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46-525: The first kingdom in Rajarata was established by Prince Vijaya in 543 BCE. He settled near the delta of the Malvathu River between Chilaw and Mannar . According o a local myth, Prince Vijaya married a local princess, Kuveni , to gain control of Rajarata. With her help, he betrayed and killed all of the regional leaders. After his death, the administrative center was moved to the countryside along

92-630: A green complexion. Yakshas and their female counterparts are common in the Buddhist literature of Thailand , such as in The Twelve Sisters and Phra Aphai Mani . As ogres , giants, and ogresses, yakshas are present as well in Thai folklore . " ย ยักษ์ " ( yo yak ) is also used as an illustration in order to name the letter ย, the 34th consonant of the Thai alphabet , according to the traditional letter symbols Thai children use to memorise

138-468: A hundred noble maidens, craftsmen, a thousand families from 18 guilds , elephants, horses, wagons and other gifts. The group landed in Lanka at a port known as Mahatittha. Vijaya then asked Kuveni, his Yakkhini consort, to leave the community because his citizens feared supernatural beings like her. He offered her money, asking her to leave their two children behind, but Kuveni brought the children along to

184-487: A kingdom which was named Tambapanni ("copper-red hands"), because the men's hands were coloured by the area's red soil . Members of Vijaya's community were called Sinhala, after Sinhabahu. Vijaya's ministers and other followers established several villages; Upatissa established Upatissagāma on the bank of the Gambhira river, north of Anuradhagama. Vijaya's followers decided to crown him king, but for this he needed

230-837: A large list of yakshas that reside in the classical cities of ancient India who are invoked to seek the protection of the BuddhaDharma: "The deity Krakucchanda resides in Pataliputra . Aparajita resides in Sthuno. The great yaksha Bhadra resides in Saila. The great deity Manava resides in Uttara. The great sage Vajrapani though lives in Rajagrha Often dwells in Mount Grdhrakuta . The deity Garuda resides in

276-508: A letter to Sumitta, but died before receiving a reply. His ministers from Upatissagāma then governed the kingdom for a year while they waited for a reply. In Sinhapura, Sumitta had become king and had three sons. His queen was a daughter of the king of Madda (possibly Madra ). When Vijaya's messengers arrived, Sumitta asked one of his sons to go to Lanka because he was too old; Panduvasdeva , his youngest son, volunteered. Panduvasdeva and 32 sons of Sumitta's ministers reached Lanka, where he became

322-469: A maiden of a noble house as queen. His ministers sent emissaries with gifts to the city of Madhura, which was ruled by a Pandya king. (Madhura is identified with Madurai , a city in Tamil Nadu ). The king agreed to send his daughter as Vijaya's bride, and asked other families to offer their daughters as brides for Vijaya's followers. Several families volunteered, and were rewarded by the king, who sent

368-557: A princess named Mayavati of neighbouring Kalinga (present-day Odisha ). The couple had a daughter, Suppadevi, who was prophesied to mate with the king of beasts. As an adult, Princess Suppadevi left Vanga to seek an independent life. She joined a caravan headed for Magadha , which was attacked by Sinha ("lion") in a forest in the Lala (or Lada) region. The Mahavamsa calls the Sinha a lion; according to some modern interpreters, however, Sinha

414-403: A son named Sinhabahu (or Sihabahu, "lion-armed") and a daughter named Sinhasivali (or Sihasivali). When the children grew up, Sinhabahu asked his mother why she and Sinha looked so different. After she told him about her royal ancestry, he decided to go to Vanga. While Sinha was out, Sinhabahu escaped from the cave with Suppadevi and Sinhasivali. They reached a village, where they met a general of

460-501: Is considered the king of the yakshas and protector of the world ( Lokapāla ). His many epithets extol him as the overlord of numerous semi-divine species and the owner of the treasures of the world. Kubera is often depicted with a plump body, adorned with jewels, carrying a money-pot and a club. His vahana (vehicle) is the mongoose . He is often seen with Lakshmi , the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. In Buddhism, he

506-628: Is equated with Vaiśravaṇa . In Buddhist literature, the yakṣa are the attendants of Vaiśravaṇa , the guardian of the northern quarter, a beneficent god who protects the righteous. The term also refers to the Twelve Heavenly Generals who guard Bhaiṣajyaguru , the Medicine Buddha. The yakshas of many Buddhist stories are ugly ogres, reborn in that form because of sins committed during their past lives as humans. One such malevolent yaksha, Silesaloma, appears in

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552-548: Is generally on the right-hand side of the Jina image while the yakshini is on the left-hand side. They are regarded mainly as devotees of the Jina and have supernatural powers. They are also wandering through the cycles of births and deaths just like the worldly souls, but have supernatural powers. The Harivamsapurana (783 CE) refers to them as Shasandevatas. Initially among the yakshas, Manibhadra and Purnabadra yakshas and Bahuputrika yakshini were popular. The yaksha Manibhadra

