Pandukabhaya (437 BC – 367 BC) was King of Upatissa Nuwara and the first monarch of the Anuradhapura Kingdom and 6th over all of the island of Sri Lanka since the arrival of the Vijaya, he reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC. According to many historians and philosophers, he is the first truly Sri Lankan king since the Vijayan invasion, and also the king who ended the conflict between the Sinha clan and local community, reorganizing the population. His story is one wrapped in myth and legend.
There are three prevailing opinions on his origin.
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In the Mahavansa, his mother is Umaddha Citta and father is Digha Gamini, both of Aryan origin.
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Kumarathunga Munidasa's opinion is that his father is Chittharaja.
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He has no affiliation to the Aryan dynasty. He is a local hero.
Another not very popular theory, claims he is from the Pandya Kingdom. Vijaya married in Pandya royal family and therefore Pandukabhaya or Pandu Kabhaya was a relative of Vijaya from Pandya Kingdom.
The second ruler of Sri Lanka was King Panduvasudeva, the nephew of Vijaya. Panduvasudeva married Baddha-Kacchayana, an extremely beautiful princess from India. The couple had ten sons, the eldest of whom was named Abhaya, and one daughter named Chitra.
When a sage prophesied that Chitra would bear a son who would kill nine of his uncles and claim the throne, nine of Chitra’s brothers told King Panduvasudeva to have her killed. However, Abhaya would not allow it and Chitra was spared. She married a prince named Digha-Gamini (who, incidentally, was her cousin) and had a son, who was named Pandukabhaya.
