KINGSHIP IN CEYLON From the Fourth to the Tenth Century A*D* Sujatha Gunasena Thesis Submitted Tor the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the University of London ProQuest Number: 10672821 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10672821 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ABSTRACT The present study is an attempt to examine the institution of kingship in Ceylon from the fourth to the tenth century A.D, A brief survey of the poli­ tical background of the period is included in the first chapter as a prerequisite to the understanding of the various stages of the evolution of the concept of king­ ship in Ceylon; the rest of this chapter is devoted to a brief discussion of the sources utilized in this study. The second chapter deals with the various titles, throne names and personal najnes used by the kings of this period, in the discussion of which we have analysed the various factors that led to their selection, particu­ larly the underlying religious and political signifi­ cance of the titles and their importance with respect to the growth of kingly power. The royal family and the part played by its members in the administration of the country are taken into consideration in chapter XXX. An attempt has been made in this chapter to analyse the cor­ relation of the three titles, upara.ja. yuvara.ja and mahadi pada. Chapter IV is devoted to a discussion of the royal consecration. It discusses the new elements and rites associated with the abhigeka ceremony of the period under review, its political and religious significance and the disparity between the theoretical and the actual ceremony. This also attempts to clarify certain points of special 3 significance, which, in some instances have been repeated­ ly misunderstood. This is followed by a chapter on the nature of kingship. The concepts relating to rulership, their significance and how far these concepts actually affected practice are taken into consideration in this chapter. The next chapter deals with the relationship between the king and the Sangha, particular attention being paid to the causes that led to the development of a close connexion between them and the impact of that connexion on the evolution of kingship in Ceylon, Three appendices are included in this work to elucidate some of the points discussed. k ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was undertaken under the guidance of Dr, J* Go de Casparis, and no words of mine can ade­ quately express ray deep gratitude to him. I have bene­ fited a great deal from his valuable comments and criti­ cisms which have certainly led to an improvement in the quality of this thesis. The generous manner in which he gave me both of his time and of his expert knowledge of the subject throughout, is deeply appreciated. Encourage­ ment was never lacking from him. He has been teacher, counsellor and friend all at once, I could not have been more fortunate than to have studied under him. To Dr. de Casparis, therefore, I remain deeply indebted. I should also like to express my deep gratitude and sincere thanks to Professor K* W. Goonewardhana, Head of the Department of History, University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya Campus and Dr. Lakshin an S. Per era, Senior Education Officer, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, for their kind help, advice and encouragement. It was Dr, Sirima Kiribamune, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya Campus, who awakened ray interest in this field of study, and my most sincere thanks go to her. I am also greatly thankful to Betty O'Grady and Rachel Rymaszewski for their kind help. I owe my sincere thanks to the staff of the libraries of the School of Oriental and African Studies, the British Museum and the University of London for all their help and assistance. X am equally grateful to the University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya Campus, for granting me the study leave necessary for carrying out this research and to the Schoo of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, for awarding me a Governing Body award during the final stages of my study. Finally, it remains for me to express my sincere and heart-felt thanks to my husband, Sena, who spared no pains in helping me with my work. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract * .................................. 2-3 Acknowledgements................................... 4-5 Abbreviations ............ 7-9 Chapter I Introduction and Sources • ♦ . 