Vasabha
King Vasabha | |
---|---|
King of Anuradhapura | |
Reign | 67–111 AD |
Predecessor | Subharaja |
Successor | Vankanasika Tissa |
Died | 111 AD |
Spouse | Pottha |
House | Lambakanna dynasty |
Religion | Theravāda Buddhism |
Vasabha (Sinhala: වසභ) was a monarch of the Anuradhapura period of Sri Lanka. He is considered to be the pioneer of the construction of large-scale irrigation works and underground waterways in Sri Lanka to support paddy cultivation. 11 reservoirs and 12 canals were constructed during his reign. He also constructed several Buddhist temples in addition to renovating already existing ones. Vasabha started a new dynasty in the history of Sri Lankan monarchs, having seized the throne after killing Subharaja, the then ruler of Anuradhapura.
Early life and kingship
Prince Vasabha, born to a family of a clan named Lambakanna, spent his childhood in a village in the North of the country working for his uncle who was a general in the king's army. The ruler of the country at this time was Subharaja, who was informed by soothsayers that one named Vasabha would defeat him and become king. To avoid this, Subharaja ordered everyone in the country bearing that name to be killed. Vasabha's uncle tried to take him to the king under the pretext of taking him to join the king's service. However, he was saved by Pottha, the wife of his uncle, who told him about the king's decision. He went into hiding followed this, and gathered an army in secret.[1]
Having eventually raised an army, Vasabha led a rebellion against the king, and subsequently seized the throne in 67 AD after killing Subharaja and his uncle. He ruled for 44 years, until his death in 111 AD.[1] His accession to the throne marked the beginning of a new dynasty of rulers, known as the First Lambakanna Dynasty after the name of his clan.
Services
The ancient chronicle Mahavamsa states that he constructed eleven reservoirs and twelve canals to distribute water from them. His most notable construction is the Elahara canal or Aalisara canal, which originally had a length of about 30 miles (48 km). It was created by damming the Amban river, and was used to divert water in a westerly direction for agricultural use. The reservoirs at Mahavilachchiya and Nochchipotana, which have both been identified as constructions of Vasabha, have a circumference of about 2 miles (3.2 km). Due to such constructions, Vasabha pioneered the construction of large irrigation works in the country.[2]
Having been told by a soothsayer that he would live only for twelve more years, Vasabha became a devout Buddhist and performed many meritorious acts in an effort to prolong his life. He constructed several Buddhist temples, and renovated others. Among his constructions are the vatadage at Thuparama and some additions to the Mahavihara.[1]
Inscriptions
Inscriptions belonging to the reign of King Vasabha such as the Vallipuram Gold Plate in the Jaffna peninsula in the north which mentions about a minister named Isigiraya was appointed to" Nakadiva", which was then Jaffna.[3] Situlpawwa and Tissamaharama in the south, Batticaloa District of the east and Kurunegala District of the west all prove that King Vasaba's power had spread through the island.
