Tissa, later Devanampiya Tissa, was one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 307 BC to 267 BC.[citation needed] His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great. The primary source for his reign is the Mahavamsa, which in turn is based on the more ancient Dipavamsa.
The Sinhalese Royal Family of King Devanampiya Tissa and Prince Uththiya
Tissa was the second son of Mutasiva of Anuradhapura. The Mahavamsa describes him as being "foremost among all his brothers in virtue and intelligence".[1]
The Mahavamsa mentions an early friendship with Ashoka. Chapter IX of the chronicle mentions that "the two monarchs, Devanampiyatissa and Dharmasoka, already had been friends a long time, though they had never seen each other", Dharmasoka being an alternate name for Ashoka. The chronicle also mentions Tissa sending gifts to the mighty emperor of the Maurya; in reply Ashoka sent not only gifts but also the news that he had converted to Buddhism, and a plea to Tissa to adopt the faith as well. The king does not appear to have done this at the time, instead adopting the name Devānaṃpiya "Beloved of the Gods"[2] and having himself consecrated King of Lanka in a lavish celebration.
Mihintale, the traditional location of Devanampiya Tissa's conversion
Emperor Ashoka took a keen interest in the propagation of Buddhism across the known world, and it was decided that his son, Mahinda, would travel to Sri Lanka and attempt to convert the people there. The events surrounding Mahinda's arrival and meeting with the king form one of the most important legends of Sri Lankan history.
According to the Mahavamsa king Devanampiyatissa was out enjoying a hunt with some 40,000 of his soldiers near a mountain called Mihintale. The date for this is traditionally associated with the full moon day of the month of Poson.
Having come to the foot of Missaka, Devanampiyatissa chased a stag into the thicket, and came across Mahinda (referred to with the honorific title Thera); the Mahavamsa has the great king 'terrified' and convinced that the Thera was in fact a 'yakka', or demon. However, Thera Mahinda declared that 'Recluses we are, O great King, disciples of the King of Dhamma (Buddha) Out of compassion for you alone have we come here from Jambudipa'. Devanampiyatissa recalled the news from his friend Ashoka and realised that these are missionaries sent from India. Thera Mahinda went on to preach to the king's company and preside over the king's conversion to Buddhism.
Important religious eventsEdit
Establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka due to the arrival of Thera Mahinda and his group.
Planting of the Sacred Maha Bodhi (under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment) and the establishment of the Bhikkuni Sasana (order of the Buddhist nuns) due to the arrival of Theri Sangamitta and her group.
Offering of the Mahamegavana to the Buddhist monks where the Maha Vihara monastery was built, which became the centre of Theravada Buddhism.[3]
Construction of Thuparama, the first historical dagaba which enshrined the right collar bone of the Buddha.[4]
Notable locationsEdit
Thuparama in Anuradhapura, believed to have been constructed in Devanampiya Tissa's reign
Given the extremely early date of Devanampiyatissa's reign and the dearth of sources it is difficult to discern what impact this conversion had, in practical terms, on Devanampiyatissa's reign. For example, whilst there are references to a Tissamahavihara and various other temples constructed by the king, none can be reliably located.
What is fairly certain however is that the site of his initial meeting with Thera Mahinda is one of Sri Lanka's most sacred sites today, going by the name Mihintale. The sacred precinct features the Ambasthala, or 'Mango tree stupa', where the Thera Mahinda asked the king a series of riddles to check his capacity for learning,[5][6] the cave in which Thera Mahinda lived for over forty years, and the Maha Seya, wherein is contained a relic of the Buddha.
The other major site associated with Devanampiyatissa's reign is the planting of the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. The tree was yet another of Emperor Ashoka's gifts to the island and was planted within the precincts of Anuradhapura, and is regarded as the oldest human planted tree in the world.
Devanampiyatissa built Tissa Wewa, which covers 550 acres. The embankment alone is 2 miles long and 25 feet high. It is a major irrigation tank even today and is an essential resource for farmers in Anuradhapura.
SignificanceEdit
Devanampiyatissa remains one of early Sri Lanka's most significant monarchs, given that his conversion to Buddhism set the kingdoms of the island down a religious and cultural route quite distinct from that of the subcontinent to the north. Later monarchs were to refer back to Devanampiyatissa's conversion as one of the cornerstones of the Anuradhapura polity. The city itself remained capital of a powerful kingdom until the early Middle Ages, when it was eventually subsumed under the Chola invasion and then superseded by Polonnaruwa.
^Mahanama Thera. "XIV - The Entry into the Capital" 2006-03-16 at the Wayback Machine. The Mahavamsa. Translated by Geiger, Wilhelm Ludwig. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
^"King Devanampiya Tissa (306 BC – 266 BC)". The Mahavamsa. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
ReferencesEdit
Keown, Damien, Stephen Hodge & Paola Tinti (2003). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-860560-9.
