Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c27.530

v2.c27.530

Mention is made in the chronicles of several marriages between members of the Pāṇḍyan and the Sinhalese royal families. Vijaya himself took his consort from the Pāṇḍyan king at Madhurā, and later, Mittā, sister of Vijayabāhu I., married a Pāṇḍyan prince who became the grandfather of Parakkamabāhu I. This led to the establishment of a “Pāṇḍyan party” in Ceylon which was not always loyal to the reigning monarch—e.g., in the case of Vikkamabāhu III. Parakkama Paṇḍu, who deposed Lilāvati, evidently belonged to this party and probably also Vijaya III. The Pāṇḍyan kings claimed descent from the Lunar race.¹