See also
References
External links
- Chapter 35 of the Mahavamsa, which describes Vasabha's rule
Vasabha Born: ? ? Died: ? 111 AD | ||
Regnal titles | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Subharaja | King of Anuradhapura 67–111 AD | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
House of Vijaya (543–237 BCE)
- Prince Vijaya (543 BCE–505 BCE)
- Upatissa (505 BCE–504 BCE)
- Panduvasdeva (504 BCE–474 BCE)
- Abhaya (474 BCE–454 BCE)
- Tissa (454 BCE–437 BCE)
House of Vijaya (543–237 BCE)
Chola dynasty (237–215 BCE)
House of Vijaya (215–205 BCE)
Chola dynasty (205–161 BCE)
House of Vijaya (161–103 BCE)
The Five Dravidians (103–89 BCE)
House of Vijaya (89 BCE–66 CE)
House of Lambakanna I (66–436)
The Six Dravidians (436–463)
House of Moriya (463–691)
House of Lambakanna II (691–1017)
- Pandukabhaya (437–367 BCE)
- Mutasiva (367–307 BCE)
- Devanampiya Tissa (307–267 BCE)
- Uttiya (267–257 BCE)
- Mahasiva (257–247 BCE)
- Suratissa (247–237 BCE)
- Sena and Guttika (237–215 BCE)
- Asela (215–205 BCE)
- Elara (205–161 BCE)
- Dutugamunu (161–137 BCE)
- Saddha Tissa (137–119 BCE)
- Thulatthana (119 BCE)
- Lanja Tissa (119–109 BCE)
- Khallata Naga (109–104 BCE)
- Valagamba (104–103 BCE)
- Pulahatta (103–100 BCE)
- Bahiya (100–98 BCE)
- Panya Mara (98–91 BCE)
- Pilaya Mara (91–90 BCE)
- Dathika (90–88 BCE)
- Valagamba (89–76 BCE)
- Mahakuli Mahatissa (76–62 BCE)
- Chora Naga (62–50 BCE)
- Kuda Tissa (50–47 BCE)
- Siva I (47 BCE)
- Vatuka (47 BCE)
- Darubhatika Tissa (47 BCE)
- Niliya (47 BCE)
- Anula (47 BCE)
- Kutakanna Tissa (42–20 BCE)
- Bhatikabhaya Abhaya (20 BCE–9 CE)
- Mahadathika Mahanaga (9–21)
- Amandagamani Abhaya (21–30)
- Kanirajanu Tissa (30–33)
- Chulabhaya (33–35)
- Sivali (35–35)
- Interregnum (35–38)
- Ilanaga (38–44)
- Chandamukha (44–52)
- Yassalalaka Tissa (52–60)
- Subharaja (60–66)
- Vasabha (66–110)
- Vankanasika Tissa (110–113)
- Gajabahu I (113–135)
- Mahallaka Naga (135–141)
- Bhatika Tissa (141–165)
- Kanittha Tissa (165–193)
- Cula Naga (193–195)
- Kuda Naga (195–196)
- Siri Naga I (196–215)
- Voharika Tissa (215–237)
- Abhaya Naga (237–245)
- Siri Naga II (245–247)
- Vijaya Kumara (247–248)
- Sangha Tissa I (248–252)
- Siri Sangha Bodhi I (252–254)
- Gothabhaya (254–267)
- Jettha Tissa I (267–277)
- Mahasena (277–304)
- Sirimeghavanna (304–332)
- Jettha Tissa II (332–341)
- Buddhadasa (341–370)
- Upatissa I (370–412)
- Mahanama (412–434)
- Soththisena (434)
- Chattagahaka Jantu (434–435)
- Mittasena (435–436)
- Pandu (436–441)
- Parindu (441)
- Khudda Parinda (441–447)
- Tiritara (447)
- Dathiya (447–450)
- Pithiya (450–452)
- Dhatusena (463–479)
- Kashyapa I (479–497)
- Moggallana I (497–515)
- Kumara Dhatusena (515–524)
- Kittisena (524)
- Siva II (524–525)
- Upatissa II (525–526)
- Silakala Ambosamanera (526–539)
- Dathappabhuti (539–540)
- Moggallana II (540–560)
- Kittisiri Meghavanna (560–561)
- Maha Naga (561–564)
- Aggabodhi I (564–598)
- Aggabodhi II (598–608)
- Sangha Tissa II (608)
- Moggallana III (608–614)
- Silameghavanna (614–623)
- Aggabodhi III (623)
- Jettha Tissa III (623–624)
- Aggabodhi III (624–640)
- Dathopa Tissa I (640–652)
- Kassapa II (652–661)
- Dappula I (661–664)
- Dathopa Tissa II (664–673)