598-622: Is worshipped by the Jains affiliated with the Tapa Gachchha. During tenth and thirteenth centuries yaksha Saarvanubhuti, or Sarvahna and yakshinis Chakreshvari , Ambika , Padmavati , and Jwalamalini became so popular that independent temples devoted to them were erected. Yakshas and yakshinis are common among the Murtipujaka Śvētāmbara and Bispanthi Digambara Jains. The Digambara Terapanth movement opposes their worship. Among

644-717: The yakṣa narrator is a romantic figure, pining with love for his missing beloved. By contrast, in the didactic Hindu dialogue of the Yakṣapraśnāḥ "Questions of the Yakṣa ", it is a tutelary spirit of a lake that challenges Yudhiṣṭhira . In Mahavamsa poem of Sri Lanka, a local population is given the term Yakkhas. Prince Vijaya encountered the royalty of the yakkhas' queen, Kuveni , in her capital of Lanka pura and conquered them. Yakshas ( Thai : ยักษ์ , RTGS :  Yak ) are an important element in Thai temple art and architecture . They are common as guardians of

690-696: The Jataka tales of the Pali Buddhist canon. In the story "Prince Five-Weapons and the Sticky-Haired Demon", Silesaloma is described as being the height of a palm tree, with sharp teeth and two yellow tusks, and a coat of thick, matted fur. A bodhisattva named Prince Panchayudha (Five-Weapons) attempted to kill Silesaloma, but all his attacks, from both his weapons and his bare hands, were thwarted by Silesaloma's sticky hair. Ultimately, Prince Panchayudha impressed Silesaloma with his bravery, and

736-551: The Pulindas of India). Vijaya was crowned king. The Pandya king's daughter became his queen, and other women were married to his followers according to their rank. Vijaya bestowed gifts on his ministers and his father-in-law; he abandoned his evil ways, and ruled Lanka in peace and justice. Vijaya had no other children after Kuveni left. Concerned in old age that he would die without an heir, he decided to bring his twin brother Sumitta from India to govern his kingdom. Vijaya sent

782-685: The Lala kingdom with present-day Gujarat place it in present-day Sihor . Another theory identifies it with the village of Singupuram , near Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh . It has also been placed in present-day Thailand or on the Malay Peninsula . Vijaya was made the prince regent by his father, but he and his band of followers became notorious for their violent deeds. After their repeated complaints failed to stop him, prominent citizens demanded that Vijaya be put to death. King Sinhabahu then expelled Vijaya and his 700 followers from

828-590: The Magha's administration at Pollonnaruwa. The Sinhalese gathered around inaccessible towns, fortresses and mountains including Yapahuwa and Gangadoni under army generals including Subha and Sankha. Because of the rising threat, Pandyan troops established an administration centre in Jaffna Peninsula which was more secure and isolated by the impenetrable Vanni forest. Later Rajarata was annexed by king Parakramabahu II(1236–70). His power extended over Rohana,

874-721: The Malvathu Oya. The river was ideal for agriculture. The first three administrative centres Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, and Anuradhapura, were situated close to the Malvathu Oya. King Pandukabhaya , once a prince descended from local Yaksha and Sinha tribes, formed a stable kingdom in Anuradhapura. He garnered support from tribes in different areas of the island. Administrative centres in Rajarata: Prince Vijaya and his clan settled in Tambapanni, near

920-890: The Malvatu Oya delta. According to Mahavamsa , various groups came from India in the period between Prince Vijaya and King Pandukabhaya's reign, frequently settling along the Malvathu Oya. In 377 BCE, King Pandukabhaya moved the administrative centre to Anuradhapura . Most of the settlements were located near rivers and reservoirs. Water was used for agricultural purposes. According to the Yodha wewa area in Mannar District by King Dhatusena, Eropathana in Vavuniya District , Padawiya area in Anuradhapura District and Mullaitivu District by King Moggallana II

966-541: The Murtipujaka Śvētāmbaras, the Tristutik Gaccha sect (both historical founded by Silagana and Devabhadra, and the modern sect organised by Rajendrasuri ) object to the worship of shruta-devatas. In Jainism, there are twenty-four yakshas and twenty-four yakshis that serve as śāsanadevatās for the twenty-four tirthankaras: These yakshas are as follows: In Kālidāsa 's poem Meghadūta , for instance,

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1012-551: The Vanga Kingdom. The general was a cousin of Suppadevi, and later married her. Sinha began ravaging villages to find his missing family. The king of Vanga announced a reward to anyone who could kill Sinha, and Sinhabahu killed his father to claim the reward. By the time Sinhabahu returned to the capital, the king of Vanga was dead. Sinhabahu was crowned the new king, but later passed the kingship to his mother's husband (the general). Returning to his birthplace in Lala, he founded

