Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.1017

v2.c35.1017

4. Vijayabāhu.—King of Ceylon (Vijayabāhu IV., 1271-72 A.C.). He was the eldest of the five sons of Parakkamabāhu II., his brothers being Bhuvanekabāhu, Tibhuvanamalla, Parakkamabāhu and Jayabāhu. With the consent of the monks, Parakkamabāhu II. handed over the government, before his death, to Vijayabāhu, who was evidently very popular, and was known among his subjects as a Bodhisatta.¹ He restored Pulatthipura and built and renovated numerous monasteries, among them the vihāra at Titthagāma. During his reign, Candabhānu invaded Ceylon, but was defeated by the king with the help of his Ādipāda, Vīrabāhu. Vijayabāhu built a city near Subhagiri and made it its seat of government. He restored the Ratnāvalī-cetiya and gave Anurādhapura into the charge of the Vanni chiefs. Later, when Virabāhu had completely restored Pulatthipura, the king was consecrated there in the presence of his father, who came over from Jambuddoṇi. Then, at the desire of his father, he held, on the Mahāvālukagaṅgā, at Sahas-satittha, a festival for admission into the Order. The celebrations lasted a fortnight, and the king conferred on the monks various ranks, such as mahāsāmipāda, mūlatherapāda, pariveṇathera, etc. Two years after the death of Parakkamabāhu, Vijayabāhu was slain by a treacherous general, named Mitta.² Vijayabāhu's son was Parakkamabāhu III.³