Vasabha of Anuradhapura

Vasabha
King of Anuradhapura
Reign 67 - 111 AD
Died 111 AD
Predecessor Subharaja
Successor Vankanasika Tissa
Wife Pottha

Vasabha (Sinhala: වසභ) was a monarch of the Anuradhapura period of Sri Lanka. He is considered to be the pioneer of the construction of large-scale irrigation works in Sri Lanka to support paddy cultivation. 11 reservoirs and 12 canals were constructed during his reign. He also constructed several Buddhist temples in addition to renovating already existing ones. Vasabha started a new dynasty in the history of Sri Lankan monarchs, having seized the throne after killing Subharaja, the then ruler of Anuradhapura.

Contents

Early Life and kingship

Vasabha, born to a family of a clan named Lambakanna, spent his childhood in a village in the North of the country working for his uncle who was a general in the king's army. The ruler of the country at this time was Subharaja, who was informed by soothsayers that one named Vasabha would defeat him and become king. To avoid this, Subharaja ordered everyone in the country bearing that name to be killed. Vasabha's uncle tried to take him to the king under the pretext of taking him to join the king's service. However, he was saved by Pottha, the wife of his uncle, who told him about the king's decision. He went into hiding followed this, and gathered an army in secret.[1]

Having eventually raised an army, Vasabha led a rebellion against the king, and subsequently seized the throne in 67 AD after killing Subharaja and his uncle. He ruled for 44 years, until his death in 111 AD.[1] His ascension to the throne marked the beginning of a new dynasty of rulers, known as the First Lambakanna Dynasty after the name of his clan.[2]

Services

The ancient chronicle Mahavamsa states that he constructed eleven reservoirs and twelve canals to distribute water from them. His most notable construction is the Alahara canal, which originally had a length of about 30 miles (48 km). It was created by damming the Amban river, and was used to divert water in a westerly direction for agricultural use. The reservoirs at Mahavilachchiya and Nochchipotana, which have both been identified as constructions of Vasabha, have a circumference of about 2 miles (3.2 km). Due to such constructions, Vasabha pioneered the construction of large irrigation works in the country.[3]

Having been told by a soothsayer that he would live only for twelve more years, Vasabha became a devout Buddhist and performed many meritorious acts in an effort to prolong his life. He constructed several Buddhist temples, and renovated others. Among his constructions are the vatadage at Thuparama and some additions to the Mahavihara.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Wijesooriya, S. (2006). A Concise Sinhala Mahavamsa. Participatory Development Forum. p. 81. ISBN 955-9140-31-0. 
  2. ^ Nicholas, C. W.; Paranavitana, S. (1961). A Concise History of Ceylon. Colombo University Press. p. 77. 
  3. ^ Siriweera, W. I. (2004). History of Sri Lanka. Dayawansa Jayakodi & Company. p. 169. ISBN 955-551-257-4. 

