Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
106
King Mahinda I
Kingdom of Anuradhapura
730 AC - 733 AC

After the reign of Kashyapa III, the throne was succeeded by his younger brother, Prince Mahinda. He was the first king to bear this name. The Mahāvaṃsa notes that he assumed state authority without formal coronation. He had a very close official friend, and the chronicle narrates that, stricken with grief at this friend’s untimely death, Prince Mahinda stood at the foot of the throne and contemplated taking up the reins of governance.

Prince Mahinda was appointed to the subordinate eastern territory, while Prince Agbo, son of Kashyapa III, was assigned the southern region. This shows that during this period, the heir apparent managed the eastern division of the kingdom.

It is appropriate to note here the succession pattern of this period. As before, kingship passed from brother to brother. After the line of brothers was exhausted, the throne went to the son of the eldest brother. This was the established procedure. However, history records occasions when some ambitious princes sought the throne prematurely, sometimes due to age or the desire to fulfill their ambitions quickly. Such actions often provoked disputes among princes, resulting in unrest among the subjects, disruption of peace, and slowing of economic development. Except for a few brief instances, this unfortunate situation did not occur among the princes in the line of succession starting from King Manavamma, which is an important exemplary point.

Having organized governance and ensured peace, King Mahinda then actively engaged in meritorious deeds. The Mahāvaṃsa reports that he daily distributed ten carts full of rice at the Mahāpāli Dānhala. He equally distributed resources between himself and petitioners, demonstrating his righteous impartiality. He built and maintained numerous viharas, providing lamps for their upkeep.

The chronicles do not provide detailed information regarding the administration of irrigation or water management during this period. By this time, large-scale irrigation systems had been established. Additionally, due to the population decline caused by earlier battles, a peaceful environment initiated by King Manavamma allowed prosperity. The transport of Tamil troops from India often became feasible due to the reduced population.

Two inscriptions pertaining to this king have been discovered. The first inscription is the Garandigala inscription mentioned earlier, though it was not established during his own reign, but rather in the third year of his elder brother Kashyapa III’s reign. In this inscription, he is referred to as Mahinda Mahapanan (Mahinda Mahādīpa), indicating his role as ruler of the southern region.

The second inscription was found in the Rajavanni Pattuva, in the Puttalam direction, at a place called Virandagoda or Viladagoda. Here, he is referred to as Mihindu Raja Mahaya Mahinda, with Mahādīpa Mahinda being its meaning. This inscription was written after his ascension to kingship, though it does not explicitly mention the coronation. It refers to granting privileges to a sacred site named Salvanavehera. This confirms that even after becoming king, he governed from Mahādīpa, as the Mahāvaṃsa records.

King Mahinda’s reign lasted three years. The line of succession after King Manavamma, including his three brothers, is clear. They assumed kingship at appropriate ages. Nevertheless, this period was peaceful, with no internal conflicts and prosperous economic conditions. The exact state of the Rohana region is unclear. However, examining events at the start of the next period indicates that independent control in Rohana was established. The Mahāvaṃsa notes that the sixth King Aggrabodhi brought the entire Ruhuna under his control, clarifying this condition.

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