Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c23.211

v1.c23.211

**Damiḷa.**—The name of a people (Tamils) whose home was in South India. The Ceylon Chronicles¹ contain records of invasions of Ceylon by the Damiḷas, the most noteworthy being that which was repelled by Duṭṭhagāmaṇi. The Damiḷa leader on that occasion was Eḷāra. Other Damiḷas mentioned by name in the Mahāvaṃsa are Sena, Gutta, Pulahattha, Vaṭuka and Niliya. Large numbers of Damiḷas settled in Ceylon, chiefly in the north and east of the Island and, in due course, gained possession of that part of the country. They were employed as mercenary soldiers by some of the Sinhalese kings and many were brought as captives.² The Damiḷa bhāsā is mentioned among the eighteen non-Aryan languages.³ In the Akitti Jātaka⁴ the Damiḷaraṭṭha is spoken of as including also the region round Kāvīrapaṭṭana, while in the Petavatthu Commentary⁵ it is spoken of as part of Dakkhiṇapātha.