Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.1011

v2.c35.1011

When peace had been established, Vijayabāhu sent messengers to Anuruddha, king of Rāmañña, and fetched monks from that country to help in the reformation of the Saṅgha in Ceylon. He gave over the whole district of Āḷisāra for the use of the monks and built many vihāras. He translated the Dhammasaṅgaṇi and held an annual Daṇḍissara offering. He also had the Tipiṭaka copied, and presented the copies to various monks. Because the Sinhalese envoys sent to Kaṇṇāṭa were insulted and maimed, the king prepared to send a punitive expedition to Coḷa, but the Velakkāra troops revolted, captured Mittā and her children, and burned the king's palace. The king was forced to retreat to Dakkhiṇadesa, but, with the help of Virabāhu, he defeated the rebels. In the forty-fifth year of his reign he took an army to Coḷa and stopped at a seaport in that country; but as the Coḷa king refused to accept his challenge to fight, he returned to his own country. He repaired many tanks and restored many vihāras in various parts of the country. He provided facilities for pilgrims journeying to Samantakūṭa, and patronized the Lābhavāsī and the Vantajivaka monks. He ruled for fifty-five years. Vīrabāhu died before him, and he made Jayabāhu Uparāja in his place.²