. She kept one poisonous mango on the
very top of the basket thinking that poisonous mango would be eaten by Mahanaga. Unfortunately
little boy ate the mango and died. Mahanaga was terrified and ran away to Southern Lanka.
Mahanaga found refuge in Yaththalaya Vihara in Galle. In this vihara, Mahanaga’s wife gave
birth to a son and was named Yatthalayaka Tissa.
(Author’s note: This vihara still exists and today known as Yatagala vihara in Mataramba, Galle. This
is a very beautiful vihara and lies under a large rock.) In time Mahanaga became the ruler of Rohana.
Mahanaga constructed a dagaba (A Buddhist structure) near Magama river.
After Mahanaga, his son Yatthalayaka Tissa became the King of Rohana. After Yatthlayaka
Tissa, his son Abhaya became the ruler of Rohana. After Abhaya, his son KakaVanna Tissa became
the ruler of Rohana.
(KakaVanna Tissa is better known in Sri Lanka today as Kawan Tissa). While Kaka Vanna Tissa was
ruling Rohana, Kalani Tissa was ruling the Kalani area.
Kalani Tissa and Ocean Engulfing the Land: Kalani Tissa had a brother named Uttiya who had
a secret relationship with Kalani Tissa’s wife. When Kalani Tissa found out about the relationship,
Uttiya ran away and hid among the people. One day Uttiya sent a man dressed as a Buddhist monk
hidden among other monks. The man came near the queen and dropped a letter. King heard a slight
noise and found the letter. King thought the letter was dropped by one of the Arahath Theras (Arahath
= Achiever of Nirvana, Thera = Buddhist monk) who was standing nearby and killed the monk by
putting him inside a hot oil caldron. The gods got upset from this heinous crime and ocean started to
flow into land. After consultation of the ministers, King Kalani Tissa decided to send his beautiful
daughter Vihara Devi (Later she became known as Vihara Maha Devi) in a ship to satisfy the gods.
The ship carrying Vihara Devi landed in Rohana and was found by Kaka Vanna Tissa. He was
impressed with her beauty and married her.
In time, a Prince was born to the King and the Queen and they named him Prince Gamini. The King
invited twelve thousand monks for the name giving ceremony of Prince Gamini. King Kawan Tissa
prepared milk rice for the monks.