Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.1259

v1.c12.1259

19. Kassapa.—Son of Sena II. The king gave him a special share of his own revenues and a share of the extraordinary revenues of the island.¹ Two wives of his are mentioned: Saṅghā and Senā.² He became Yuvarāja under Kassapa IV. and ruled over Dakkhiṇadesa,³ and, at the death of the king, he became ruler of Ceylon as Kassapa V. (probably 913-23 A.C.).⁴ He is sometimes referred to as the son of the twice-consecrated queen (dvayābhisekajāta), his mother being Saṅghā, daughter of Kittaggabodhi (1) and Devā. In inscriptions Kassapa is referred to as Abhaya-Silāmeghavaṇṇa.⁵ He was evidently a learned man, and a Sinhalese Commentary to the Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā is attributed to him.⁶ He had one wife, Vajirā,⁷ a second, Devā,⁸ and a third, Rājini.⁹ He had a son, Siddhattha, who died young, and another, who was given the title of Sakkasenāpati. The latter led an expedition to help the Paṇḍu king against the King of Coḷa, but he died of plague in Coḷa.¹⁰