Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c27.899

v2.c27.899

2. Parakkama-bāhu.—Son of Vijayabāhu III. and brother of Bhuvanekabāhu. He was born at Sirivaḍḍhana, and, in his youth, was entrusted to the care of the monks under Saṅgharakkhita. On the death of his father he ascended the throne, and reigned for thirty-three years (1236-68), at Jambudoṇi, as Parakkama-bāhu II. On account of his profound erudition, he received the sobriquet of Kalikāla-Sāhicca-sabbaññupaṇḍita ("the scholar entirely familiar with literature in the Dark Age"). The first act of his reign was the bringing of the Tooth Relic from the Billa mountain to the capital, amidst the exhibition of various miracles. He then set about regaining Pulatthipura from the Tamils, with Māghinda and Jayabāhu at their head, and this was accomplished by 1244. In the eleventh year of his reign Ceylon was invaded by a Jāvaka (Javanese) named Candabhānu, probably a sea-robber with a large force. The attack was repulsed by Virabāhu, the king's nephew, but Candabhānu appeared again later. The rest of Parakkama's life was devoted to pious works. He invited Coḷa monks over to Ceylon and held a convocation, with the object of reforming the priesthood, and showed special honour to Dhammakitti, a monk of Tambaraṭṭha. Among buildings erected by him were the Bhuvenakabāhu-pariveṇa at Billasela and the Mahā-mahindabāhu-pariveṇa at Hatthiselapura. He also restored the vihāras at Kalyāṇi and at Hatthavaṅgalla. He added to the Sirivijayasundara-vihāra built by his father and inaugurated a yearly festival in Devanagara. He made a pilgrimage to Samantakūṭa and erected a bridge, so that pilgrims might reach it more easily. In all these works he was assisted by his minister Devappatirāja. Parakkama had five sons: Vijayabāhu, Bhuvanekabāhu, Tibhuvanamalla, Parakkama-bāhu and Jayabāhu. In his old age he abdicated in favour of his son Vijayabāhu, who, because of his piety, was called Bodhisatta.¹