Vaṭṭagāmaṇī Abhaya untranslated

Vaṭṭagāmaṇī Abhaya. King of Ceylon (29-17 B.C.). He was the son of Saddhātissa, and came to the throne by killing the usurper Mahā Rattaka (v.l. Kammahārattaka).

He married Anulā, wife of Khallāṭanāga, and adopted Mahā Cūḷika as his own son; because of this Vaṭṭagāmaṇī came to be known as Pitirājā (this name occurs several times in the Commentaries – e.g., Vibh­a. passim, see Pitirājā).

Vaṭṭagāmaṇī had a second wife, Somadevī, and also a son of his own, called Coranāga. In the fifth month of his reign a Brahmin, named Tissa, rose against him, but was defeated by seven Damiḷas who landed at Mahā Tittha. After that, the Damiḷas waged war against the king and defeated him at Kolambālaka. It was a remark made by the Nigaṇṭha Giri to Vaṭṭagāminī, as he fled from the battle, that led later to the establishment of Abhayagiri (q.v.). The king hid in the forest in Vessagiri and was rescued by Kupikkala Mahā Tissa, who gave him over to the care of Tanasīva. In his flight he left Somadevī behind, and she was captured by the Damiḷas.

For fourteen years Vaṭṭagāmaṇī and his queen Anulā lived under the protection of Tanasīva, and, during this time, five Damiḷas ruled in succession at Anurādhapura; they were Pulahattha, Bāhiya, Panayamāra, Pilayamāra and Dāṭhika.

After a time, Anulā quarrelled with Tanasīva’s wife, and the king, in his resentment, killed Tanasīva. Later, when he also killed Kapisīsa, his ministers left him in disgust, but were persuaded by Mahā Tissa to return. When his preparations were complete, the king attacked Dāṭhika, slew him, and took the throne. He then founded Abhayagirivihāra and recovered Somadevī. He also built the Silāsobbhakaṇḍakacetiya. He had seven ministers who themselves built several vihāras; among them Uttiya, Mūla, Sāliya, Pabbata and Tissa are mentioned by name.

It was in the reign of Vaṭṭagāmaṇī that the Buddhist Canon and its Commentaries were first reduced to writing in Ceylon, according to tradition, in Ālokavihāra. For details of Vaṭṭagāmaṇī’s reign see Dpv.xx.14ff.; Mhv.xxxiii.34ff. The foundation of Abhayagirivihāra formed the beginning of dissensions in the ranks of the monks (Cv.lxxiii.18). Vaṭṭagāmaṇī was, however, regarded by later generations as a great protector of the faith (Cv.lxxxii.23). Various monasteries, chiefly rock temples, are traditionally ascribed to Vaṭṭagāmaṇī, and said to have been built by him during his exile; among these is the modern Dambulla vihāra. The Cūḷa Vaṁsa calls him the founder of the Majjhavelavihāra. Cv.c.229.