Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c27.2206

v2.c27.2206

Pulatthi-nagara(-pura).—A capital of the Sinhalese kings. It is first heard of in the reign of Aggabodhi III., who built in the town the Mahā-pānadīpa-vihāra.¹ But it was probably an important centre even earlier, and Vijitapura, wrested from the Tamils by Duṭṭhagāmaṇi, was probably near by.² Sena I. first made Pulatthipura the capital,³ though even before his time it seems to have been used as a royal residence—e.g., by Aggabodhi IV.,⁴ Aggabodhi VII.,⁵ and Udaya I.,⁶ who built a hospital there.⁷ Mahinda II. built in the city the Dāmavihāra-pariveṇa and the Sanniratittha-vihāra.⁸ Sena I. reigned in Pulatthipura for twenty years and erected several buildings, including the Senaggabodhi-shrine near the Thusavāpi.⁹ The successors of Sena I. found in Pulatthipura a certain amount of protection from the inroads of the Coḷas and the Pāṇḍiyans; but in the time of Sena V. the town fell into the hands of the Damiḷas, through the treachery of Sena’s mother and his commander-in-chief, Sena. But Sena V. recovered the city by making a treaty with his commander-in-chief.¹⁰ About 1017 A.C. the Coḷas overran the country, captured Pulatthipura, and made the reigning king, Mahinda V., their prisoner. He died, after twelve years, as a prisoner in India.¹¹ During this period many of the Hindu shrines in the city were erected.