King Walagamba - House of Vijaya | Anuradhapura - (BC 104 - BC 103) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

King Walagamba

House of Vijaya | Anuradhapura - (BC 104 - BC 103)

Valagamba, also known as Vattagamani Abhaya and Valagambahu, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Five months after becoming king, he was overthrown by a rebellion and an invasion from South India, but regained the throne by defeating the invaders after fourteen years. He is also known for the construction of the Abhayagiri Dagaba.

Valagamba was the fourth son of King Saddha Tissa, the brother of Dutthagamani. His three elder brothers Thulatthana, Lanja Tissa and Khallata Naga ruled the country before him. A General of the army named Kammaharattaka (Maharattaka) killed Khallatanaga, the last of them and seized power. Valagamba in turn killed Kammaharattaka and took the throne himself in 103 BC.

He kept Mahaculika, the son of Khallatanaga, as his own son, and took Anuladevi, Mahaculika's mother, as his queen. He also had another queen named Somadevi.

Five months after his coronation as king, a Brahmin in Rohana named Tissa rebelled against him. At the same time, an invading army from South India led by seven Tamil leaders landed in Mahatittha. Tissa and the seven Tamil leaders all sent messages to Valagamba, telling him to hand over power to them. Valagamba informed the Brahmin Tissa that the kingdom will be his and told him to defeat the invading army. Accepting this, Tissa tried to fight but was defeated by the Tamils.

After this, the seven Tamil leaders waged war against Valagamba, and defeated him after a battle at Kolambalaka. While the king was fleeing in a chariot, a nirgrantha (Jain named Giri shouted that the king was fleeing. Valagamba resolved to build a temple there, and later built the Abhayagiriya after he regained the throne.When the pursuers were gaining on them, Queen Somadevi got down from the chariot to lighten it and give the king a chance to escape, and was captured.

Valagamba, in hiding, organized a large army in order to attack Anuradhapura and defeat the invading army. However, a rift between him and his ministers resulted in them leaving him and thus weakening the army.However, the sangha brought about a reconciliation and Valagamba resumed his preparations for attacking Anuradhapura.

In 89 BC, Valagamba regained the throne after defeating Dathika, the last of the invading Tamil leaders, and ruled the country for twelve years until his death in 77 BC.[4] He sent for Somadevi and restored her as queen, and built a temple named Somarama in her honour.

The king built Abhayagiri Dagaba and stupa, which has a height of about 70 metres (230 ft).[5] The Abhayagiri temple became one of the three main Buddhist institutions in the country.[4] Valagamba also built several other temples. The Tripiṭaka, which was handed down orally in the Bhikkhu order until then, was recorded on palm leaves during his reign.

PHOTO GALLERY

Hindagala Cave Temple
Anuradhapura,

ලංකාවේ පැරණිම බුදුරුව පිහිටි ලෙන් විහාරය

අනුරාධපුර යුගයේදීම ආරම්භ කරන්නට ඇතැයි සැලකෙන මධ්‍ය කඳුකරයේ පිහිටි ඉපැරණි පුදබිමකි හිඳගල රජ මහා විහාරය....

Built : King Walagamba,

Eth Pokuna
Anuradhapura,

Eth pokuna (Elephant pond) is an ancient man made pond situated close to Lankaramaya. It is 159 meters in length 52.7 meters across and 9.5 meters in depth with the holding capacity of 75,000 cubic meters of water.

The water to this pond has been supplied from the Periyamkulama Tank through a network of underground canals. These underground canals still work after so many hundreds years. This tank probably has been used by the monks in the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery...

Built : King Walagamba,

Lankarama
Anuradhapura,

Lankarama is a stupa built by King Valagamba, in an ancient place at Galhebakada in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Nothing is known about the ancient form of the stupa, and later this was renovated. The ruins show that there are rows of stone pillars and it is no doubt that there has been a house built encircling the stupa (vatadage) to cover it. The round courtyard of the stupa seems to be 10 feet (3 m) above the ground. The diameter of the stupa is 45 feet (14 m). The...

Built : King Walagamba,

Abhayagiri Stupa
Anuradhapura,

Valagamba (Sinhala: වළගම්බා), also known as Wattagamani Abhaya[1] and Valagambahu, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Five months after becoming king, he was overthrown by a rebellion and an invasion from South India, but regained the throne by defeating the invaders fourteen years later. He is also known for the construction of the Abhayagiri...

Built : King Walagamba,