Anuradhapura: The city of Anuradha (Part XXI )
By Ama H. Vanniarachchy
After the Vijithapura defeat, Elara’s general Deeghajanthu requested aid from his nephew, Bhalluka. Bhalluka was a giant and a warrior known for his unique skills. The chronicles do not say about his native country. Bhalluka along with an army of 60000 soldiers arrived in Sri Lanka, but that was after seven days of Elara’s cremation.
The battle of Bhalluka
The Mahavamsa says that the Vijithapura battle continued for six months. After the Vijithapura battle, Dutugamunu camped at Kasagala for a lengthy period, preparing for the final battle at Anuradhapura. During this time at Kasagala, they built a city, a tank and held a water festival. The chronicles do not say for how many months Dutugamunu camped at Kasalaga; perhaps many months. We do not know when exactly Deeghajanthu sent a message to Bhalluka, but the chronicles say that he did so when the Dravidians were facing defeat at Vijithapura.
Therefore, we could assume that it took almost one year for Bhalluka to arrive in Sri Lanka after Deeghajanthu sent a message to him. Hence we question that if Bhalluka was somewhere in South India, would it still take such a long time to send and receive an urgent message through messengers?
As soon as he landed on the island he received the news that Elara was dead. He was determined to even fight alone and win. Therefore he camped at Kolombahalaka, close to the capital.
Dutugamunu with a large army went to face Bhalluka, riding Kandula. The final battle between Dutugamunu and Bhalluka happened inside the city of Anuradhapura, within the boundaries of the Maha Vihara or the Great Monastery. Bhalluka was defeated and killed.
Dutugamunu’s war against Elara was not a single battle fought over a year or two. It was a great battle that was planned and implemented for decades by Kavanthissa, Viharamahadevi, and Buddhist monks. Later on, Dutugamunu, Saddhathissa, and the rest of the royals and army took the lead. Kavanthissa was the mastermind behind this great battle. He gathered and trained an army. He formed an army of mighty giants. Some of the giant leaders (Dasa Maha Yodhayo) were found by Kavanthissa even before the birth of Dutugamunu. Kavanthissa gathered and trained war elephants and war horses. He tightened the security of the ports which were located along the Mahaweli River.
He planned to keep the kingdom wealthy during such a deadly war; therefore, he harvested hundreds of thousands of acres of paddy fields in the East.
Kavanthissa planned and united the entire Ruhunu Kingdom and stabilised the power of Magama. According to the chronicles, he died when he was 64 years old. His chief queen Viharamahadevi accompanied him during all of this planning and work.
After his death, there was a disagreement and dispute between the two princes Dutugamunu and Saddhathissa, which was soon resolved by Buddhist monks and Viharamahadevi.
We understand that this war was a well-planned and great battle. While Dutugamunu was leading the war, Saddhathissa was busy harvesting paddy lands and strengthening the country’s economy. This was why as soon as such a tiresome war was over; Dutugamunu was able to construct great stupas such as the Mirisawetiya and Ruwanweliseya.
We could understand by this time that the military powers, fortification, and security of the capital city, other major cities, ports, and the island as a whole had reached to a great height. By this time the Sinhalese were experienced in planning war strategies and successfully implementing them. Large armies and training of war elephants and war horses were in practice by this time among the Sinhalese. Producing weapons and armour, building well-protected forts and temporary war camps, and protecting ports from enemies were learned and practiced by the Sinhalese. Dutugamunu’s success in defeating Elara is a fine example of the successful heights of the Sinhalese military powers during the 2nd century BCE.
War breaks out in the capital again
In 104 BCE King Khallatanaga was ruling Sri Lanka. He was the third son of King Saddhathissa. Khallatanaga ruled from 110 to 104 BCE. In 104 BCE, a general named Maharattaka assassinated the king.
Saddhathissa’s fourth son, Walagamba or Vatta Gamini Abaya, murdered Maharattaka and was crowned as the king of Sri Lanka, in Anuradhapura. Within five months, internal political strife arises. According to historical sources, a Brahmin named Thissa, who was in Ruhuna was creating chaos in the area. He had a large number of followers. He was rioting against the monarchy. Meantime, Seven Dravidas arrives at Mathota or Mahatota (Mantai, present-day Mannar Harbor) with a large army.
Thissa’s riots and Thissa’s famine
Thissa protested against the king and sent the king a letter requesting to hand over the kingdom to Thissa. The king replied to Thissa saying, you can have the kingdom; but first defeat the seven Dravida invaders.
Thissa was defeated by the Dravida invaders. The king was also defeated by the invaders. When the capital city Anuradhapura was under attack, the king decided to flee from the city for a safer place. The king, the pregnant queen of the previous king who is now dead, the king’s Chief Queen Soma Devi, and the two princes Maha Chula and Mahanaga were in the chariot. As the chariot was overloaded, it was not easy to ride fast, avoiding the advancing enemies. Therefore, Soma Devi, without any hesitation, got off the chariot and faced the enemies as a brave queen. At this moment, the king gifted the queen a valuable gem.