devanampiya, tissa, anuradhapura, tissa, later, devanampiya, tissa, earliest, kings, lanka, based, ancient, capital, anuradhapura, from, citation, needed, reign, notable, arrival, buddhism, lanka, under, aegis, mauryan, emperor, ashoka, great, primary, source,. Tissa later Devanampiya Tissa was one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 307 BC to 267 BC citation needed His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great The primary source for his reign is the Mahavamsa which in turn is based on the more ancient Dipavamsa Devanampiya TissaKing of AnuradhapuraMihintale Stone Statue of King TissaReign307 BC 267 BCPredecessorMutasivaSuccessorUttiyaConsortRamadatthaHouseHouse of VijayaFatherMutasivaReligionTheravada Buddhism Contents 1 Reign 2 Conversion to Buddhism 3 Important religious events 4 Notable locations 5 Significance 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksReign Edit nbsp The Sinhalese Royal Family of King Devanampiya Tissa and Prince UththiyaTissa was the second son of Mutasiva of Anuradhapura The Mahavamsa describes him as being foremost among all his brothers in virtue and intelligence 1 The Mahavamsa mentions an early friendship with Ashoka Chapter IX of the chronicle mentions that the two monarchs Devanampiyatissa and Dharmasoka already had been friends a long time though they had never seen each other Dharmasoka being an alternate name for Ashoka The chronicle also mentions Tissa sending gifts to the mighty emperor of the Maurya in reply Ashoka sent not only gifts but also the news that he had converted to Buddhism and a plea to Tissa to adopt the faith as well The king does not appear to have done this at the time instead adopting the name Devanaṃpiya Beloved of the Gods 2 and having himself consecrated King of Lanka in a lavish celebration Devanampiyatissa is traditionally said to have been succeeded by his younger brothers Uttiya and Mahasiva His other brother Mahanaga Prince of Ruhuna was the founder of the Principality of Ruhuna Conversion to Buddhism Edit nbsp Mihintale the traditional location of Devanampiya Tissa s conversionEmperor Ashoka took a keen interest in the propagation of Buddhism across the known world and it was decided that his son Mahinda would travel to Sri Lanka and attempt to convert the people there The events surrounding Mahinda s arrival and meeting with the king form one of the most important legends of Sri Lankan history According to the Mahavamsa king Devanampiyatissa was out enjoying a hunt with some 40 000 of his soldiers near a mountain called Mihintale The date for this is traditionally associated with the full moon day of the month of Poson Having come to the foot of Missaka Devanampiyatissa chased a stag into the thicket and came across Mahinda referred to with the honorific title Thera the Mahavamsa has the great king terrified and convinced that the Thera was in fact a yakka or demon However Thera Mahinda declared that Recluses we are O great King disciples of the King of Dhamma Buddha Out of compassion for you alone have we come here from Jambudipa Devanampiyatissa recalled the news from his friend Ashoka and realised that these are missionaries sent from India Thera Mahinda went on to preach to the king s company and preside over the king s conversion to Buddhism Important religious events EditEstablishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka due to the arrival of Thera Mahinda and his group Planting of the Sacred Maha Bodhi under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment and the establishment of the Bhikkuni Sasana order of the Buddhist nuns due to the arrival of Theri Sangamitta and her group Offering of the Mahamegavana to the Buddhist monks where the Maha Vihara monastery was built which became the centre of Theravada Buddhism 3 Construction of Thuparama the first historical dagaba which enshrined the right collar bone of the Buddha 4 Notable locations Edit nbsp Thuparama in Anuradhapura believed to have been constructed in Devanampiya Tissa s reignGiven the extremely early date of Devanampiyatissa s reign and the dearth of sources it is difficult to discern what impact this conversion had in practical terms on Devanampiyatissa s reign For example whilst there are references to a Tissamahavihara and various other temples constructed by the king none can be reliably located What is fairly certain however is that the site of his initial meeting with Thera Mahinda is one of Sri Lanka s most sacred sites today going by the name Mihintale The sacred precinct features the Ambasthala or Mango tree stupa where the Thera Mahinda asked the king a series of riddles to check his capacity for learning 5 6 the cave in which Thera Mahinda lived for over forty years and the Maha Seya wherein is contained a relic of the Buddha The other major site associated with Devanampiyatissa s reign is the planting of the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura The tree was yet another of Emperor Ashoka s gifts to the island and was planted within the precincts of Anuradhapura and is regarded as the oldest human planted tree in the world Devanampiyatissa built Tissa Wewa which covers 550 acres The embankment alone is 2 miles long and 25 feet high It is a major irrigation tank even today and is an essential resource for farmers in Anuradhapura Significance EditDevanampiyatissa remains one of early Sri Lanka s most significant monarchs given that his conversion to Buddhism set the kingdoms of the island down a religious and cultural route quite distinct from that of the subcontinent to the north Later monarchs were to refer back to Devanampiyatissa s conversion as one of the cornerstones of the Anuradhapura polity The city itself remained capital of a powerful kingdom until the early Middle Ages when it was eventually subsumed under the Chola invasion and then superseded by Polonnaruwa See also EditMahavamsa List of Sri Lankan monarchs History of Sri Lanka Buddhism in Sri Lanka Mahinda Thera Ashoka the Great MihintaleNotes Edit The Mahavamsa Chapter XI the Consecrating of Devanampiyatissa Archived from the original on 2006 03 16 Retrieved 2006 06 19 See e g Keown Hodge amp Tinti 2003 p 72 entry for Devanampiya Tissa where it is translated as dear to the gods Further Details Archived from the original on 2015 04 14 Retrieved 2015 04 14 Thuparama Mahanama Thera XIV The Entry into the Capital Archived 2006 03 16 at the Wayback Machine The Mahavamsa Translated by Geiger Wilhelm Ludwig Retrieved 25 July 2020 King Devanampiya Tissa 306 BC 266 BC The Mahavamsa Retrieved 25 July 2020 References EditKeown Damien Stephen Hodge amp Paola Tinti 2003 A Dictionary of Buddhism Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 860560 9 External links EditMihintale The Maha Bodhi Archived 2006 07 02 at the Wayback Machine The Mahavamsa History of Sri Lanka Archived 2007 11 09 at the Wayback Machine The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka Kings amp Rulers of Sri Lanka Codrington s Short History of Ceylon King DevanampiyatissaDevanampiya Tissa of AnuradhapuraVijayaBorn Died Regnal titlesPreceded byMutasiva King of Anuradhapura307 BC 267 BC Succeeded byUttiya Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura amp oldid 1168346804, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
