Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2547

v2.c31.2547

4. Māgha.—A usurper from Kāliṅga who came to Ceylon with a band of Kerala warriors in about 1215 A.C., deposed the reigning king, Parakkamapaṇḍu II., blinded him, and occupied the throne at Pulatthipura. Being a bigoted Hindu, he destroyed the Buddhist religious buildings and burnt their books. He persecuted the people in various ways and distributed their land among his warriors. He ruled for twenty-one years, and seems to have been succeeded at Pulatthipura by Jayabāhu (q.v.).¹ During part of his reign, Vijayabāhu III. (q.v.) ruled over a portion of Ceylon.²