King Dutugamunu

 

King Dutugamunu

Dutugamunu, also spelled as Dutthagamani, also referred to as Dutthagamani Abhaya "fearless Gamini", was a Sinhalese king of Sri Lanka who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC. he's renowned for defeating and overthrowing Elara, the usurping Tamil prince from the Chola Kingdom, who had invaded the dominion of Rajarata in 205 BC. Dutugamunu also expanded and beautified the town of Anuradhapura and projected the facility of his native Rajarata region across the island of Sri Lanka .

Due to his significance together of the foremost potent symbols of Sinhalese historical power, Dutugamunu's story is swathed in myth and legend. However, many aspects of the accounts of his life are verified by contemporary inscriptions, and therefore the basic account of his life is usually accepted as accurate.

Etymology

The Mahavamsa describes how as a youth he mocked his father Kavantissa, king of Ruhuna, for refusing to wage war against the powerful invading Elara, the Chola king of Anuradhapura, who usurped the throne by killing the native kings. The prince stated that "If [his] father was a person he wouldn't speak thus" and sent him a bit of women's jewellery. The resulting fury of the king caused many of his friends to escape to Malaya region and therefore the prince himself being dubbed Dutthagamani, meaning "disobedient". After his death, he was mentioned as Dharma Gamini ("righteous Gamini"), but it's as Duttha Gamini or Dutugemunu that he's known to posterity.

Ancestry and family

The Mahavamsa constitutes the main source on Dutugemunu's reign and dedicates some six chapters (out of 35) to his tale. In chapter 22 he's described as being descended from the traditional royalty of Rajarata through Devanampiyatissa's brother Mahanaga. At the time of his birth Dutugemunu's father was Kavantissa, king of Ruhuna, alittle kingdom in south-east Sri Lanka outside of the influence of Rajarata within the north; the border between the 2 polities was the Mahaganga, or 'Great River', possibly the fashionable Menik Ganga. Kavantissa is portrayed within the Mahamvamsa as 'devoutly believing within the three gems,  he provided the brotherhood continually with...needful things'.

Dutugemunu's mother was Viharamahadevi, daughter of Tissa, king of Kalyani. Legend has it that as punishment for Tissa slaying a Buddhist monk, Kalyani had been subject to a series of deluges from the ocean . To placate it Tissa placed his daughter Devi during a golden boat with the words 'A King's Daughter' written on the side, and set her bent sea. Miraculously the princess washed ashore, alive and well, in Ruhuna, and married Kavantissa.

Stachu of Viharamaha Deevi (Mother of King Dutugamunu)

During her pregnancy with Dutugemunu, Viharamahadevi had a series of weird cravings, including the urge to sleep on a pillow made from honeycombs. especially , her urge to drink the water wont to wash a sword that had cleaved the top of a warrior of Elara, whilst standing thereon same head, raised the interest of the soothsayers at court, who predicted that 'The queen's son, when he has vanquished the Damilas (Tamil) and built up a uk , will make the doctrine to shine forth brightly'. Viharamahadevi gave birth to a son named Gamani Abhaya sometime later, and then to a different child, a boy named Tissa.

Around the time of Gamani's birth, 'an elephant of the six-tusked race brought his young one thither and left him here and went his way'. Named Kandula, he went on to become Gamani's mount and accompanied him through much of the prince's adventures.

Dutugemunu's sister

"Recent archaeological studies have found evidence proving that King Kavantissa had a daughter who was a sister to King Dutu Gemunu".
The battle within the palace and early reign
Flag of King Dutugamunu, of Anuradhapura

By the age of sixteen Gamani was 'vigorous, renowned, intelligent and a hero in majesty and might if a touch wayward. Determined to expel the invading king of Rajarata, Gamani levied a military from around Rohana and declared his intention to regain the north to his father. The king forbade this stating that 'the land on this side of the river is enough' the resulting exchange between father and son saw Gamani being dubbed 'Duttha Gamani', his friends fleeing to Malaya, and he himself being incarcerated during a royal prison.

