Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c23.711

v1.c23.711

Duṭṭhagāmaṇī-Abhaya.—King of Ceylon (101-77 B.C.) He was the son of KāKavaṇṇatissa (ruler of Mahāgāma) and of Vihāradevī, and was called Gāmaṇi-Abhaya. The antenatal cravings of his mother showed that he would be a great warrior, and his father gathered at his court the most famous warriors of the land skilled in various ways. Chief among them were Nandhimitta, Sūranimila, Mahāsoṇa, Gothaimbara, Theraputtābhaya, Bharaṇa, Veḷusumana, Khañjadeva, Phussadeva and Labhiyavasabha. Abhaya early showed signs of an adventurous disposition, and resented the confined limits of his father's kingdom, bounded on the north by the Mahāvāḷuka-nadī, the further bank of which lay the Sinhalese country ruled by the Damiḷas. Abhaya was constantly refused permission by his father to fight the Damiḷas and fled in anger to the hills, whence he sent his royal father a woman's garment, to indicate that he was no man. This earned for him the nickname of Duṭṭha, which always stuck to him. At his father's death he had to fight with his brother Tissa (afterwards Saddhā-Tissa) for the possession of the throne. He was first defeated at Cūḷaṅganiyapiṭṭhi, but later he was victorious, and the Saṅgha brought about a reconciliation between the brothers. When fully prepared, Duṭṭhagāmaṇī marched against the Damiḷa king, Eḷāra. He rode his state elephant, Kaṇḍula, born on the same day as himself. He commenced operations at Mahiyaṅgana, capturing fort after fort, manned by Eḷāra's followers, and fought his way down to Mahāvāḷuka-nadī, where he pitched his camp at Kandhāvārapiṭṭhi, near Vijitapura, where were concentrated the Damiḷas. After a siege of four months Vijitapura fell, and Duṭṭhagāmaṇī advanced through Girilaka and Mahelanagara to Kāsapabbata near Anurādhapura, the capital.¹ There he waited for the onset of Eḷāra and, in the battle that ensued, Eḷāra was defeated and fled towards the capital, but he was pursued by Duṭṭhagāmaṇī and slain by him in single combat close to the southern gate of the city. Eḷāra's body was burnt with royal honours, and Duṭṭhagāmaṇī built a tomb over the ashes and decreed that no music should be played by people passing it, a decree that was for long honoured. This act of chivalry, so much in contrast with the usual conduct of victors, earned for Duṭṭhagāmaṇi great honour. Later, he defeated reinforcements from India under Bhalluka, nephew of Eḷāra, and thus became sole monarch of Laṅkā.