Book Review
Musings of a monarch
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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