King Uttiya - House of Moriya i | Anuradhapura - (BC 267 - BC 257) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

King Uttiya

House of Moriya i | Anuradhapura - (BC 267 - BC 257)

King Devanampiyatissa, the second son of King Mutasiva, had nine brothers. His son, the prince, died after eating a poisoned mango that had been sent to kill Prince Mahanaga, the king’s younger brother. After the death of King Devanampiyatissa, the throne was taken over by his brother, Prince Uttiya. Before becoming king, it appears that Uttiya governed the region of Uttara Pāsā (the Northern Province). During his reign, the Mahavamsa records two significant events — the Parinibbana (passing away) of Arahant Mahinda Thera and of Sanghamitta Theri. When Arahant Mahinda, who was sixty years of age, passed away while residing during the rains retreat at Cetiyagiri (Mihintale), it is stated that it occurred on the eighth day of the bright half of the month of Assayuja, in the eighth year after King Uttiya’s coronation. Because of this, that day came to be commemorated as Mihindu Poya. The king, deeply moved by this loss, went to Cetiyagiri and paid royal honors to the body. The remains were placed in a golden casket and brought in a grand procession to the city of Anuradhapura, where they were cremated at the site called Baddhamāluka. A portion of the relics was enshrined there in a stupa, and another stupa was built at Cetiyagiri. The remaining relics were distributed among other monasteries to be enshrined in their respective stupas. The cremation site was known as Ibhumanghana. It is also said that within three yojanas, other Arahants who attained Parinibbana were cremated at the same site. The division and enshrinement of Arahant Mahinda’s relics throughout the island are among the most notable events in Buddhist history. A Brahmi inscription discovered at Rajagala in present-day Ampara District confirms these events. According to the same record, Thera Ittiya passed away before Arahant Mahinda. He must have been older, as his name appears first in the inscription, and it is clear that both their relics were enshrined at that site. A year later, Sanghamitta Theri, who was then sixty years old, also passed away at the Hatthālaka Nunnery. Her cremation took place on land that had earlier been allocated by a nun near the Cittasāla on the eastern side of Thuparama. King Uttiya built a stupa there to enshrine her relics. King Uttiya appears to have continued the religious activities initiated by King Devanampiyatissa without interruption. Like his brother, he too was a deeply pious ruler. An inscription at Mihintale refers to him with the epithet Dhammarakkhita (Protector of the Dhamma). Three rock inscriptions established at Mihintale by his two queens and another person whose name has been erased, refer to him as “Devanapiya Maharaja Gamini Uti.” This confirms his historical identity. According to the Mahavamsa Tika, King Uttiya had a son, though his name is not mentioned. It is said that from his lineage arose the royal family of Kelaniya. The Dhatuvamsa also notes that a king named Siva ruled at Kelaniya, who may have been one of his descendants. Two rock inscriptions at Mahasiyambalawaewa (Periya Puliyankulam) in the Vavuniya District mention a King Uti, who appears to have governed the northern region. Some scholars believe that this ruler was none other than King Uttiya of Anuradhapura. King Uttiya’s reign lasted for ten years.