- Aggabodhi IV (673–689)
- Unhanagara Hatthadatha (691)
- Manavanna (691–726)
- Aggabodhi V (726–732)
- Kassapa III (732–738)
- Mahinda I (738–741)
- Aggabodhi VI (741–781)
- Aggabodhi VII (781–787)
- Mahinda II (787–807)
- Dappula II (807–812)
- Mahinda III (812–816)
- Aggabodhi VIII (816–827)
- Dappula III (827–843)
- Aggabodhi IX (843–846)
- Sena I (846–866)
- Sena II (866–901)
- Udaya I (901–912)
- Kassapa IV (912–929)
- Kassapa V (929–939)
- Dappula IV (939–940)
- Dappula V (940–952)
- Udaya II (952–955)
- Sena III (955–964)
- Udaya III (964–972)
- Sena IV (972–975)
- Mahinda IV (975–991)
- Sena V (991–1001)
- Mahinda V (1001–1029)
- Kassapa VI (1029–1040)
- Mahalana–Kitti (1040–1042)
- Vikrama Pandu (1042–1043)
- Jagatipala (1043–1046)
- Parakrama Pandu (1046–1048)
- Loka (1048–1054)
- Kassapa VII (1054–1055)
House of Vijayabahu (1055–1187)
House of Kalinga (1187–1197)
House of Vijayabahu (1197–1200)
House of Kalinga (1200–1209)
House of Vijayabahu (1209–1210)
Lokissara (1210–1211)
House of Vijayabahu (1211–1212)
Pandyan dynasty (1212–1215)
Eastern Ganga dynasty (1215–1236)
- Vijayabahu I (1055–1110)
- Jayabahu I (1110–1111)
- Vikramabahu I (1111–1132)
- Gajabahu II (1132–1153)
- Parakramabahu I (1153–1186)
- Vijayabahu II (1186–1187)
- Mahinda VI (1187)
- Nissanka Malla (1187–1196)
- Vira Bahu I (1196)
- Vikramabahu II (1196)
- Chodaganga (1196–1197)
- Lilavati (1197–1200)
- Sahassa Malla (1200–1202)
- Kalyanavati (1202–1208)
- Dharmasoka (1208–1209)
- Anikanga (1209)
- Lilavati (1209–1210)
- Lokissara (1210–1211)
- Lilavati (1211–1212)
- Parakrama Pandya (1212–1215)
- Kalinga Magha (1215–1236)
House of Siri Sanga Bo (1220–1597)
House of Senasammata Vikramabahu (1469–1592)
- Vijayabahu III (1220–1234)
- Parakramabahu II (1234–1270)
- Vijayabahu IV (1270–1272)
- Bhuvanaikabahu I (1272–1284)
- Interregnum (1285–1286)
- Parakramabahu III (1287–1293)
- Bhuvanaikabahu II (1293–1302)
- Parakramabahu IV (1302–1326)
- Bhuvanaikabahu III (1326–1335)
- Vijayabahu V (1335–1341)
- Bhuvanaikabahu IV (1341–1351)
- Parakramabahu V (1344–1359)
- Vikramabahu III (1357–1374)
- Bhuvanaikabahu V (1371–1408)
- Vira Bahu II (1391/92–1397)
- Vijayabahu VI (1397–1409)
- Parakramabahu Epa (1409–1412)
- Parakramabahu VI (1410–1467)
- Jayabahu II (1467–1472)
- Bhuvanaikabahu VI (1469–1477)
- Parakramabahu VII (1477)
- Parakramabahu VIII (1477–1489)
- Parakramabahu IX (1489–1513)
- Vijayabahu VII (1513–1521)
- Bhuvanaikabahu VII (1521–1551)
- Dharmapala (1551–1597)
- Sitawaka Line:
- Mayadunne (1521–1581)
- Rajasinha I (1581–1593)
- Rajasuriya (1593–1594)
- Kandyan Line:
- Senasammata Vikramabahu (1469– 1511)
- Jayavira Bandara (1511–1551)
- Karalliyadde Bandara (1551–1581)
- Kusumasana Devi (1582–1582)
- Rajasinha I (1582–1592)
House of Vimaladharmasuriya (1592–1739)
Nayaks of Kandy (1739–1815)
- Vimaladharmasuriya I (1592–1604)
- Senarat (1604–1635)
- Rajasinha II (1635–1687)
- Vimaladharmasuriya II (1687–1707)
- Vira Narendra Sinha (1707–1739)
- Sri Vijaya Rajasinha (1739–1747)
- Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747–1782)
- Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha (1782–1798)
- Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (1798–1815)
- Category