King Lajjithissa - House of Moriya i | Anuradhapura - (BC 119 - BC 109) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

King Lajjithissa

House of Moriya i | Anuradhapura - (BC 119 - BC 109)

Prince Lajjitissa, who deposed King Thulatthana, ascended the throne of Anuradhapura. According to the Mahavamsa, he was accused of being disrespectful toward the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic order), showing arrogance and failing to recognize seniority. This behavior lasted for about three years. Later, however, he reconciled with the Sangha. The reason for this, as mentioned, was that the Sangha had earlier intervened in favor of the younger prince (Thulatthana) being appointed king while the elder prince (Lajjitissa) was still alive. Eventually, King Lajjitissa realized his mistake, made amends with the Sangha, and spent a large sum of money constructing houses for the monks in the Maha Vihara as an act of atonement, according to the Mahavamsa. Thus, the wrongdoing here appears to have been twofold: his rash act of killing his brother, who had been made king temporarily, and his initial disregard toward the Maha Sangha. Although internal conflict had arisen within the royal family following King Saddhatissa’s death, the stability of the kingdom established by King Dutugemunu still largely prevailed during this time. Any internal disturbances seem to have been subdued. Even until the end of King Lajjitissa’s reign, the administrative system appears to have functioned without major turmoil. The Mahavamsa records that King Lajjitissa constructed many religious edifices. Between the Maha Thupa (Ruwanweliseya) and Thuparama stood a reservoir named Kakudha. The surrounding area was swampy and filled with marshes. The king had these lowlands filled and leveled. The even ground now seen between the Ruwanweliseya and Thuparama is said to be the result of this king’s work. The Kantaka Cetiya at Sanchi (Saegeeriya) is also attributed to his reign. He is further credited with building the Ariṭṭha Vihara and, while residing in Dighavapi, the Girikumbhila Vihara, as mentioned in the Mahavamsa. The Ariṭṭha Vihara is believed to be the present-day monastery located at Ritigala, referred to in inscriptions as Ariṭṭhapabbata (“Ariṭṭha Mountain”). Inscriptions found among the monastic ruins at Ritigala—particularly in the regions known today as Adiyakanda and Na U Potha—mention Devanapiya Tissa Abhaya and Lapkatissa Maharaja, names that refer to King Lajjitissa. The inscriptions also refer to the Ariṭṭhabhikkhu (monks of the Ariṭṭha Vihara), confirming the king’s involvement in the construction of this monastery. The name Girikumbhila refers to an ancient area in the Ampara District, associated with a long range of hills. It is said that King Lajjitissa, while at Dighavapi, built a large monastery there. This location is also identified by names such as Rajagala, Dhanatissa Pabbata, Ariyākara, and Arittāra. Inscriptions there record his name in various forms—Lajka Raja, Tissa Aya, and Maha Aya. These references suggest that he had undertaken construction work even as a prince. After becoming king at Anuradhapura, inscriptions refer to him as Maharaja. One inscription mentions a stupa built to enshrine the relics (bhasma) of the great arahants Mahinda and Ittiya, making this monastery of considerable historical significance. At Kandegama near Maduru Oya, close to Aralaganwila, an inscription found in a cave at Dimbulagala also refers to “Maha Aya,” believed to denote this same king. It appears that while King Saddhatissa was at Dighavapi, Prince Lajjitissa was governing the northern part of Rohana around Dimbulagala. The king’s name itself deserves some attention. In some manuscripts of the Mahavamsa, it appears as Lajjitissa, while in others it is Lanjitissa. The former is the more common form. In Sinhala inscriptions, it appears as Ladatis—a name that can be linguistically derived from either Lajjitissa or Lanjitissa. Several early Brahmi inscriptions use the name Lajka for other individuals as well; one such donor is recorded as having offered a cave under that name. The Pali form of this word is likely Lanjaka, meaning “graceful” or “handsome.” Thus, Lanjaka or Lajka would have been used as an epithet, rather than “Lajjī” (meaning “modest” or “bashful”), which would carry little significance as a royal title. Therefore, Lanjaka Tissa appears to be the correct reading. This is further supported by references to his construction of an audience hall called Lankasala. The king’s principal name was Tissa, and like his ancestor King Dutugemunu Abhaya, he also bore the name Abhaya. Being a gracious and pleasant ruler, he was also given the epithet Lanjaka. Thus, his full name, as recorded in Ritigala inscriptions, was Lanjaka Tissa Abhaya. Some later records use the distorted form Lamani Tissa, which is incorrect. Scholars note that the Lajka Raja mentioned in the Duvagala inscription is not this king, while Daraka Tissa mentioned in another Ritigala inscription indeed refers to him. Inscriptions at Rajagala record the names of several of his queens, who made donations there. King Lajjitissa (or Lanjaka Tissa) reigned for nine years and six months.

PHOTO GALLERY

Thuparamaya Temple
Anuradhapura,

Thuparamaya is an ancient Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Located in the sacred area of Mahamewna park, the Thuparamaya Stupa is the earliest Dagoba to be constructed in the island, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC). The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri...

Built : King Devanampiya Tissa,
Some Construction : King Lajjithissa,
Some Construction : King Vasabha,
Some Construction : King Gotabhaya,
Some Construction : King Dhathusena,
Some Construction : King Aggabodhi II,
Some Construction : King Datopathissa i,
Some Construction : King Datopathissa II,
Some Construction : King Kassapa II,
Some Construction : King Manavamma,
Some Construction : King Aggabodhi VI,
Some Construction : King Mahinda II,
Some Construction : King Udaya I,
Some Construction : King Sena I,

Kantaka Chethiya
Anuradhapura,

Sela Cetiya
Anuradhapura,

Sela Cetiya is one of the 16 main places of worship or Solosmasthana and is situated to the west of Jetavanaramaya in the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. This was constructed by King Lajjitissa who ruled in the 1st century BC. The diameter of the base of the stupa is 37 ½ feet. This stupa has been given this name as the platform and stupa has been constructed in stone. A moonstone and guardstones can be seen...

Built : King Lajjithissa,