Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
105
King Kassapa III
Kingdom of Anuradhapura
724 AC - 730 AC

After the fifth King Aggrabodhi, the throne was succeeded (704–711) by Prince Kashyapa. He was also a son of King Manavamma. Since he bore that name, he is referred to as Kashyapa III. In the Mahāvaṃsa description regarding this king, a deficiency is noticeable. While detailing the king’s meritorious deeds, the account is interrupted midway. One or several pages of the Mahāvaṃsa story must have been lost.

The short traditional account of Kashyapa III states that, like his father, he ruled with compassion toward his subjects, managing the kingdom with four types of collection (sangrah) resources. This is not merely a conventional expression but an important interpretative detail. The edict originally validated by King Amandagama Abhaya was re-validated by this king. Mentioning that the king treated all people with respect reflects his virtuous character.

A inscription from the Matale direction at a place called Garandigala belongs to the period of King Kashyapa III. In this inscription, the name is mentioned as “W Dunu Sirisa Bo Mapurmuka,” indicating it refers to this king. However, there is some disagreement regarding this identification. Professor Senarath Paranavitana holds this view. According to this inscription, two points about King Kashyapa become clear. The note “Dadiwu Dunu” can be interpreted to indicate that Kashyapa III was born in India, as it explicitly shows. Some scholars suggest it could also be interpreted to mean he conquered Dambadiva (Sri Lanka). If interpreted this way, the inscription could not belong to this king. However, since a king born in such a period would not match the script and language of this inscription, Paranavitana’s view cannot be dismissed.

On the other hand, the Mahāvaṃsa clearly states that after Prince Manavamma allied with the Pallava king, he returned to the island and brought his wife to Dambadiva, so there is no reason to doubt that these princes were born in Dambadiva.

It is also appropriate to note here that great efforts were made by Wimalakeerthi of Uyangoda to attribute this inscription to the second Sena king. The “Mahinda Mahapanan” mentioned in the inscription may refer to the first Mahinda king who succeeded Kashyapa III. Another point clarified by the inscription is that the coronation name of Kashyapa III was Sirisangabodi. This title was used by many kings during this period as an honorific. Although the Garandigala inscription records the dedication by another individual, the above-mentioned points, which have been lost in the Mahāvaṃsa, are important when documenting history.

According to the accounts in Pūjavaliya, Rajavaliya, and other texts, the reign of Kashyapa III is said to have lasted seven years.

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