sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

with striking similarities to the South Indian cultures of that time. Also
during this Early Iron Age, Anuradhapura grew as a population centre.
Objects inscribed with Brahmi (an ancient ‘parent’ script to most South
Asian scripts) have been found from the 3rd century BC; parallels with both
North Indian and South Indian Brahmi styles have been noted, though Ta-
mil words are used in many of those found in the north and east of the
island. Sri Lankan historians debate these details fiercely, as do many Sri
Lankans, but rather than there being two distinct ethnic histories, it is more
likely that migrations from West, East and South India all happened during
this time and that those new arrivals all mixed with the indigenous people.

Anuradhapura

The 5th-century-AD Pali epic, the Mahavamsa, is the country’s primary
historical source. Although it’s a somewhat faithful record of kingdoms
and Sinhalese political power from around the 3rd century BC, its histor-
ical accuracy is shakier – and indeed full of beautiful myths – before this
time. Nonetheless, many Sinhalese claim they’re descended from Vijaya,
an immoral 6th-century-BC North Indian prince who, according to the
epic, had a lion for a grandfather and a father who had lion paws and
married his own sister. Vijaya was banished for bad behaviour, with a con-
tingent of 700 men, on dilapidated ships from the subcontinent.
Landing near present-day Mannar, supposedly on the day that the
Buddha attained enlightenment, Vijaya and his crew settled around
Anuradhapura, and soon encountered Kuveni, a Yaksha (probably Ved-
dah) who is alternately described as a vicious queen and a seductress who
assumed the form of a 16-year-old maiden to snag Vijaya. She handed
Vijaya the crown, joined him in slaying her own people and had two
children with him before he kicked her out and ordered a princess – and
wives for his men – from South India’s Tamil Pandya kingdom. (That, by
this account, the forefathers of the Sinhalese race all married Tamils is
overlooked by most Sri Lankans.) His rule formed the basis of the
Anuradhapura kingdom, which developed there in the 4th century BC.
The Anuradhapura kingdom covered the island in the 2nd century
BC, but it frequently fought, and coexisted with, other dynasties on the
island over the centuries, especially the Tamil Cholas. The boundaries be-
tween Anuradhapura and various South Indian kingdoms were frequent-
ly shifting, and Anuradhapura was also involved in conflicts in South
India. A number of Sinhalese warriors arose to repel South Indian king-
doms, including Vijayabahu I (11th century AD), who finally abandoned
Anuradhapura and made Polonnaruwa, further southeast, his capital.
For centuries the kingdom was able to rebuild after its battles through
rajakariya, the system of free labour for the king. This free labour provid-
ed the resources to restore buildings, tanks and irrigation systems and to

Possible

Early Iron

Age Sites

Sigiriya

Kantarodai

Tissamaharama

Ve dd a h

Place

Names

Gal Oya

National Park

Nanu Oya

Kelaniya Ganga

3rd century

BC

Indian emperor Ashoka
sends his son and
daughter to spread
Buddha’s teachings.
Anuradhapuran King
Devanampiya Tissa
accepts them, begin-
ning Sri Lankan ties
between government
and religion.

205–161 BC

Reign of Chola King

Elara, described in

the Mahavamsa as a

just leader. Although

Tamil and Hindu, he

offers alms to Buddhist

monks and employs

both Sinhalese

and Tamils.

103–89 BC

Five Tamil kings

from India invade

Anuradhapura and rule

for 14 years.

King Valagamba is

forced to flee

and shelters in the

caves around

Dambulla.

1st century

BC

The Fourth Buddhist

council is held in

Aluvihara. The

collection of the

Buddha’s teachings,

previously preserved

by oral

tradition, is written

down for the first time.

History

A

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RADHA

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