Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.1009

v2.c35.1009

1. Vijayabāhu.—King of Ceylon (Vijayabāhu I., 1059-1114 A.C.). His earlier name was Kitti; his parents were Moggallāna and Lokitā,¹ and from his thirtieth year he lived in Mūlasālā. Later, without the knowledge of his parents, he left home, defeated the general Loka, and became Ādipāda of Malaya after bringing this province under his power. At the age of sixteen he defeated Kassapa, chief of the Kesadhātus, and became ruler of Rohaṇa as well, assuming the title of Yuvarāja and the name of Vijayabāhu. At this time the Coḷas were in possession of the government at Pulatthipura, and they made efforts to stem the advance of Vijayabāhu. They were at first successful, owing to the disunion among the Sinhalese themselves, but Vijayabāhu conquered the Coḷa armies near Paluṭṭhapabbata and marched to Pulatthipura. He was helped by forces sent by the king of Rāmañña, to whom he sent an embassy with various presents. He had, however, to bide his time, and retreated to Vātagiri. From there he went, in due course, to Mahānāgahula, his officers having, in the meantime, crushed all opposition in Dakkhiṇadesa and captured the province of Anurādhapura and the district round Mahātittha. When he felt the right moment had arrived, Vijayabāhu marched once more to Pulatthipura and captured it after a siege of one and a half months. From there he advanced to Anurādhapura, spent three months in the city and returned to Pulatthipura. This was fifteen years after he became Yuvarāja. In the eighteenth year he crowned himself king, under the title of Sirisaṅghabodhi, making his younger brother Virabāhu Yuvarāja and governor of Dakkhiṇadesa, and his other brother, Jayabāhu, Ādipāda and governor of Rohaṇa. The king had several queens, among whom was Lilāvatī, a Coḷa princess and daughter of Jagatīpāla; by her he had a daughter Yasodharā. Another of his queens was a Kāliṅga princess, Tilokasundarī, by whom he had five daughters—Subhaddā, Sumittā, Lokanāthā, Ratanāvalī and Rūpavatī—and a son called Vikkamabāhu. Vijayabāhu gave his younger sister, Mittā, in marriage to the king of Paṇḍu, refusing an offer of marriage made by the Coḷa king.