Kavantissa is understood as an excellent strategist who recognized early that he needed to form his kingdom powerful before waging a war against the invaders. He assembled armies and made his kingdom prosperous in "rice and betel leaf" - this meaning that the people had tons of agricultural surplus. The legendary ten "great giants" - men who had great strength – are brought into the military at this point . Kavantissa repeatedly makes Dutugemunu and Tissa swear that they might never fight each other which they might always respect and hear the recommendation of the priests. He also makes the ten giants swear never to select sides during a war between the brothers.

Upon Kavantissa's death, Dutugemunu found himself having to defend his crown against his younger brother Tissa, who had seized possession of not only the elephant Kandula, but the dowager queen Viharamahadevi also . The war between the 2 began with a defeat for Dutugemunu at Culanganiyapitthi, where 'many thousands of the king's (Dutugemunu's) men' perished. Dutugemunu was forced to escape back to Mahagama where he levied another army and engaged Tissa in yet one more battle within the vicinity of the town . Legend has it that as Tissa, fought his brother riding the royal elephant "Kandula" against Dutugemunu who rode a mare. Dutugemunu at one point made the mare skip the elephant causing the elephant to acknowledge its master and plan to kill Tissa who hastily dismounts via a tree. Dutugemunu was victorious and Tissa was smuggled off the battlefield disguised because the corpse of a monk. it's said that Dutugemunu recognized the ploy and called bent his brother "Are you not ashamed to be carried on the rear of those priests?" 

 Sometime afterwards, however, Dutugemunu and Tissa were reconciled through the efforts of Viharamahadevi and therefore the monks, and Tissa became one among the king's foremost generals.
Regaining of Rajarata
aving secured his throne, he then planned his operations to regain the north, including not only Rajarata but numerous smaller semi-independent polities. The king's army consisted of 'chariots, troops and beasts for riders', soldiers and variety of war elephants, also as variety of monks (to advise the King) and a relic placed in his spear for luck and blessings. additionally he was amid the famed Ten Giant Warriors who had been recruited from everywhere the island by his father Kavantissa – Nandhimitra, Suranimala, Mahasena, Theraputtabhya, Gotaimbara, Bharana, Vasabha, Khanjadeva, Velusamanna, and Phussadeva.

War Of Dutugamunu and Elara

The campaign saw Dutugemunu subduing variety of usurping Tamil rulers within the north (as many as 32, consistent with the Mahavamsa). Of particular interest is that the four-month siege of Vijitanagara, where the defending Tamil troops are said to possess used 'red-hot iron and molten pitch to panic Dutugemunu's elephants. During this point , he also married Ran Etana, the daughter of a chieftain who continued to pay homage to Elara of Anuradhapura. On a minimum of twice victory is attributed to the king's 'cunning' and therefore the bravery of Kandhula. The campaign reached a climax at the eastern gate of Anuradhapura, where Dutugemunu, riding Kandhula, finally confronted the aged usurped king Elara, on his own elephant Mahäpabbata, and slew him with a spear; the encounter is one among the foremost famous in Sri Lankan history.

Dutugemunu's victory at Anuradhapura put him within the unprecedented position of ruling nearly the whole island of (Sri) Lanka. Despite this however his position was faraway from problem-free. Elara, despite being an invading Tamil from the Chola empire of south India, was renowned as having been a just and righteous leader, and Dutugemunu went out of his thanks to make sure the memory of the old king was revered as he cremated Elara and built a tomb for his ashes and made rules for travelers to urge off and pay their respects to his tomb. Furthermore, 'looking back upon his glorious victory, great though it had been , knew no joy, remembering that thereby was wrought the destruction of thousands of both enemies and his soldiers. this is often attested to by the sheer number of spiritual foundations attributed to him by the chronicles (between 68 and 99), which include magnificent stupas, monasteries, and shrines.

Reign and construction work

Ruwanwali Maha Saya The Mosr Populer Creation of King Dutugamunu

Aside from his many construction projects Dutugemunu's reign is memorable for his estrangement from his son, Saliya or Salirajakumara. The Prince fell crazy with a woman called Agokamaladevi or Asokamala; unfortunately for all concerned she was of the Scavenger caste, one among rock bottom castes in Sinhalese society. Saliya refused to offer her up and rejected the throne. Though the Mahavamsa mentions no reconciliation, folk stories have the young couple eventually restored to the king's good graces.

