Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.1795

v1.c12.1795

From early times there seems to have been political intercourse between the peoples of Kalinga and Vanga; Susima, grandmother of Vijaya, founder of the Sinhalese race, was a Kalinga princess, married to the king of Vanga.¹¹ Friendly relations between Ceylon and Kalinga were evidently of long standing, for we find in the reign of Aggabodhi II. (601-11 A.D.) the king of Kalinga, together with his queen and his minister, coming over to Ceylon intent on leading the life of a recluse and joining the Order under Jotipala. Aggabodhi and his queen treated them with great honour.¹² Later, the queen consort of Mahinda IV. came from Kalinga, and Vijayabahu I. married a Kalinga princess, Tilokasundari.¹³ We are told that scions of the Kalinga dynasty had many times attained to the sovereignty of Ceylon and that there were many ties of relationship between the royal families of the two countries.¹⁴ But it was Magha, an offspring of the Kalinga kings, who did incomparable damage to Ceylon and to its religion and literature.¹⁵