Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
The services rendered by King Mahasen
1. King Mahasen changed his ways for the better. He returned to the general policy of patronizing religion and observing all religious customs and manners. At this time, to the south of the city of Anuradhapura there was a shrine, where a bikkhu named Tissa lived. He became friends with the king and requested the king to build a temple there. The king got the temple built, thinking that now he would be able to win the hearts of the people.

2. When the king looked for a suitable site for this temple, he selected a forest named 'Jothiya', which formed the boundary of Mahavihara. He never thought it would lead to a dispute. The temple was built and it was named 'Jetavana Vihara'. Meanwhile, the monk Tissa, tried to alter the boundary of the temple. The monks of Mahavihara were disturbed over this. They said they would not approve of any such alteration.

3. Reverend Tissa, quite unconcerned, went ahead with the alteration. The monks of Mahavihara who were dead against this change, left the city of Anuradhapura in protest. Once again, Mahavihara was deserted. But there were a few monks living in and around the border. They were there to watch the interest of the monk Tissa. For nine long months, the monks of Mahavihara lived out. The ministers who heard about this, quickly met the monks of Mahavihara and pleaded with them to return.

4. Rev. Tissa did not approve of the actions of the ministers. King Mahasen remained quiet and impartial. Recollecting the bad memories of the past, he thought it best, not to interfere. So he allowed the ministers to do what they thought was fit. Meanwhile, the monks of Mahavihara made a complaint to the effect that Rev. Tissa was acting against the rules of 'Vinaya' - the code of rules for the monks. The king appointed a minister to inquire into this. The minister held an inquiry.

5. Rev. Tissa was proved guilty and was asked to derobe. The king did not agree to this punishment. But he thought it wrong to interfere in any way. Rev. Tissa who did not want to obey the minister, did not derobe. The minister concerned got angry and tried to forcibly derobe him. He succeeded. This settled matters to a great extent. But the monks of the three main temples were divided.

6. This brought about the three sects or 'Nikayas'. They were the Mahavihara sect, Abhayagiri sect and the Jetavana sect. All three sects carried on all the religious activities and the king saw to it that he patronized all three sects. He listened to the advice of the monks of all three temples. The king attended to the reconstruction work of whatever temple that needed repair.

7. King Mahasen built a number of temples. Among them come Minneriya Vihara, Gokanna Vihara, Etakapilla Vihara and Kalandaka Vihara. He built a number of other temples too. The 'devale' built by King Pandukabhaya to honour Yakkha Kalavela was extended by King Mahasen, by building a stupa there.

8. King Mahasen occupied an important place in history, as the king who built 16 tanks. Some of the more important ones are Minneriya, Jallura, Baminiya, Kokavana, Monara, Paraka, Kumbalaka, Mahadaragal and Magal tanks.

Back to Mirror Magazine