King Mahasen

by Husna Inayathullah

Mahasen was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled the country from 275 - 301 AD. He started the construction of large tanks or reservoirs in Sri Lanka. He built 16 tanks. After becoming king, Mahasen discriminated against Theravada Buddhists in the country and destroyed several temples including Mahavihara, the main Theravada temple, before his chief led him to realise his mistakes. The Jethavana stupa was built by Mahasen. His countrymen regarded him as a god or deity after the construction of the Minneriya tank and he was named Minneri Deviyo (God of Minneriya)

Mahasen was the younger son of King Gotabaya who ruled the country from 253 to 266. His elder brother and predecessor to the throne was King Jetthatissa who was the king from 266 to 275. Mahasen and Jetthatissa were educated by a Bhikkhu named Sanghamitta who was a follower of the Vaitulya doctrine.

Mahasen also became a follower of the doctrine which was associated with Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism was traditionally the official religion of the country. However, when

Mahasen ascended the throne, he ordered the Bhikkhus of Mahavihara, the largest Theravada temple in the country, to accept Mahayana teachings. When they refused, Mahasen prohibited his countrymen from providing food to the Theravada Bhikkhus and set up a fine for any violation. As a result, the Bhikkhus abandoned Anuradhapura and went to Ruhuna in the South of the country.

Mahasen demolished the Mahavihara and the materials obtained from there were used for building the Jethavanarama. Lovamahapaya, which belonged to the Mahavihara was also demolished. After this incident, the king's chief minister and friend, Meghavannabaya, rebelled and raised an army in Ruhuna against him. The king came with his army to defeat Meghavannabaya. On the night before the battle was to be fought, Meghavannabaya managed to enter Mahasen's camp and convinced him to stop the violence against Theravada Buddhists.

Mahasen agreed to stop the violence and made peace with Meghavannabaya and later rebuilt the Mahavihara. The Jethavana stupa was built by Mahasen in the land belonging to Mahavihara. This is the highest stupa in Sri Lanka and is among the tallest in the world. It is also the largest brick building ever built.

The Mahavamsa states that Mahasen constructed 16 large tanks and two irrigation canals. The largest among them is the Minneriya tank which covers an area of 4,670 acres (18.9 km2). The tank has a circumference of 21 miles (34 km), and its 44-foot (13 m) high bund is 1.25 miles (2.01 km) long. The Minneriya tank provides water for a large area and its water is supplied by the Elahara canal.

Minneriya, Mahagama, Challura, Khanu, Mahamani, Kokavata, Dhammarama, Kumbalaka, Vahana, Ratmalakandaka (Padaviya), Tissavadamanaka (Kawudulla), Velangavitthi, Mahagallaka, Cira, Mahadaragallaka (Nachchaduwa) and Kalapasana are the 16 tanks built by Mahasen according to chronicles. Mahasen also built the Pabbathantha ela, and also completed the Elahara ela, which was started by King Wasabha.

During Mahasen's anti-Theravada campaign, his countrymen turned against him and the opposition even led to rebellions against him. Even the Commander of his army Meghavarnabaya turned against him. These led to the killing of several royal officials, including the Bhikkhu Sanghamitta, the teacher of the king who led him to the campaign.

However, after Mahasen rebuilt the Mahavihara and constructed and repaired several tanks to improve agriculture, the people's opposition towards him subsided. After his death, a shrine was built for him near the Minneriya reservoir, the remains of which can be seen to this day. Mahasen died in 301, and with his death, the Mahavamsa written by Bhikkhu Mahanama also ended.