King Mahachulikamahathissa - House of Moriya i | Anuradhapura - (BC 76 - BC 62) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

King Mahachulikamahathissa

House of Moriya i | Anuradhapura - (BC 76 - BC 62)

After King Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya, Prince Mahachūlika Mahātissa — also known as Mahasīlu Mahātissa — ascended the throne. He was the son of King Khallāṭanāga, who had been killed by the general of the Mahārattas, and was raised as a prince in the position of King Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya’s son. The king’s name bears the epithet “Mahā” twice — Mahā (Chūla) Mahā (Tissa). The term “Chūli” refers to the small tuft of hair left at the crown of the head after shaving. There seems to be no particular reason recorded as to why this king left such a tuft. The word “Chūli” is also used for the knot of hair tied at the top of the head, but whether such a custom existed for men of that period is unclear. Tissa was his given name, and Mahā functioned as an honorific prefix. In the Mahāvaṃsa and Dīpavaṃsa, his name appears in two forms: Mahāchūli Mahātissa and Mahāchūli. In texts such as the Pūjāvaliya, Rājāvaliya, Sulu Rājāvaliya, and Rājaratnākara, he is referred to as Mahadeliyatis. The term possibly denotes “one with a great tuft of hair.” It appears that this epithet was used for him by the people while he was still alive. In inscriptions found in places such as Demataoya and Gonawatta, he is referred to as “Machudi Raja.” The Demataoya inscription states that the king’s stonemasons had met their deaths. In inscriptions at Sithulpawwa, he is mentioned as Rajatisha. The name Machudi is linguistically equivalent to Mahāchūla. <hr data-end="1663" data-start="1660" /> <h3 data-end="1687" data-start="1665"> His Life and Reign</h3> Prince Mahasīlu Mahātissa spent fourteen years in hiding together with King Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya. It is certain that during that time he gained many experiences. He is believed to have shown great dedication to the organization of Vaṭṭagāmini’s army, although the chronicles contain no details of this. The Mahāvaṃsa describes his deeds in ten verses, primarily focused on the acts of merit he performed. It states that the king, believing that almsgiving from his own earnings was more meritorious, disguised himself and went to work harvesting paddy. From his wages, he offered alms to the monk Mahāsummā Thera. He also labored with an oil press at Soṇṇagiri, and from those wages provided food for the Saṅgha. He treated both monks and nuns with great generosity and reverence. He is said to have constructed temples such as Maṇḍavāpi Vihāra, Abhayagalla, Vaṅkāvattakagalla, Dīghabāhukagalla, and Jālagāma (or Wālagāma) Vihāras. As these are specifically attributed to him, they appear to be his own new foundations rather than restorations. <hr data-end="2780" data-start="2777" /> <h3 data-end="2809" data-start="2782"> Historical Observations</h3> From the above Mahāvaṃsa account, several conclusions can be drawn. Firstly, the period of his reign — beginning after Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya’s second accession — extended into a long era marked by prosperity and peace, except for the disturbances caused by King Coranāga. The fact that the king could disguise himself and work outside the capital for as long as three years suggests a time of stable peace within the country. His council of ministers also appears to have been a pious and virtuous group. This likely reflects the general religious character of the whole kingdom at that time. Inscriptions attributed to him confirm this view. An inscription discovered at Sithulpawwa indicates that his authority was recognized even in Rohana (southern Sri Lanka). The inscriptions at Thorawmailewa in the North Western Province and Korathota near Colombo mention an unnamed “great king,” whom Professor Senarath Paranavitana identified as King Mahasīlu Mahātissa. However, some scholars have suggested that this could refer instead to King Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya. If Paranavitana’s identification is accepted, it provides strong evidence that Mahasīlu Mahātissa’s political authority extended across the western and northwestern coastal regions of the island. <hr data-end="4124" data-start="4121" /> <h3 data-end="4171" data-start="4126"> Later Inscriptions and Religious Activity</h3> Further inscriptions shed light on his period in concealment. His work with the oil press at Soṇṇagiri and his harvesting of paddy to provide alms to Mahāsummā Thera are particularly significant. According to the Mahāvaṃsa ṭīkā (commentary), Soṇṇagiri corresponds to the present Rambadagalla area near Wē Uda Willihattapattuwa. A contemporary inscription found at Bāoruwa in this region mentions the name Sumathera, which likely refers to the same Mahāsummā Thera who received alms from the king. This provides an insight into the experiences gained by Prince Mahasīlu during his years of exile with King Vaṭṭagāmini. The Rājāvaliya records a remarkable event during his reign: “In the time of this king, five hundred arahants compiled the Tipiṭaka.” This statement, however, seems unclear. It is likely a mistaken reference to the writing down of the Tripiṭaka, which actually took place during the reign of King Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya. King Mahasīlu Mahātissa reigned for fourteen years.