Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c34.74

v2.c34.74

2. Laṅkāpura Daṇḍanātha.—A general of Parakkamabāhu I. He was probably¹ the son of the Laṅkādhinātha Kitti. We first hear of him as having parried the attack of Gajabāhu’s forces, at the pass of Khaṇḍigāma. He was later sent in command of the expedition against Kulasekhara, to help the Paṇḍu king, Parakkama of Madhurā. He landed at the Paṇḍu port of Taḷadilla and occupied Rāmissara. From there he advanced to Kundukāla. The prisoners whom he sent to Ceylon were used to help in the restoration of the Ratanavāluka-cetiya. At Kundukāla, Laṅkāpura built the fortress of Parakkamapura. He defeated Kulasekhara and his numerous allies in several battles, and won over some of his allies, such as Iḷaṅkiyarāyara, Mālavarāyara and Coḷagaṅgara, by gifts and honours, and captured, among other places, the fortress of Semponmāri. He was assisted by Laṅkāpura Deva and Laṅkāgiri Sora, the general Gokaṇṇa, the Kesadhātus Loka and Kitti, and an officer named Jagadvijaya. He then captured Muṇḍikkāra and several other fortresses and occupied Rājinā. He subdued the Coḷa and Paṇḍu countries, and is said to have issued coins bearing the name of Parakkamabāhu I., while he restored the Paṇḍu kingdom to Virapaṇḍu. The village of Paṇḍu-vijaya was founded by the king to commemorate the victory of Laṅkāpura.²