King Devanampiyatissa:

The architect of Buddhist revival

by Rupa Banduwardena

Sri Lanka owes much to King Devanampiyatissa. It was during his reign that the event of most profound significance and lasting influence on the people took place. True to his name – meaning “Friend of the gods” we gave Sri Lanka a new phase special unity it had never known before. He had a peaceful reign unsurpassed in ancient times.

He was a grandson of King Pandukabhaya who made Anuradhapura the capital which was later glorified and beautiful by him. Anuradhapura became known as Atamasthana following the most celebrated religious events. And it is with him that a continuous history of the island began. Even though the Buddha had visited the island on several occasions with the passage of time the sanctity and serenity that prevailed had disappeared until it was renewed by Mahinda.

The advent of Arahat Mahinda

Hence it had to be started afresh in Sinhala deepa, during Devanampiyatissa era. It was the biggest fortune that he could ever possess.

History records that when Sakra the chief of gods visited the Buddha prior to his Parinibbana, he had requested God Sakra to safeguard the future Dharmadweepa. The prediction became a reality during Devanampiyatissa's reign. This is clearly stated in Maha Parinibbana Sutra referring to Vijaya episode too which coincided with the Parinibbana of the Buddha. Hence the Buddha himself had confirmed the island as a safe haven for Buddhism which was welcomed and propagated by Devanampiyatissa.

Before the advent of the greatest gift to this land the miraculous events that took place are really amazing. Certain wonders are mentioned in the chronicles as incidents dawned to mark the greatest event to take place during his reign. In addition to miracles as dumb being able to speak and blind being able to see, jewels and precious gems such as sapphires and rubies had emerged from the earth. Jewels which had been in wrecked ships in the vicinity had come to the surface. So were the eight kinds of pearls. It is said that these wonders came to pass during his consecration.

Lanka's links with India are known to date back to the Buddhist era. Later when Emperor Asoka's Mission to propagate Dhamma at the conclusion of the third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra Lanka was the first place to attract his attention. The two kings had developed a very special friendship a very intimate one. When the above miraculous treasures appeared he sent them as gifts to Dhammasoka who in turn had gifted some useful paraphanalia used when kings were consecrated requesting him to hold a second consecration ceremony.

He did not stop at this. He went further and promised to send his son Mahinda to preach the doctrine of the Buddha to Devanampiyatissa. Arahat Mahinda alighted on Missaka Pawwa while the king was in a hunting spree.

The Thera wished to test the king's intelligence and asked him a few questions. Greatly impressed by the intellectual conversation that followed the king embraced the new faith proclaiming that from now on it would be the religion of the land. Thera's first sermon was Chullahattipadoma Sutta the gem of truth embodied in the teachings of the Buddha. The king was converted to Buddhism. The people followed his example and Lanka became a Dharmadweepa creating a golden era unparalleled in the annals of the country.

Many entered the Bhikkhu order Queen Anula with 500 of her retinue appealed to Arahat Mahinda to grant them ordination. As Bhikkhus were not permitted to ordain females, Theri Sangamitta was invited to inaugurate the Bhikkhuni order turning a new chapter in the Buddha Sasana.

When she arrived she brought with her the southern branch of the Sacred Bo Tree where Buddha had attained Enlightenment. According to the Mahavamsa, Dharmasoka had stood on the shore gazing at the ship sailing far and later returned to the island weeping and shedding tears. Lucien de Zoysa in his “stones from the Mahavamsa” gives a vivid discription. He says, in anticipation of the arrival of the sacred Bo sapling King Devanampiyatissa had the entire length and breadth of roadway from Anuradhapura to Mantota the landing place spotlessly cleaned and gaily decorated. When the ship was sighted the king had waded into the sea neck deep and had requested the golden pot bearing the sapling to be placed on his head. Later it was conducted in a royal procession to Anuradhapura and finally the planting ceremony was held at Mahameghavanna gardens, where it now stands revered by all.

Buddhism spread rapidly and it took firm root in the island, during his reign. It was he who started the tradition of building spacious vitenas for the monks, statues of the Buddha and callosal dagobas enshrining Buddhist relics. Earliest of what he built was the Ambantale Dagoba to mark the spot where he was converted to Buddhism.

It was later renamed Mihindu-Tale and the entire area was preserved as the sacred city. He is said to have built a monastery for the Bhikkhus. Among other smaller dagobas, at the foot of the mountain he is said to have built a large hospital and a library, supporting their activities.

Donation

Later the king donated the Mahameghavanna gardens at Anuradhapura to Arahat Mahinda which later became Mahavihara the centre of Theravada doctrine. Later the entire capital reflected how art and architecture flourished with the development of Buddhism.

According to chronicles, the Alms Bowl, Collar bone and other relics of the Buddha were brought from India during his reign and these were enshrined in various stupas.

The Thuparama built by the king is said to contain the collar bone of the Buddha, and it was the most exquisite dagoba the Buddha's alms bowl was also enshrined in the Thuparama Dagoba . Every subsequent king followed his example and soon the island came to be dotted with sacred dagobas.

At the same time Buddhism brought the island into contact with the cultural developments in India, along with the spiritual message. The introduction of Buddhism during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa is therefore an event of great historical importance the king “the beloved of gods” reigned from 247 BC to 207 BC.