External links

Vasabha of Anuradhapura
Born: ? ? Died: ? 111 AD
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Subharaja		 King of Anuradhapura
67 AD–111 AD		 Succeeded by
Vankanasika Tissa
House of Vijaya
(477 BC-237 BC, 215 BC–205 BC)
Pandukabhaya (437 BC-367 BC) • Mutasiva (367 BC-307 BC) • Devanampiya Tissa (307 BC-267 BC) • Uttiya (267 BC-257 BC) • Mahasiva (257 BC-247 BC) • Suratissa (247 BC-237 BC) • Asela (215 BC-205 BC)
Chola invaders
(237 BC–215 BC, 205 BC–161 BC)
Sena and Guttika (237 BC-215 BC) • Elara (205 BC-161 BC)
House of Vijaya
(161 BC–103 BC)
Dutthagamani (161 BC-137 BC) • Saddha Tissa (137 BC-119 BC) • Thulatthana (119 BC-119 BC) • Lanja Tissa (119 BC-109 BC) • Khallata Naga (109 BC-104 BC) • Valagamba (104 BC-103 BC)
The Five Dravida
(103 BC–89 BC)
Pulahatta (103 BC-100 BC) • Bahiya (100 BC-98 BC) • Panya Mara (98 BC-91 BC) • Pilaya Mara (91 BC-90 BC) • Dathika (90 BC-88 BC)
House of Vijaya
(89 BC–66 AD)
Valagamba (104 BC-103 BC) • Mahakuli Mahatissa (76 BC-62 BC) • Chora Naga (62 BC-50 BC) • Kuda Tissa (50 BC-47 BC) • Siva I (47 BC-47 BC) • Vatuka (47 BC-47 BC) • Darubhatika Tissa (47 BC-47 BC) • Niliya (47 BC-47 BC) • Anula (47 BC-42 BC) • Kutakanna Tissa (42 BC-20 BC) • Bhatikabhaya Abhaya (20 BC-9 AD) • Mahadathika Mahanaga (9-21) • Amandagamani Abhaya (21-30) • Kanirajanu Tissa (30-33) • Chulabhaya (33-35) • Sivali (35-35) • Interregnum (35-38) • Ilanaga (38-44) • Chandamukha (44-52) • Yassalalaka (52-60) • Subharaja (60-66)
House of Lambakanna I
(66–436)
Vasabha (66-110) • Vankanasika Tissa (110-113) • Gajabahu I (113-135) • Mahallaka Naga (135-141) • Bhatika Tissa (141-165) • Kanittha Tissa (165-193) • Cula Naga (193-195) • Kuda Naga (195-196) • Siri Naga I (196-215) • Voharika Tissa (215-237) • Abhaya Naga (237-245) • Siri Naga II (245-247) • Vijaya Kumara (247-248) • Sangha Tissa I (248-252) • Siri Sangha Bodhi I (252-254) • Gothabhaya (254-267) • Jettha Tissa I (267-277) • Mahasena (277-304) • Sirimeghavanna (304-332) • Jettha Tissa II (332-341) • Buddhadasa (341-370) • Upatissa I (370-412) • |Mahanama (412-434) • Soththisena (434-434) • Chattagahaka Jantu (434-435) • Mittasena (435-436)
The Six Dravidas
(436–463)
Pandu (436-441) • Parindu (441-441) • Khudda Parinda (441-447) • Tiritara (447-447) • Dathiya (447-450) • Pithiya (450-452)
House of Moriya
(463–691)
Dhatusena (463-479) • Kashyapa I (479-497) • Moggallana I (497-515) • Kumara Dhatusena (515-524) • Kittisena (524-524) • Siva II (524-525) • Upatissa II (525-526) • Silakala Ambosamanera (526-539) • Dathappabhuti (539-540) • Moggallana II (540-560) • Kittisiri Meghavanna (560-561) • Maha Naga (561-564) • Aggabodhi I (564-598) • Aggabodhi II (598-608) • Sangha Tissa II (608-608) • Moggallana III (608-614) • Silameghavanna (614-623) • Aggabodhi III (623-623) • Jettha Tissa III (623-624) • Aggabodhi III (624-640) • Dathopa Tissa I (640-652) • Kassapa II (652-661) • Dappula I (661-664) • Dathopa Tissa II (664-673) • Aggabodhi IV (673-689) • Unhanagara Hatthadatha (691-691)
House of Lambakanna II
(691-1017)
Manavanna (691-726) • Aggabodhi V (726-732) • Kassapa III (732-738) • Mahinda I (738-741) • Aggabodhi VI (741-781) • Aggabodhi VII (781-787) • Mahinda II (787-807) • Dappula II (807-812) • Mahinda III (812-816) • Aggabodhi VIII (816-827) • Dappula III (827-843) • Aggabodhi IX (843-846) • Sena I (846-866) • Sena II (866-901) • Udaya I (901-912) • Kassapa IV (912-929) • Kassapa V (929-939) • Dappula IV (939-940) • Dappula V (940-952) • Udaya II (952-955) • Sena III (955-964) • Udaya III (964-972) • Sena IV (972-975) • Mahinda IV (975-991) • Sena V (991-1001) • Mahinda V (1001-1017)
Italics indicate regent.