- Mahasena of Sri Lanka
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For other uses, see Mahasena.
Makasenan King of Sri Lanka File:Zamzam
A statue of MahasenaReign 275-301 Full name mahasena Predecessor Jetthatissa Successor Sirimeghavanna Royal House Anuradhapura Kingdom Father King Gotabhaya Mahasen, also known in some records as Mahasena, was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled the country from 275 to 301 AD. He started the construction of large tanks or reservoirs in Sri Lanka,[1] and built sixteen such tanks.[2] After becoming king, Mahasen discriminated against Theravada Buddhists in the country, and destroyed several temples including Mahavihara, the main Theravada temple, before his chief minister led him to realise his mistakes.[3] The Jethavana stupa was also built by Mahasen. His countrymen regarded him as a god or deity after the construction of the Minneriya tank, and he was named Minneri Deviyo (God of Minneriya).
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Discrimination against Theravada Buddhism
Mahasen was the younger son of King Gothabaya, who ruled the country from 253 to 266. His elder brother and predecessor to the throne was King Jetthatissa, who was the king from 266 to 275. Mahasen and Jetthatissa were educated by a Buddhist monk named Sanghamitta, who was a follower of the Vaitulya doctrine. Mahasen also became a follower of this doctrine, which was associated with Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism was traditionally the official religion of the country. However when Mahasen acquired the throne, he ordered the Bhikkhus of Mahavihara, the largest Theravada temple in the country, to accept Mahayana teachings. When they refused, Mahasen prohibited his countrymen from providing food to the Theravada Bhikkhus, and established a fine for violating this. As a result, the Buddhist monks abandoned Anuradhapura and went to the Ruhuna municipality in the South of the country.
Mahasen destroyed the Mahavihara, and the materials obtained from there were used for building the Abhayagiri vihara, the main Mahayana temple. Lovamahapaya, which belonged to the Mahavihara, was also destroyed. After this incident, the king’s chief minister and friend, Meghavannabaya, rebelled and raised and army in Ruhuna against him. The king came with his army to defeat Meghavannabaya and camped opposite the rebel camp. On the night before the battle was to be fought, Meghavannabaya managed to enter Mahasen’s camp and convinced him to stop the violence against Theravada Buddhists. Mahasen agreed to stop the violence and made peace with Meghavannabaya, and later reconstructed the Mahavihara.
Constructions
The Jethavana stupa was built by Mahasen in the land belonging to Mahavihara.[3] This is the highest stupa in Sri Lanka, and is among the tallest in the world. It is also the largest brick building ever built.
The Mahavamsa, the ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka, states that Mahasen constructed sixteen large tanks and two irrigation canals. The largest among these is the Minneriya tank, which covers an area of 4,670 acres (18.9 km2).[4] The tank has a circumference of 21 miles (34 km), and its 44-foot (13 m) high bund is 1.25 miles (2.01 km) long. The Minneriya tank provides water for a large area, and its water supply is maintained by the Elahara canal. Henry Ward, a governor of Sri Lanka when it was a British crown colony, had stated;[4]
No wisdom and no power in the ruler can have forced such efforts even upon the most passive oriental nations, without general persuasion that the work was one of paramount necessity and that all would participate in its benefits
The sixteen tanks given in the Mahavamsa as built by Mahasen are as follows.[3] Some of these tanks have been identified, and the present names of the ones that have been identified are given in brackets.
- Manihira (Minneriya)
- Mahagama
- Challura
- Khanu
- Mahamani
- Kokavata
- Dhammarama
- Kumbalaka
- Vahana
- Ratmalakandaka (Padawiya)
- Tissavadamanaka (Kawudulla)
- Velangavitthi
- Mahagallaka
- Cira
- Mahadaragallaka (Nachchaduwa)
- Kalapasana
In addition to these, Mahasen also built the canal Pabbathantha ela, and also completed the canal Elahara ela, which was started by King Vasabha.[5]
Relations with the countrymen
During Mahasen’s anti-Theravada campaign, his countrymen turned against him and this opposition even led to rebellions against him. These led to the killing of several royal officials, including the monk Sanghamitta, the teacher of the king who led him to this campaign.[3]
However, after Mahasen reconstructed the Mahavihara and constructed and repaired several tanks in order to improve agriculture in the country, the people’s opposition toward him was reduced. After the construction of the Minneriya reservoir, Mahasen was regarded as a god or deity, and was called Minneri Deviyo (God of Minneriya).[6] After his death, a shrine was built for him near the Minneriya reservoir, the remains of which can be seen to this day.
Mahasen died in 301, and with his death, the Mahavamsa written by the Buddhist Monk Mahanama also ends.
See also
References
- General
- Samaranayake, K. (2004). Famous Kings of Ancient Sri Lanka. pp. 45–49. ISBN 955-98890-0-1.