The king's reign also saw extensive contact between Sri Lanka and traders from the west, including Arabs, Persians, and possibly Romans

Following his consolidation of his position Dutugemunu began a series of giant construction projects, many of which still survive in Anuradhapura today. like nearly everything in Dutugemunu's life, each foundation comes with its own legend, many of which reveal the preoccupations and inclinations of ancient Sinhalese society.

The first foundation mentioned within the Mahavamsa is that the Maricavatti vihara, the fashionable Mirisavetiya. Legend has it that traveling to the shore of the Tank of Tissa with the 'women of the harem' for a water-festival, Dutugemunu planted his spear (which contained a sacred relic) within the soft ground. When preparing to return to the palace, he found that neither he, nor anyone in his retinue, could pull it out. Taking this as a symbol he ordered the development of a stupa over the spear.

Dutugemunu also ordered the development of the Lohapasada, or Brazen Palace, a nine-story chapter house for monks, which derived its name from its bright copper-tiled roof. Again, legend has it that the planning for the palace was supported a building seen in one among the heavens by a gaggle of monks, who drew the planning with 'red arsenic on linen' and dispatched it to the king.

Perhaps his most famous creation was the Ruwanweliseya, also referred to as the good Stupa or and Swarnamalee Chetiya, to deal with the begging bowl of Buddha . the development was started on the complete moon day of the month of Vesak (traditionally the date of the birth, enlightenment, and spending away of the Buddha) with the creation of a foundation of gravel . To hammer the stones into place elephants were used with their feet bound in leather. Dutugemunu is claimed to possess overseen the work personally, being present at the development of the relic chamber and therefore the interring of the bowl itself. The dedication of a stupa is described in Chap. 29 of the Mahavamsa, which lists the visit of delegations from various parts of India, also as a delegation of 30,000 monks from Alexandria of the Caucasus, led by the Indo-Greek monk Mahadharmaraksita.

Other notable works include the development of a stupa in Mundeshiwari, current day Bihar, India.
Spiritual relationship with Kataragama Deviyo

Stories concerning a number of the king's constructions reflect a spiritual relationship with the Kataragama deviyo. Two such sites are Henakaduwa Purana Raja Maha Viharaya at Tangalle and Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya.

During the amount of preparations for war with King Elara, the Kataragama deity appeared ahead of King Dutugemunu and gave him a sword for him to use within the war at this day site of Henakaduwa temple (hena and kaduwa, meaning thunder and sword respectively in Sinhalese).

After defeating Elara in single combat within the Battle of Vijithapura and subsequently regaining power within the country, the Kataragama deity appeared once more before Dutugemunu while the latter was in meditation at Kiri Vehera, Kataragama. The victorious king asked the deity what should be wiped out return for the deity's help in winning the battle. The god replied by shooting an arrow within the direction of Wedihiti Kanda from Kiri Vehera and instructed Dutugemunu to create it a shrine where the arrow lands.

Death and succession

King Dutugemunu didn't live to ascertain his beloved Ruwanweliseya completed, dying before the plaster work was finished. The Mahavamsa dedicates a whole chapter to his death, which contains a poignant scene where the dying king is taken by palanquin to the vicinity of the unfinished stupa. There he also encounters his old colleague Theraputtbhya, now a monk. After some discussion of the mortality of men, the aged monarch passes away and is instantly reborn within the heavenly realm of Tusita.

A common folk tale surrounding the death of King Dutugemunu is that as he was dying he was told that Ruwanweliseya was completed so as to stay him happy. The well-intentioned plan went awry, however, when Dutugemunu asked to be shown the finished building. His brother Tissa had the whole building draped in white cloth to present the illusion of whitewash, and thanks to his failing eyesight Dutugemunu didn't spot the difference, dying convinced that the building was finished.

Following his death Dutugemunu was succeeded by his brother Saddhatissa, instead of his disinherited son Saliya.