Panduvasudeva

From Jatland Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Panduvasudeva (r.504 BC - 474 BC) was King of Upatissa Nuwara (modern-day Sri Lanka) from 504 BC to 474 BC. He was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Upatissa Nuwara succeeding Upatissa, who reigned as regent. Panduvasudeva had ten sons, including Abhaya, Tissa and his only daughter Ummadha Citta. He was a nephew of Prince Vijaya.

Jat clan

Ancestry

The king of Vanga (present-day Bengal) married a princess (named Mayavati in some versions) of the neighbouring Kalinga (present-day Odisha). The couple had a daughter named Suppadevi, who was prophesied to copulate with the king of beasts. As an adult, Princess Suppadevi left Vanga to seek an independent life. She joined a caravan headed for Magadha, but it was attacked by Sinha ("lion") in a forest of the Lala (or Lada) region.

The Mahavamsa mentions the "Sinha" as an animal, but some modern interpreters state that Sinha was the name of a beastly outlaw man living in the jungle. Lala is variously identified as an area in the Vanga-Kalinga region, or as Lata (a part of the present-day Gujarat).[1][2]

Suppadevi fled during the attack, but encountered Sinha again. Sinha was attracted to her, and she also caressed him, thinking of the prophecy. Sinha kept Suppadevi locked in a cave, and had two children with her: a son named Sinhabahu (or Sihabahu; "lion-armed") and a daughter named Sinhasivali (or Sihasivali). When the children grew up, Sinhabahu asked his mother why she and Sinha looked so different. After his mother told him about her royal ancestry, he decided to go to Vanga. One day, when Sinha had gone out, Sinhabahu escaped from the cave along with Suppadevi and Sinhasivali. The three reached a village, where they met a general of the Vanga Kingdom. The general happened to be a cousin of Suppadevi, and later married her. Meanwhile, Sinha started ravaging villages in an attempt to find his missing family. The King of Vanga announced a reward for anyone who could kill Sinha. Sinhabahu killed his own father to claim the reward. By the time Sinhabahu returned to the capital, the King of Vanga had died. Sinhabahu was made the new king, but he later handed over the kingship to his mother's husband, the general. He went back to his birthplace in Lala, and founded a city called Sinhapura (or Sihapura). He married his sister Sinhasivali, and the couple had 32 sons in form of 16 pairs of twins. Vijaya ("victor") was their eldest son, followed by his twin Sumitta.[3][4]

Panduvasdeva sent from Sinhapura

Vijaya had no other children after Yakkhini Kuveni's departure. When he grew old, he became concerned that he would die heirless. So, he decided to bring his twin brother Sumitta from India, to govern his kingdom. He sent a letter to Sumitta, but by the time he could get a reply, he died. His ministers from Upatissagama then governed the kingdom for a year, while awaiting a reply. Meanwhile, in Sinhapura, Sumitta had become the king, and had three sons. His queen was a daughter of the king of Madda (possibly Madra). When Vijaya's messengers arrived, he was himself very old. So, he requested one of his sons to depart for Lanka. His youngest son, Panduvasdeva, volunteered to go. Panduvasdeva and 32 sons of Sumitta's ministers reached Lanka, where Panduvasdeva became the new ruler.[5] [6]

In Mahavansa

Mahavansa/Chapter 8 tells that ... The great king Vijaya, being in the last year of his life sent a letter to his brother Sumitta to handover his Kingdom. Within a short time after Vijaya had sent the letter he passed away. When he was dead the ministers ruled, dwelling in Upatissagama while they awaited the coming of the prince. After the death of king Vijaya and before the coming of the prince was our island of Lanka kingless for a year.

In Sihapura, after the death of king Sihabahu, his son Sumitta was king; he had three Sons by the daughter of the Madda (Madra) king. Sumitta being old he sent his youngest son Panduvasudeva to Lanka. Panduvasudeva took with him thirty-two sons of ministers and embarked (with them) in the disguise of mendicant monks. The ministers entrusted Panduvasudeva with the sovereignty of Lanka. He made Bhaddakaccana, youngest daughter of Sakka Pandu as his consort. Sakka Pandu for seeing the destruction of Shakyas took his followers with him and went to another tract of land on the further side of the Ganges and founded a city there and ruled there as king.

References

  1. ↑ John M. Senaveratna, The story of the Sinhalese from the most ancient times up to the end of "the Mahavansa" or Great dynasty, Asian Educational Services, 1997, pages.7–22, ISBN 978-81-206-1271-6
  2. ↑ Ancient Jaffna by Mudaliyar C. Rasanayagam, Asian Educational Services, 1984, ISBN 9788120602106
  3. ↑ John M. Senaveratna, The story of the Sinhalese from the most ancient times up to the end of "the Mahavansa" or Great dynasty, Asian Educational Services, 1997, pages.7–22, ISBN 978-81-206-1271-6
  4. ↑ Mahavansa/Chapter 6
  5. ↑ John M. Senaveratna, The story of the Sinhalese from the most ancient times up to the end of "the Mahavansa" or Great dynasty, Asian Educational Services, 1997, pages.7–22, ISBN 978-81-206-1271-6
  6. ↑ Mahavansa/Chapter 8
Retrieved from "http://www.jatland.com/w/index.php?title=Panduvasudeva&oldid=335181"