King Nissanka Malla - House of Kalinga | Polonnaruwa - (1187 - 1196) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

King Nissanka Malla

House of Kalinga | Polonnaruwa - (1187 - 1196)

Nissanka Malla (Sinhala, නිස්සංක මල්ල), also known as Kirti Nissanka and Kalinga Lokesvara was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled the country from 1187 to 1196.[1] He is known for his architectural constructions such as the Nissanka Lata Mandapaya, Hatadage and Rankot Vihara, as well as for the refurbishment of old temples and irrigation tanks.

Nissanka Malla declared that only a Buddhist had the right to rule the country, thereby securing his position and justifying his claim for kingship. He spent large sums for various constructions and refurbishments, and also gave money to the public in an attempt to put down crimes. He maintained cordial relationships with several countries, and also invaded the states of the Pandyans and Cholas in South India.

A rock inscription made by Nissanka Malla at Dambulla mentions that he is of the Kalinga Dynasty and a descendant from the race of King Vijaya. Another inscription at Ruwanwelisaya describes him as being a member of a royal family of Kalinga, born at Sinhapura. The inscription there reads;

...having come from the royal line of the Ikshvaku family having become like a forehead mark to the royal family of Kalinga emperors born at Sinhapura...

Nissanka Malla's year of birth is 1157 or 1158. He was the son of Queen Parvati and King Jayagopa. This is mentioned in a rock inscription made by Nissanka Malla at Galpota. This inscription describes Jayagopa as being the reigning king of Sinhapura. Nissanka Malla had two wives named Kalinga Subadradevi and Gangavamsa Kalyanamahadevi. He was also a son-in-law or nephew of Parākramabāhu I.

The Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, constructed by Nissanka Malla is a unique type of building. It contains 8 granite pillars which were used to support a roof. The pillars are carved out of granite in the form of lotus stems with opening lotus buds on the tops, and are positioned on a platform.

The Hatadage is another construction done by Nissanka Malla. This building was constructed to keep the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha.[14] The Rankot Vihara, the fourth largest stupa in Sri Lanka, was also constructed by Nissanka Malla.

A major refurbishment was carried out at the Dambulla cave temple by Nissanka Malla. A rock inscription records that he has spent 7 lakhs for this. However, another of his own rock inscriptions contradict this statement and mentions the sum as 1 lakh.[8] The interior of the temple was gilded during the refurbishment. This later earned the temple the name Ran Giri, meaning golden rock. Nissanka Malla also had 50 Buddha statues in the temple gilded, and had this recorded in a rock inscription near the entrance of the temple.[15] A statue of Nissanka Malla was also made in one of the caves

PHOTO GALLERY

Gal Potha
Polonnaruwa,

මිහින්තලේ ප්‍රදේශයෙන් ගෙනවිත් ඇති දිගින් අඩි 26 අඟල් 10ක්, පළලින් අඩි 4 අඟල් 7ක් හා ඝනකමින් අඩි 2ක් පමණ විශාල ගල් පුවරුවක පේලි 72ක අකුරු 4300 කට වැඩි ගණනකින් සෙල් ලිපියක් නිශ්ශංක මල්ල රජු විසින්...

Built : King Nissanka Malla,

Nissanka Latha Mandapaya
Polonnaruwa,

Nissanka Latha Mandapaya (Sinhala: නිශ්ශංක ලතා මණ්ඩපය) is a unique structure in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. A màndapa is a pillared structure that is open on all sides and protects the persons inside from the sun with a roof. As of the 20th Cent. mándapas, as temporary structures, are built inside a house or a building and serve as recitation platform during remembrance ceremonies for the dead.

Built by King...

Built : King Nissanka Malla,

Rankoth Vehera
Polonnaruwa,

Rankoth Vehera is a stupa located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. The stupa was built by Nissanka Malla of Polonnaruwa, who ruled the country from 1187 to 1196. The Rankoth Vehera has been built according to the tradition of the stupas of the Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya and bears a close resemblance to Ruwanwelisaya. In fact, a stone inscription situated close to the stupa even identifies it by the name "Ruwanweli". However, it has later come to be known by the...

Built : King Nissanka Malla,

Polonnaruwa Hatadage
Polonnaruwa,

Hatadage (Sinhala: හැටදාගේ) is an ancient relic shrine in the city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. It was built by King Nissanka Malla, and had been used to keep the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The Hatadage had been built using stone, brick and wood, although only parts of the brick and stone walls now remain. It appears to have been a two-storey structure, but the upper storey has now been destroyed. Three Buddha statues carved out of granite rock are located within a...

Built : King Nissanka Malla,