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Musings of a monarch

Continued from October 24 

Title: ‘King Dutugamunu – The Commander-in-Chief’
Author: Dr P G Punchihewa (A Review)

Punchi does honour Elara in the chapter on him, as it is proper quoting the sense of justice he had practiced, that the people respected him and there were supporters although, he was foreign Damila descent. One was the instance of his own son being run over by a carriage, as punishment for his crime of killing a calf by the speeding carriage driven by the son.

The king presented himself for same punishment, on behalf of his carriage driver, who accidently, did a damage to a Chaitya. People did not accept and subsequently he renovated it.

He closely associated the monks, and offered dana to them, although, he did not follow the doctrine, that some historians believe that he followed Jainism. As a foreign ruler to rule, Anuradhapura for forty four long years was unimaginable without popular support; for example, Nandimitra’s uncle Mitra was one of his generals, and the King of Magama paid “Dekum” (ransom), to Elara.

Punchi, refers to the fortresses he had all along the southern flank of the Rajarata, manned by Chola Generals, Vahiththa, Khanu, Mahakoththa, Tamba, and Unnamma, and Magama kings had counter fortifications. In battles Elara’s General Meldeva was killed by Velusumana, and Dighajantu succeeded.

There would have been attempts at appeasement, as seen by Elara conferring with Sinhala Ministers, when Gamunu was marching. Punchi quotes from Rajavaliya and Saddharmalankaraya, to substantiate these. Even Elara’s Ministers paid obeisance to Buddhist Doctrine as referred to Digahajantu offering religious scarf to Akasa Chaitya, Samantakuta. With interpretations of varied hues on these religious acts, Punchi gives the place deserved by Elara in ancient Lanka history.

The role played by Gamunu’s brother Tissa during the war is not quite clear, but it is stated by Punchi in that chapter that he was the Prince in charge of the supply of food and other essentials to the army, from Digamadulla. Gamunu had two armed conflicts with brother, as he had left with mother and Kandula to Digamadulla when Gamunu returned to Magama from Malayarata, to succeed the father.

However with the help of Maha-Sangha the conflict was resolved and these incidents reflect the unifying of forces by the Sangha, Viharamahadevi, the mother, the ten Warriors, and the people of Lanka to bring this sacred land under one Chattra.

However the conflicts of two brothers gave Elara time to consolidate his positions in the border areas of Ruhuna and Rajarata, which were remedied by united efforts, later.

Preparations for War and March to Anuradhapura:- Punchi deals effectively the necessities, for war, food, looked after by Prince Saddhatissa, forces brought together by Senapathis, religious blessings from Maha Sangha with a Jaya Kuntha, Road transport from Magama to Anuradhapura, and the up keep of the morale of the soldiers.

All had been meticulously organized and the route was supervised independently by Velu Sumana and Suranimala on the request by mother Viharamahadevi. After the supervision and green-light given, the troops marched along Kaluwala, Ehala, Gikitta, Guttahalaka, Girigama, Niyamulla, Medagama, Uyantota, Tungam Kasatapitiya and Mahiyangana. At Mahiyangana, after religious observances, the army encountered the enemy. The raising of the Mahiyangana Caitya to eighty cubits from thirty, enhanced the public support to the Commander-in-Chief. After consolidation, there was a battle for four months to capture Ambatitththaka.

Before capturing Kasatota, they had to annex fortresses, Satbakottaya, Antarasobha, Dona Gavara, Nali Sobha, Digabhyagallaka. The fact that they were on the Magama territory according to historians was due to Dighabhaya, half brother of Kavantissa, on some misunderstandings, supporting Elara to build them, on a conspiracy in Elara’s court. There were others like Gamini who commanded Gaminigama for Elara.

They could be Sinhala persons although Saddhammalankaraya, refers them to be Tamil. Varied palace intrigues could lead to processes unexpected. In all Gamunu had to capture twenty-four fortresses, before Vijithapura. Places like Kotanagara, Nandika, Khanu and Gamani were fortresses named after the commanders, and it was a war sustained for years.

Elara’s strongest fortress, Vijithapura, although, there are differences of opinion on the location was captured after pitched battles between his warriors, including Kandula, and Elara’s army including elephant Parvatha. Punchi describes it with vivid details, that Gamini, gave a respite and a relaxation for the forces at Kasagala, where new reinforcements, and food items were replenished; they also built the tank Posonnaru Tank during this period and did water-sport there as relaxation before marching to Mahela on the way to Anuradhapura.

Elara, confronted Gamini even before fresh reinforcements arrived with his nephew Bhalluka from Chola country. The duel was between Gamini and Elara at the South Gate to Anuradhapura, where Kandula attacked Parvatha, and Gamini simultaneously, attacked with his dart Elara, and thus ended a forty-four year rule of Elara.

A tomb was constructed on this spot and obeisance paid to an adversary by King Gamini the Great, of Anuradhapura. It did not end there; Bhalluka who came with his army mounted a battle with Gamini in which Pussadeva, seated behind Gamini on Kandula, sent an arrow at Bhalluka which felled him and the lucid literary descriptions on these by Punchi are worth reading.

After enthroning as the King of the whole island, began the reconstruction and reconciliation work of Gamini. He donated Gamvara to his Senapathis, built tanks, developed agriculture, transport network, hospitals and brought peace to this thrice blessed land. Starting from Mirisaveti, Lovamahapasada, to Ratnamali Chaityas he built ninety-nine temples.

His rein of twenty-four years saw a rapid development of the doctrine, monks from Jambudhweepa, Rajgir, Vesali, Kosambi, Udeni, Bodh Gaya, Pataliputta, and Kashmir and Persia and Alexandria, attended the foundation laying ceremony of the Rathnamali Chaitya.

The king fell ill and brother Tissa knew that he may not live to see the Chaitya finished that he made a palanquin for brother to spend his last moments in the precincts of this Blessed Chaitya surrounded by Mirisaweti and Lovamahapaya.

He breathed his last, and thus ended the brief period of Grandeur of the Rein of King Gamini the Great. Dr P G Punchihewa had taken tremendous pains to glean from sources to relate the above story, to the present day Sri Lankans, of all strata; children especially, should be taught history, and these life stories of heroic kings.

Let me with Punchi’s permission end this essay felicitating Punchi for a great deed done towards, especially, the younger generation, by inculcating nationalistic values, adding a poem my father taught me when I was growing-up.

Sande men Pasindu Perakum Dutugemunu.’ - Perakum, Dutugemunu well-known like the moon

Ude sawasa Muniduta pasu sihikaranu’ – Remember them every morning and evening, after The Buddha.

Widesinge dusirith hema durukaranu’ – Shed all the unbecoming practices of foreigners

Mede karana thuru netha wanne diyunu’ – We will not develop until we do these, good deeds.

- Satharathilaka Banda Atugoda

 

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