10—33 Chapter II Royal Titles and Their Significance 3^—78 Chapter III Royal Family ..............* . 79-136 The Part Played by Members of the Royal Family in the Administration and the Privileges They Enjoyed Chapter IV The Royal Consecration .......... 137-190 Chapter V Nature of Kingship . # 191-236 Chapter VI Relations between the King and the Sangha ..................... 237-314 Conclusion . , 315-322 Appendix I Summary and Description of the Abhiseka ................. **«* 323—326 Appendix II Davy* s Account of the Coronation of a Sinhalese King ••••••• 327-333 Appendix III Lak Raja Lo Sirita • ••*.*. 334-351 Bibliography....... .................................. 352-383 7 ABBREVIATIONS A.B. Aitareya Brahmana A.I.C. Ancient Inscriptions in Ceylon A.N. Anguttara Nikaya Ap. Apastamba Dharmasutra A.S.C. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon A.S.C.A.R. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon, Annual Report A . S . C. M • Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon B.E.F.E.0. Bulletin de L'Ecole Fran<jaise d 1 Extreme-Orient C.A.L.R. The Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register C.C.M.T. Culture of Ceylon in Mediaeval Times C.J.Sc. Ceylon Journal of Science C.I.I. Corpus Inscriptionum Indiearum Cv. Culavamsa D.N. Digha Nikaya Dv. Dipavamsa 8 E.I. Epigraphia Indie a E. Z . Epigraphia Zeylanica Hlr • Hiranyake^i J.A.O.S. Journal of the American Oriental Society J.P.T.S. Journal of the Pali Text Society J #R.A .S , The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society J.R•A.S « C.B. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Ceylon Branch K. S . Kausitaki Samhita Mbh • Mahabharata M.S. Maitrl Samhita Mv. Mahavamsa n.s, new series P.T.S, Pali Text Society S.B. Satapatha Brahmana S.B.E. The Sacred Books of the East S.H.B. Simon Hewavitarane Bequest Series S.P. Santi Parvan T.B. Taittiriya Brahmana T.S. Taittirlya Samhita University of* Ceylon Review University of Ceylon History of Ceylon Vamsatthappakasinl 10 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND SOURCES According to the Mahavamsa, it appears that in Ceylon monarchy was the state norm from the very begin­ ning of its civilization. However, the authentic history of the Island begins with the reign of Devanampiya Tissa, The account of the Mahavamsa prior to the reign of this ruler is based mainly on legends, myths and Jataka stories. Hence it cannot be said with certainty what form of govern­ ment prevailed in the Island before the reign of Devanara- piya Tissa, Moreover, it is not justifiable to assume that monarchy was the only form of government prevailing in Ceylon from the very outset merely because it has been stated by the chronicler. There are some suggestions of a republican form of government at the time of the first 2 Aryan settlements in Ceylon, but insufficient data are available to ascertain the conditions prevailing in that 1, U,H,C,. vol. I, pt. I, pp, 45-50. 2, S, Paranavitana, ’Two Royal Titles of the Early Sinha­ lese and the Origin of Kingship in Ancient Ceylon*, J.R.A.S.. 1936, pp. 443-462; U.H.C.. vol. I, pt. I, P. 227. ^1 remote past. Although, it is not unlikely that there had been some kind of tribal form of government among* the first Aryan settlers of the Island, these early repub­ lican ideas never developed or flourished in Ceylon, From the earliest times to which our available records, both literary and monumental, go back, the government of the Island has been of the monarchic type. In a monarchic state, as the name implies, the king becomes the soul of the body politic who represents the state. According to the Hindu conception, rajya or *| state consists of seven elements (ahgas or prakrtis), and apparently the king or svamin is regarded as the most 2 important of all, Kautilya observes in one place that ra.ja ra.jyamiti pralcrtisamksepah, that is, the prakrtis 3 in epitome mean 1 the king is the state1. The king, therefore, is the pivot around which the political, 1, The seven constituents of a state are svamin 1 the sovereign* ; amatya 1 the officials*; ,janapada 1 the terri­ tory and the population; durga 1 the capital or forti­ fied city1; kosa 1 the treasury1; danda 1 the army’; mitra ’friends and allies' (Arthasastra, VI, chap,I; VIII, chap. I; Manu, IX, 295; Nitisara, canto IV, v, 1; see also D, R, Bhandarkar, Some Aspects of Ancient Hindu Polity, p, 65; .U, N, Ghoshal, A History of Indian Politi cal Ideas, pp, 84-86, 2, John W, Spellman, Political Theory of Ancient India, p, 3# Arthasastra, ed, R, Shamasastry, VIII (1924), p. 325; D.