Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1
Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1
Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1
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<strong>Concise</strong> <strong>Mahavamsa</strong> <strong>Ruwan</strong> <strong>Rajapakse</strong>, P.E., <strong>Sinhalanet</strong>.<strong>com</strong> 72<br />
~King Kassapa~<br />
(478 AD – 495 AD)<br />
After Kassapa came to power, his brother Moggallana fled to Jambudeepa. (India). Kassapa knew that<br />
Moggallana would <strong>com</strong>e back with an army to fight him.<br />
Treasure of King Dhatusena:<br />
Migara told King Kassapa that huge treasure was hidden by Dhatusena to be given to Moggallana.<br />
Kassapa sent men to his father’s prison to inquire of the treasure. Dhatusena sent the messengers back.<br />
Kassapa sent messengers again and again. Dhatusena thought “He is planning to kill me. Let me go<br />
and meet my teacher and friend bhikku living near Kalavapi and bathe there and die”.<br />
Dhatusena told Kassapa’s men that if he could go to Kalavapi, he would show the treasure. Kassapa<br />
allowed, Dhatusena to go to Kalavapi (Kala Wewa). On his way, Dhatusena asked the chariot driver to<br />
take him to the Vihara where his teacher and bhikku friend lived. Chariot driver took him to the<br />
Vihara. King Dhatusena gave a letter to the chariot driver stating the favor.<br />
Seeing King Dhatusena <strong>com</strong>ing to the Vihara, the Thera was joyful. Two men were happy to see each<br />
other. They felt like they conquered a kingdom and sat next to each other. The Thera preached the<br />
law of impermanence to King Dhatusena.<br />
(Author’s Note: The name of the Thera is not given in <strong>Mahavamsa</strong>. One may wonder whether it<br />
is Mahathera Mahanama)<br />
Then King saluted the monk for the last time and went to Kalawawa with Kassapa’s men. King<br />
Dhatusena bathed in the reservoir and drank from it. Then he took a handful of water from Kalavapi<br />
and told Kassapa’s men “This is my treasure”. Soldiers went back and gave the message to King<br />
Kassapa. Kassapa was enraged. Kassapa thought if his father lived, he would help Moggallana.<br />
King Kassapa gave the order to Migara to kill his father. Migara was extremely happy since he could<br />
avenge the death of his mother. Migara went to Kalawawa to see Dhatusena. Seeing Migara,<br />
Dhatusena said “I have same feelings towards you as for Moggallana”. Migara laughed and shook his<br />
head. Then he had King Dhatusena killed by plastering him to the bank of the reservoir.<br />
After murdering his own father, King Kassapa decided to build his palace on top of a rock. He built a<br />
staircase in the form of a lion.<br />
(Author’s Note: <strong>Mahavamsa</strong> statement of the lion image is accurate since huge paws of the lion<br />
image still exist in Sigiriya. Paw of the lion image is taller than a man. Due to this lion statue, the rock<br />
was called Sihagiri. Today it is known as Sigiriya).<br />
On top of the rock he built his castle. King Kassapa trying to save himself from the crime he<br />
<strong>com</strong>mitted against his own father, conducted many meritorious deeds. King gave land to Viharas.<br />
Bhikkus refused to accept the land given by King Kassapa, since they thought people would despise<br />
them for accepting land from a Peethugathaka.<br />
(Peethugathaka – A man who killed his own father).