Previously, we witnessed the valour of Queen Viharamahadevi. The second known valorous queen after her is Soma Devi. Through these two narrations, we see a powerful and independent portrayal of Sinhalese royal women of the 2nd century BCE, which is rare in the history of Sri Lanka.
“Maha Kala Sihala is fleeing”
The Mahavamsa says that when King Wattagamini’s army was defeated by the Dravida army the King decided to flee. The King’s chariot rode passing a Nigantarma or a Theerthakarama. The chief Niganta or the Jain priest of the Tittharama, named Giri yelled, “Maha Kala Sihala is fleeing.” Hearing the words of Giri, King said to himself that one day after he defeated the Dravidas, he would build a Buddhist vihara at the location of Tittharama, demolishing it.
Giri’s treacherous betrayal
Some historians say that Giri was actually passing information to the Dravida invaders or he was also involved in the political unrest and riots happening in the kingdom of that time. According to historical sources, three princes of the royal family conspired against King Khallatanaga and were playing to usurp the throne. These were the three sons of Khallatanaga’s half-sister Sumana Devi. Their names were; Thissa, Abaya, and Uththara. The plan was to assassinate the king. After their vicious plan was revealed, they found refuge at Giri’s ashram. Later, once Walagamba becomes the king, the three of them commit suicide by sacrificing their lives to the fire god (Agni Devta).
Some scholars suggest that these three princes were not followers of Buddhism that they worshiped fire (Agni) and that Giri as well as Thissa were involved in this conspiracy. Therefore, knowing the treacherous acts of Giri, the King demolished his temple as a punishment.
According to the Mahavamsa, this Theerthakarama was built by King Pandukabhaya (437 – 367 BCE) and was thriving during the reigns of 21 Sinhalese Buddhist kings. The reasons for Giri and Thissa to protest against the Sinhalese king are unknown. Possibly they were losing their positions as Brahmins and Nigantas in the now powerful Buddhist state. During the time of Pandukabhaya, Brahmins held a notably significant position in the royal court as well as in the kingdom. Nigantas are also mentioned to be patronised during the time of Pandukabhaya.
However, during the time of King Devanmpiyathissa (250 – 210 BCE), Buddhism became the state religion, and all the royal patronage was given to the development and protection of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Buddhist monks played a vital role in the state and they were involved in political matters and important decision making. The Sinhala Buddhist state in the island was rising and establishing itself as a stronghold of Buddhism in Asia, growing around the capital city, Anuradhapura.
Therefore, the betrayal of Giri, the conspiracy of the three princes, and Thissa’s riot could be seen as an anti-Buddhist political conspiracy.
Meanwhile, in South India, the Pandya Kingdom was powerful. The Seven Dravida invasion of this time is a Pandya invasion. They were expanding their military powers across their geographical borders and reached Sri Lanka in such an attempt.
Baminithiyasaya: The Great Famine
According to Pali commentaries, before Walagamba ascended the throne, Thissa or Theeya had ruled the island. Theeya was known for his anti-Buddhist acts which caused harassment towards Buddhist monks. Also, a great famine spread in Sri Lanka during this time. This is known as an extremely dark period in the history of Sri Lanka and this famine is known as The Great Famine. It is known to be one of the most destructive natural disasters in Sri Lanka. As it happened during the chaotic time created by Brahmin Thissa or Theeya, the famine was known as Baminithiyasaya or Brahmana Thissa Sagathaya.
Thousands of people died without food and water. The drought and famine occurred for 14 long years, thus Walagamba had to wait for such a long time to come back to power and defeat the invaders. According to Pali commentaries, Theeya or Thissa was the actual ruler of Rajarata during the Great Famine but not the Seven Dravidas (two out of them returned to the Pandya Kingdom, one with Soma Devi and the other with the Pathra Dhathuwa. So there were only five Dravidas ruling Rajarata). Some scholars suggest that during the battle between the Dravidas and Theeya, after Theeya was defeated, the Dravidas and Theeya agreed that Theeya would be the namesake ruler of Rajarata.
Since the next 14 years are attributed to the name of Brahmin Tissa, it could be assumed that Tissa or Theeya was the namesake ruler of Rajarata.
During the drought, thousands of Buddhist monks fled to Andhra Pradesh and found refuge there. In a future article, we shall discuss the thriving religious and cultural ties we had with ancient Andhra Pradesh and with the Tamil country as a whole.
The Return of Walagamba
Walagamba who was in the Malaya country during this time, was busy with preparing an army to organise his war against the usurpers. He followed the route of his uncle, Dutugamunu, starting from Magama and marching towards the East and North. According to the chronicles, Walagmaba had seven great generals leading his army. Buddhist monks played a vital role in protecting the king and supporting his organising the army and planning his battle.
Unfortunately, the chronicles do not present a detailed narration of Walagamba’s battle.
In 89 BCE he defeats the foreign usurpers and declares himself as the King of Sri Lanka. Walagamba was successful in returning the lost glory of the kingdom.
(Pix courtesy the historic epic, Aloko Udapadi)
To be continued…
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