Sirimeghavanna, also known as Kirthi Sri Meghavarna and Kithsirimevan was King of
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...
in the 4th century. According to the
traditional chronology, he ruled during 304–332 CE; the modified chronology adopted by modern scholars such as
Wilhelm Geiger
Wilhelm Ludwig Geiger (; ; 21 July 1856 – 2 September 1943) was a German Orientalist in the fields of Indo-Iranian languages and the history of Iran and Sri Lanka. He was known as a specialist in Pali, Sinhala language and the Dhivehi language ...
assigns his reign to 352–379 CE.
He succeeded his father
Mahasena as
King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother
Jettha Tissa II.
After the death of King Mahasen, his son Siri Meghavanna came to power. He gathered
Mahavihara bhikkus and asked them how he could rectify the damage caused by his father. Mahavihara bhikkus stated that Mahavihara and magnificent Lowa Maha Paaya were destroyed during his father's time. King Siri Meghavanna restored Mahavihara and Lowa Maha Paaya. He made a statue of Mahinda Thera and placed it in Mihintale.
Importance
The sacred
relic of the tooth of the Buddha
The relic of the tooth of Buddha (Pali ''danta dhātuya'') is venerated in Sri Lanka as a sacred cetiya relic of Lord Buddha, who is the founder of Buddhism, the fourth largest religion worldwide.
History The relic in India
According to Sri Lanka ...
was brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of this king
who welcomed it with great respect, ushered them to his capital and enshrined it in ''Meghagiri Viharaya'', presently known as
Isurumuniya
Isurumuniya is a Buddhist temple situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa tank) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family.
Histor ...
in Anuradhapura. In order to honor the sacred tooth relic, an annual procession called ''dalada perahera'' begins from the era of this king.
Another creation of Siri Meghavanna is Egoda Kelaniya (එගොඩ කැලණිය) temple (Kithsiri Mewan Rajamaha Viharaya). The stupa enshrines Lord Buddha's Jalasatika Dhatu (ජලසාටිකා ධාතූන් වහන්සේ - නානකඩය) the bathing sarong. It is believed that the stupa surface is amazingly wet at all times of the year. There is a siripathula (සිරිපතුල) near this stupa, and if one visits the place do not miss to worship the siripathula also. The bodhi tree at this place is a wel-bodhi (වැල් බෝධී) and it is also believed that meditation gives very good results near it.
In popular culture
In the 2014 Sinhala film ''
Siri Daladagamanaya
''Siri Daladagamanaya'' ( si, සිරි දළදාගමනය, italic=yes) is a 2014 Sri Lankan Sinhalese epic historical film directed by Sanath Abeysekara and produced by Soma Edirisinghe for EAP Films. Starring Prasadi Samarakone and H ...
'', the role of Sirimeghavanna is played by Udara Rathnayake.
See also
*
List of Sinhalese monarchs
The Sinhalese monarch -- anachronistically referred to as the Kings of Sri Lanka—featured the heads of state of the Sinhala Kingdoms, in what is today Sri Lanka.
The Sinhalese monarchy originates in the settlement of North Indian Indo-A ...
*
History of Sri Lanka
The history of Sri Lanka is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia, Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean.
The early human remains found on the island of Sri ...
References
External links
Kings & Rulers of Sri LankaCodrington's Short History of Ceylon
Monarchs of Anuradhapura
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