- Specific
- ^ "Country Profile". The High Commission of Sri Lanka - Singapore. Archived from the original on 2008-06-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080625013037/http://www.lanka.com.sg/profile.html. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Derrick Schokman (2004-03-20). "Exploring the Sigiri-bim". Daily News. http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/03/20/fea05.html. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ a b c d "King Mahasen". Translated Online Mahavamsa. http://mahavamsa.org/king-mahasen-275-ad-301-ad-sri-lanka/. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ a b "Constructions of King Mahasen". Translated Online Mahavamsa. http://mahavamsa.org/constructions-king-mahasen-ancient-irrigation/. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Irrigation Systems". University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. http://www.pdn.ac.lk/eng/ocm/pdf/EF502_Lecture_2.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-01.[dead link]
- ^ Gamini G. Punchihewa (2003-07-16). "Three cornerstones of local culture". Daily News. http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/07/16/fea16.html. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
Mahasena of Sri LankaKing of Sri LankaRegnal titles Preceded by
JetthatissaKings of Rajarata
275 AD–301 ADSucceeded by Monarchs of the Anuradhapura Kingdom House of Vijaya
(477 BC-237 BC, 215 BC–205 BC)Pandukabhaya (477 BC-367 BC) • Mutasiva (367 BC-307 BC) • Devanampiya Tissa (307 BC-267 BC) • Uttiya (267 BC-257 BC) • Mahasiva (257 BC-247 BC) • Suratissa (247 BC-237 BC) • Asela (215 BC-205 BC)Chola invaders
(237 BC–215 BC, 205 BC–161 BC)Sena and Guttika (237 BC-215 BC) • Elara (205 BC-161 BC)House of Vijaya
(161 BC–103 BC)Dutthagamani (161 BC-137 BC) • Saddha Tissa (137 BC-119 BC) • Thulatthana (119 BC-119 BC) • Lanja Tissa (119 BC-109 BC) • Khallata Naga (109 BC-104 BC) • Valagamba (104 BC-103 BC)The Five Dravida
(103 BC–89 BC)Pulahatta (103 BC-100 BC) • Bahiya (100 BC-98 BC) • Panya Mara (98 BC-91 BC) • Pilaya Mara (91 BC-90 BC) • Dathika (90 BC-88 BC)House of Vijaya
(89 BC–66 AD)Valagamba (89 BC-76 BC) • Mahakuli Mahatissa (76 BC-62 BC) • Chora Naga (62 BC-50 BC) • Kuda Tissa (50 BC-47 BC) • Siva I (47 BC-47 BC) • Vatuka (47 BC-47 BC) • Darubhatika Tissa (47 BC-47 BC) • Niliya (47 BC-47 BC) • Anula (47 BC-42 BC) • Kutakanna Tissa (42 BC-20 BC) • Bhatikabhaya Abhaya (20 BC-9 AD) • Mahadathika Mahanaga (9-21) • Amandagamani Abhaya (21-30) • Kanirajanu Tissa (30-33) • Chulabhaya (33-35) • Sivali (35-35) • Interregnum (35-38) • Ilanaga (38-44) • Chandamukha (44-52) • Yassalalaka (52-60) • Subharaja (60-66)House of Lambakanna I
(66–436)Vasabha (66-110) • Vankanasika Tissa (110-113) • Gajabahu I (113-135) • Mahallaka Naga (135-141) • Bhatika Tissa (141-165) • Kanittha Tissa (165-193) • Cula Naga (193-195) • Kuda Naga (195-196) • Siri Naga I (196-215) • Voharika Tissa (215-237) • Abhaya Naga (237-245) • Siri Naga II (245-247) • Vijaya Kumara (247-248) • Sangha Tissa I (248-252) • Siri Sangha Bodhi I (252-254) • Gothabhaya (254-267) • Jettha Tissa I (267-277) • Mahasena (277-304) • Sirimeghavanna (304-332) • Jettha Tissa II (332-341) • Buddhadasa (341-370) • Upatissa I (370-412) • Mahanama (412-434) • Soththisena (434-434) • Chattagahaka Jantu (434-435) • Mittasena (435-436)The Six Dravidas
(436–463)Pandu (436-441) • Parindu (441-441) • Khudda Parinda (441-447) • Tiritara (447-447) • Dathiya (447-450) • Pithiya (450-452)House of Moriya
(463–691)Dhatusena (463-479) • Kashyapa I (479-497) • Moggallana I (497-515) • Kumara Dhatusena (515-524) • Kittisena (524-524) • Siva II (524-525) • Upatissa II (525-526) • Silakala Ambosamanera (526-539) • Dathappabhuti (539-540) • Moggallana II (540-560) • Kittisiri Meghavanna (560-561) • Maha Naga (561-564) • Aggabodhi I (564-598) • Aggabodhi II (598-608) • Sangha Tissa II (608-608) • Moggallana III (608-614) • Silameghavanna (614-623) • Aggabodhi III (623-623) • Jettha Tissa III (623-624) • Aggabodhi III (624-640) • Dathopa Tissa I (640-652) • Kashyapa II (652-661) • Dappula I (661-664) • Dathopa Tissa II (664-673) • Aggabodhi IV (673-689) • Unhanagara Hatthadatha (691-691)House of Lambakanna II
(691-1017)Manavanna (691-726) • Aggabodhi V (726-732) • Kashyapa III (732-738) • Mahinda I (738-741) • Aggabodhi V (741-781) • Aggabodhi VII (781-787) • Mahinda II (787-807) • Dappula II (807-812) • Mahinda III (812-816) • Aggabodhi VIII (816-827) • Dappula III (827-843) • Aggabodhi IX (843-846) • Sena I (846-866) • Sena II (866-901) • Udaya I (901-912) • Kashyapa IV (912-929) • Kashyapa V (929-939) • Dappula IV (939-940) • Dappula V (940-952) • Udaya II (952-955) • Sena III (955-964) • Udaya III (964-972) • Sena IV (972-975) • Mahinda IV (975-991) • Sena V (991-1001) • Mahinda V (1001-1017)Italics indicate regent.Categories:- Kings of Sri Lanka
- Sinhalese people
- 301 deaths
- 3rd-century monarchs in Asia
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