Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1284

v2.c31.1284

Mahācūḷa-(Cūḷika-)Mahātissa.—Son of Khallāṭanāga and Anulādevī. Vaṭṭagāmaṇi adopted him (thereby earning the title of Pitirājā) and took him with him when forced to flee from the Damiḷas.¹ Mahācūḷa succeeded Vaṭṭagāmaṇi as king of Ceylon and ruled for fourteen years (17-3 B.C.). He worked in a rice-field, disguised as a labourer, and with the wages so earned gave alms to Mahāsumma. For three years he laboured in a sugar-mill near Soṇṇagiri and built the vihāras known as Maṇḍavāpi, Abhayagallaka, Vaṅkāvaṭṭakagalla, Dīghabāhugallaka, and Jālagāma. He was succeeded by Coranāga.² Mahācūḷa had two sons, Tissa (poisoned by the notorious Anulā) and Kuṭakaṇṇatissa.³