Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2092

v2.c31.2092

Mahāvālukagaṅgā, Mahāgaṅgā, Mahāvālukanadī.—The chief river of Ceylon, the modern Mahāveligaṅga. Viewed from the city of Anurādhapura, the right bank was called pāragaṅgā and the left oragaṅgā. The river was of great strategic importance, and is mentioned in various accounts of campaigns between opposing armies. It was always regarded as the boundary between North Ceylon, with Anurādhapura (and later, Pulatthipura) as the centre, and the South-east province of Rohaṇa. Various fords on this river are mentioned in the books, the chief among these being Kacchakatittha, Gaṇthambatittha, Mahārukkhatittha, Mālāgāmatittha, Yakkhasūkaratittha, Sarogāmatittha, Sahassatittha and Suvaṇṇatthambhatittha. There were evidently other fords at the bends of the river with no particular names.¹ The kings of Ceylon constructed various canals branching off from the river to help in their irrigation schemes. One such was the Pabbatanta Canal, built by Mahāsena²; while the Aciravatī, the Gomatī, and the Malāpaharaṇī were constructed by Parakkamabāhu I.³ Dhātusena irrigated the surrounding fields by means of damming up the river,⁴ as did Sena II. by the construction of the Maṇimekhala dam.⁵ In the time of Parakkamabāhu II., and later, of Vijayabāhu IV., great ordination ceremonies were held on the river at Sahassatittha,⁶ and again at Gaṇthambatittha in the time of Vimaladhammasūriya I.⁷ The river rises in Samantakūṭa.⁸ The Mahānāgavana of the Yakkhas, where, later, was erected the Mahiyaṅgathūpa, was on the right bank of the river.⁹