Vankanasika Tissa of Anuradhapura

Vankanasika Tissa was the second King of Anuradhapura from the House of Lambakanna I. He ruled from 111 to 113 AD. He was preceded by his father, Vasabha and succeeded by his son, Gajabahu I.

During his reign time, two local rulers were sons of King Vasabha called Dutaga and Uttara ruled the current Tammannava and Monaragala area respectively. This was stated in inscriptions found in Tammannava and Habessa.

During his ruling period, Chola King Karikala Chola invaded the island and took away 12000 Sinhalese men to work as slaves to construct the great Kaveri Dam.

He built Mangla Maha Viharaya on Kadigala hill located on the banks of Kala Oya (Gona Nadi). As well as it was said his consort Mahamatta collected money for a vihara to the remembrance of the gratitude for a thero who was done a great help to her.

Personal Life
There was an interesting story about the spouse of King Vankanasika thissa. The story is like this.

king Subharaja had a daughter. Due to extreme fear of prophecy, he entrusted his daughter to a brick worker while giving his royal mantle and insignia. The brick worker took the princess to his house and brought her up as his daughter.
When that girl become a maiden she met a there who was meditating(Seventh state of nirodha's) on a flower bed. Then she gives food (alms) and again prepared food and takes it to her father. Then the father asked the cause for the delay from the daughter, she answered she had given food to a thero. Then father was so happy about that and instructed her to give food to thero every day. One day there came into a trance and saw this maiden and said "You are a fortunate girl. When you come high place, remember about my help".After that thero died.
At that period king, Vasabha was searching for a spouse for his son and one day people who send that duty saw this maiden and give information about this maiden with auspicious signs. Then the king sends people to brick-workers village and the brick worker reveals the real identity of his daughter while giving the royal mantle and insignia to the king. King was happy about this and made wedded his son to this maiden.

References

External links

Kings & Rulers of Sri Lanka

Codrington's Short History of Ceylon
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King Vankanasika Tissa of Anuradhapura. (2022). Retrieved 19 May 2022, from https://www.lankapradeepa.com/2021/10/king-vankanasika-tissa-anuradhapura.html?m=1
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Chapter XXXV. (2022). Retrieved 19 May 2022, from http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap035.html

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Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
Sinhalese kings
Monarchs of Anuradhapura
House of Lambakanna I
2nd-century Sinhalese monarchs