SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS: King Devanampiya Tissa-Glorious days of Indo Sri Lanka relationship

SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS: King Devanampiya Tissa-Glorious days of Indo Sri Lanka relationship.

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Grandson of Princess Unmada Chithra & Prince Digagamini succeeded his lion-hearted father King Pandukabhaya & is said to have reigned sixty years in the island of Sri Lanka. For some unknown reason, King Mutasive wasn’t succeeded by the eldest of his ten sons, Abhaya. Instead, it was his second son, Tissa who ascended the throne of the island of Sri Lanka. Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka records that with the consecration of Tissa, many wonders took place

Devo wassatu kalena, sabbha sampatthi siddhiya
(In the times of gods, all treasures abound, & prosperity looms high.

Following is an excerpt from Dr. Ananda Guruge’s English translation of Mahavamsa narrated in Pali. Subtitles in Italics are mine

In the whole island of Lanka, treasures & precious stones which were buried deep rose to the surface of the earth. Gems which were in ships wrecked near the island of Lanka & also those which had arisen there ascended to the land. At the Chata-mountain sprang three bamboo-stems, which in girth were similar to a wagon-pole. One of them, a “creeper-stem” shone like silver. On it were seen delightful creepers gleaming with a golden hue. One was a ‘flower-stem’. On it were various full-blown flowers of different colours. One was a “bird-stem”. On it would be seen as of alive, many birds & animals-diverse & of different colours. The eight kinds of pearls- namely, horse, elephant, wagon, myrobalan, bracelet, ring, kakadha-fruit & natural pearls-rose from the sea & stood on the shore like a bund. All this happened on account of the merits of Devanampiyatissa. Those many precious stones such as sapphire, cat’s eye & ruby, those pearls & those bamboo-stems, they brought to the king, all in the same week.

First to my friend in India
Delighted on seeing them, the king thought, ‘My friend, Asoka the Righteous & none else deserves theses priceless treasures. I shall give them to him. Those two kings, Devanampiyatissa & Asoka the Righteous had been unseen friends for a long time.
The king then appointed these four persons-namely, nephew Maharittha, the chief minister, a Brahman, a minister & a treasurer, entrusted the following priceless treasurers to them & sent them, attended by a multitude of soldiers- the three kinds precious stones, the three wagon-poles, a conch-shell winding to the right & eight kinds of pearls.
Embarking at Jambukola, they arrived comfortably in the port in seven days & thence in a week they reached Pataliputta. They gave those presents to Asoka the Righteous. Seeing them he was pleased & thought, “Here I have no such treasures.’ Being delighted, the king bestowed on Arittha the rank of a commander of the army, on the Brahman the chaplainship, on that minister the rank of Dandanayaka & on the treasurer the position of a guild-chief

From India with Love
He gave them abundant provisions & lodgings. He consulted the minister & looked for gifts in return. The lord of men, in due course, gave as gifts to his friend requisites for consecration, specially the accessories; a chowrie, a diadem, a sword, a parasol, sandals, a turban, ear-ornamanents, a chain, a pitcher, yellow sandal-wood, a set of garments which needed no washing, a costly handkerchief, unguent brought by Nagas, dawn coloured earth, water from the Anotatta-lake, Ganga water, a conch shell winding to the auspicious direction, cosmetic powder maiden, golden vessels & objects, costly litter, yellow & emblic myrobalan, precious ambrosial medicines, & six thousand wagon-loads of rice brought by parrots.

The greatest gift ever in the world
He sent through the envoys this gift of the true Dhamma: “I have taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma & the Sangha. I have declared myself a lay-disciple of the Faith of the Sakya son. O best of men, you, make your mind to take delight in these supreme treasures & with faith, take refuge in them.”

Consecrate your friend, do not invade
He honoured the ministers of his friend & dispatched them, saying, “Consecrate my friend again.” The ministers had stayed five months & had been excessively cared for. The envoys left on the first day of the bright half of the month of Vesakha (April-May). They embarked at Tamalitti & disembarked at Jambukola. Arriving here on the twelfth day, they saw the king.
The envoys handed the gifts to the lord of Lanka. He extended to them much hospitality & honour. These ministers, loyal to their master, had consecrated the king of Lanka on the first day of the moon in the month of Maggasira (November- December). Intent on the welfare of their master, they conveyed the message of Asoka the Righteous &, for the second time, consecrated him who rejoiced in the welfare & happiness of Lanka.
Thus on the full-moon day of Vesakha, he in whose name was implied the word “Devanampiya” –the giver of happiness to his people-was consecrated in Lanka where there was grand festivity everywhere.
Unquote Mahavansa

Brothers then, friends now
Quote Dr. A. V. Suraweera’s English translation of Sinhalese chronicle Rajavaliya (Line of Kings) written in the Pali language
This king Devanampiyatissa & king Dharmasoka, in their previous existence were brothers born of the same mother. While they were earning livelihood by trading honey they had offered a bowl of honey to a Pacceka Buddha. In making that offering the youngest brother had made an aspiration to the effect that he would be supreme king in Dambadiva. Accordingly, he was born in Dambadive & was enjoying happiness. The second brother was born in Sri Lanka, their eldest brother (in the previous birth) became a Samanera by the name of Nigrodha.
Unquote Rajavaliya ISBN 955-599-210-X

The Incomparable Landmark of the Island of Sri Lanka
If ever a single event shaped & signalized the course of a nation’s destiny, it was the Mauryan Buddhist mission in Sri Lanka carried out by arrival of Maha Thera Mahinda at Mihintale, Sri Lanka in the reign of Devanmpiya Tissa.
With the incomparable land-mark in the nation’s history, Buddhism became the State religion. The whole island of Sri Lanka was converted to Buddhism & the gentle sway of the doctrine was to take root in the Sinhalese civilization to last for 5000 years. Unbroken Sinhalese Buddhist Civilization has survived since 543 BC for 2551 years. We reveal for you to revel: Our Island, Our Nation & Our Faith will prevail for another 2549 years until the emergence of next Buddha, Maithri.
bunpeiris