Mutasiva

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Mutasiva (367-307 BC) was an early Buddhist King of Sri Lanka in the Kingdom of Anuradhapura. He was son of Pandukabhaya from his wife Suvarnapali.

He had nine sons, some of which were his successors such Devanampiya Tissa, Uttiya, Mahasiva and Asela, as well as being the son of King Pandukabhaya.

History

The king ruled for sixty years which was an unbroken peaceful era of the country. He is the creator of Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura and it is the only historical record of his accomplishment.[1]

In Mahavansa

Mahavansa/Chapter 11 tells that ...After Pandukabhaya's death his son, known by the name of Mutasiva, the son of Suvannapali, succeeded him in the government, which was (then) in a peaceful state. The king laid out the beautiful Mahameghavana-garden, rich in all the good qualities that its name promises and provided with fruit-trees and flowering-trees. At the time that the place was chosen for the garden, a great cloud, gathering at an unwonted season, poured forth rain; therefore they called the garden Mahameghavana.


The king Mutasiva reigned Sixty years in Anuradhapura in Lanka. He had ten sons and two daughters The second son, known by the name Devanampiya Tissa, was foremost among all his brothers in virtue and intelligence. This Devanampiya Tissa became king after his father's death.


Mahavansa/Chapter 21 mentions ....Two Damilas, Sena and Guttika, sons of a freighter who brought horses hither, conquered the king Süratissa (of Lanka), at the head of a great army and reigned both (together) twenty-two years justly. But when Asela had overpowered them, the son of Mutasiva, the ninth among his brothers, born of the same mother, he ruled for ten years onward from that time in Anuradhapura. A Damila of noble descent, named Elara, who came hither from the Chola-country to seize on the kingdom, ruled when he had overpowered king Asela, forty-four years, with even justice toward friend and foe, on occasions of disputes at law.

References

  1. Blaze, L.E. (1933). "III". History of Ceylon (First ed.). Colombo: Asian Educational Services. p. 273. ISBN 81-206-1841-6.