King Gajabahu I - House of Lambakarna I | Anuradhapura - (113 - 135) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

King Gajabahu I

House of Lambakarna I | Anuradhapura - (113 - 135)

After the death of King Vanasinambapa, also known as Vankanasikatis, the throne was ascended by his son, Prince Gajabahu. In the Mahavamsa, his name appears as Gajabahuka Gamini. In other historical records, he is referred to simply as Gajabahu or Gajaba, and in some inscriptions, he is mentioned as Maharaja Gamini Abhaya. Among the existing letters of this king, only a letter found near the Ruwanweli Stupa mentions him as Maharaja Gayabahu Gamini Abhaya. Remarkable accounts of King Gajabahu are found in the Pujavaliya, Rajavaliya, Rajaratnakara, and other chronicles. Of these, the Rajavaliya gives the most detailed and vividly narrated account. The report can be rendered in Rajavaliya language as follows: "During the reign of King Vankanasikatis, the Chola king brought soldiers from the Chola country and descended upon Lanka, taking away many valuables and twelve thousand Sinhalese. This was the third time that the Tamil enemies invaded Lanka. When Gajabahu, son of King Vankanasikatis, ascended the throne, a distressed woman came to the palace in the night, weeping because her children had been taken by the Chola king. King Gajabahu, upon hearing this, realized that there was injustice in the city and went to the royal palace. The next morning, he summoned officials and inquired about the situation in the palace. Upon investigation, it was found that when the Chola king had captured twelve thousand Sinhalese, her two children were also taken. The poor woman told this to the king. King Gajabahu became angry and marched with the people to Yapapatuna, where the Chola king had taken the captives. The army was stopped there by the general Neela Maha Yodha, who captured one group and killed another. When the Chola kingdom was defeated, the king sent word that the Sinhalese army had arrived to annihilate the enemy. King Gajabahu, informed by Neela Maha Yodha, responded that he had no other army. The king, realizing the lack of forces, personally went to the battlefield and confronted the Chola king, who had taken twelve thousand Sinhalese during his father’s reign. King Gajabahu went to the Deva-pura and achieved victory, establishing the honor of his family. In anger, he demolished the city of Menuwara. He then ordered thirty-two thousand troops to advance and compelled the Chola king to return the captives, along with the images of the deities, idols, weapons, and vessels, to Lanka. These thirty-two thousand troops were organized and deployed across various provinces such as Aluthkuruwa, Sarasiyapattuwa, Yatinuwara, Udunuwara, Thunpane, Hewahatta, Pansiya Pattuwa, Egoda Tih, and Megoda Tih. The kingdom was thus secured for thirty-two years." This event, as recorded in other chronicles, is stated simply as the Sinhalese being taken to serve in the Chola kingdom. The work called Gajabaha Hella gives a more detailed account. However, it is evident that this story was constructed based on historical events. According to the Tamil poem Silappadikaram, the Chera king Senguttuvan established a temple for the goddess Pattini, and King Gajabahu of Lanka also participated in the rituals. In that poem, the king’s name is mentioned as Kayavāka. Accounts also mention that King Gajabahu brought the goddess Pattini’s anklets and other items to Lanka. Reports of people from Lanka traveling to Chola lands to assist in rituals are considered highly significant. According to southern Indian records, during the reign of King Karikal, operations in the Cauvery region were carried out by prisoners. From these details, it appears that during the reign of King Vankanasikatis, a southern Indian invasion occurred, and during the reign of King Gajabahu, he retaliated and achieved some victories in southern India. At that time, due to conflicts between the Cholas and the Vēras, King Gajabahu may have been recognized as a friend by the Cheras when he arrived in southern India. Professor Senerath Paranavithana has also noted this. A letter found near the Somawathi Viharaya in Polonnaruwa mentions a king named Gaminī Abhaya. The letter describes a ritual performed at a sacred site, which aligns closely with the above narrative. Historians accept the Gamini Abhaya mentioned here as King Gajabahu. The title “Yudha-jaya” (meaning “victorious in war”) was attributed to the king as a mark of honor. There is no record of King Gajabahu conducting any war in Lanka; therefore, it is clear that his military victories took place in southern India. King Gajabahu is rightly credited with valor, which should not be diminished by mere assumptions. Prince Gajabahu ascended the throne at a time when there were two independent rulers in the southern region: one in Dakkinadesa and one in Rohana. When Prince Gajabahu became king, Dakkinadesa had already come under King Vankanasikatis, while Rohana was under the Uttaramah king. The Mahavamsa refers to the subordinate king Mahallakanaga as Gajabahu’s relative. Sinhala scholars interpret this term as “Suhruba Badu” (friendly kin), while Professor Geiger understands it as “Mama” (uncle). Mahallakanaga, mentioned in the Mahavamsa, is identified by Professor Senerath Paranavithana as the ruler to whom Gajabahu sought refuge, namely the daughter of King Uttaramah. This was a significant political matter. The succession to the throne and Gajabahu’s refuge with the daughter of Mahallakanaga are historic events, and the reunification of the divided kingdom under King Gajabahu was a major achievement. According to the Mahavamsa, King Gajabahu expanded the Abhayagiri Maha Stupa and constructed gateways at the four entrances. However, the Dipavamsa claims that the Abhayagiri Maha Stupa was built by this king. It also mentions that a pond named Gamini was constructed for his queen. The construction of the Kanchukaya at Mirisweti Seiya is also attributed to him. The Mahavamsa states that the Ramuk Vihara was built during his reign. The phrase “Pachchime Vasse” used in the text should be interpreted as “Pachchime Passe,” meaning westwards; the term “Vasse” seems to be a scribal error. The construction of monasteries at an advanced age was unusual among other kings, making this noteworthy. Further details of King Gajabahu’s reign are revealed through inscriptions. Numerous letters from different regions of the island, fourteen of which have been studied, indicate that his edicts were uniformly accepted across Lanka. Among these, the letter from the mountain near Gotapabbhatarama in the far north can be highlighted. According to it, Walave Gangamudora functioned as a port for international trade. The revenue from this port was given by King Gajabahu to the Godapavata Vihara nearby. Another letter from Sithulpawwe states that fines collected from courts in Dubalayahatagama and Akujumahagama were donated to support the resident monks. The Thamaragala inscription in the north shows that eleven kumbaru (buckets) were prepared for the Guthapabbhata Vihara. The letter found near Ruwanweli Seiya records that the Dakshina Abhaya Arama and its uposathaghara received water and tax revenue. According to the Palumakicchawa letter, the Vaddamanaka Weva (Vaddamanak Wew) was constructed for the Thuparama Vihara. A letter from Erattaperiyakulam in Vavuniya is now destroyed, but the old ruins near the school and the pond located about half a kilometer away were mentioned. King Gajabahu’s mother, Maha Matta, collected funds for a Vihara to be built in memory of Rahat Thera and donated one lakh (100,000) coins to the Maha Vihara for its acquisition. The king established the Matu Vihara in fulfillment of his mother’s wishes, including a stone stupa for the Sangha. An inscription from Wilewewa confirms that his mother spent 4,000 coins on this religious ceremony. Considering all this, it is evident that King Gajabahu’s reign was a long, peaceful, and religiously active period. Many other deeds may have occurred during this long reign but were not recorded in the chronicles. The king may have been portrayed less favorably in the chronicles due to his preference for Abhayagiri over Mahavihara. He is recognized as the first king to have gone abroad, conducted a successful military expedition, and returned to the island with honor. However, the Rajavaliya does not give him the due attention. King Gajabahu’s reign lasted twenty-two years.