1058-1078: The Vipula mountain. Citragupta resides in Citemukha. The yaksha Vakula resides in Rajagrha. ... The yaksha king Mahagiri resides in Girinagara. The yaksha Vasava resides in Vaidisa . The yaksha Karttikeya resides in Rohitaka . This yaksha Kumara is renowned in the great city. ... Vaisravana who resides in the city Alakavati, Located along the jewelled stairway of the Buddha's descent, Is surrounded by billions of gods and goddesses. Such yakshas command huge and powerful contingents of troops To subjugate adversaries and enemies, Conquering all. They are famous throughout all directions. Imbued with great dignity and virtue, They come to aid In

1104-632: The Yakkha city of Lankapura. She asked her children to remain behind as she entered the city, where other Yakkhas saw her as a traitor; suspected of spying, she was killed by a Yakkha. On the advice of her maternal uncle, the children fled to Sumanakuta (identified with Adam's Peak ). In the Malaya region of Lanka, they married and began the Pulinda race (identified with the Vedda people, not to be confused with

1150-576: The battles between the heavens and asuras. These deities of virtues and great yaksha generals are located everywhere in Jambudvipa . They uphold and protect the Buddhadharma, generating compassion." Jains mainly maintain cult images of Arihants and Tirthankaras , who have conquered the inner passions and attained moksha. Yakshas and yakshinis are found in pair around the cult images of Jinas, serving as guardian deities. The yaksha

1196-695: The central hills, Rajarata and the Vanni. The Sinhalese tried to re-establish the administrative centre in Rajarata but this never happened because of constant battles with invaders from south India. The administration centre was moved away from Rajarata by the Sinhalese. The defeat of Pandyan in South India in the rising Mogul empires weakened the Tamil power in Sri Lanka. The last Pandyan ruler of Madurai,

1242-515: The city of Sinhapura (or Sihapura). Sinhabahu married his sister, Sinhasivali, and they had 32 sons (16 pairs of twins). Vijaya Singha ("the greatly victorious") was their eldest son, followed by his twin Sumitta. The location of Sinhapura is uncertain. It has been identified with Singur, West Bengal (in the Rada, or Rarh, region) or Singhpur, near Jajpur ( Sinhapura, Odisha ). Those who identify

1288-614: The early Hindu people of India. Yaksha worship coexisted with the priest-conducted sacrifices of the Vedic period. They were later viewed as the steward deities of the earth and the wealth buried beneath. In early Indian art, male yakṣas are portrayed either as fearsome warriors or as portly, stout and dwarf-like . Yakṣiṇī s are portrayed as beautiful young women with happy round faces and full breasts and hips. In Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Religion, Kubera , wealth and prosperity,

1334-472: The extent of Sri Lanka's golden civilization spread to the southern boundary of the Vanni forest . The thick Vanni forest acted as a barrier to colonizers above the southern border of the forest. Tanks built during the Anuradhapura era (Giant's, Padaviya, Minneriya, Kantale, Mahavillachchiya, Thabbowa, Kala) are proof of the early settlements in Rajarata area. Initial settlements based near rivers: Boundaries of

1380-494: The first known monumental stone sculptures in India. Two of these monumental yakshas are known from Patna , one from Vidisha and one from Parkham , as well as one yakshini from Vidisha. The yakṣas may have originally been the tutelary deity of a city, district, lake, or well. Their worship, together with popular belief in nagas (serpent deities), feminine fertility deities, and mother goddesses, may have had its origin among

1426-569: The form of a dog. One of the followers thought that a dog indicated habitation, and followed her. After some time, he saw a Yakkhini named Kuveni (or Kuvanna) who was spinning thread . Kuveni tried to devour him, but Vijaya's magical thread protected him. Unable to kill him, Kuveni hurled the follower into a chasm ; she then did the same thing to all 700 followers. Vijaya went to Kuveni's place, looking for his men; he overpowered her, and forced her to free them. Kuveni asked Vijaya to spare her life, swearing loyalty to him. She brought food and goods from

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1472-521: The gates in Buddhist temples throughout the country since at least the 14th century. Ceramic sculptures of guardian yakshas were produced in Thailand , during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods , between the 14th and 16th centuries, at several kiln complexes in northern Thailand . They are mostly depicted with a characteristic face, having big round bulging eyes and protruding fangs , as well as

1518-403: The guardianship of Lanka to the lotus-coloured god ( Upulvan ), who came to Lanka in the guise of an ascetic to protect Vijaya. Wilhelm Geiger identifies the lotus-coloured god as Vishnu ; uppala is the blue lotus . Senarath Paranavithana identifies him with Varuna . Vijaya tied a protective ( paritta ) thread on the hands of his followers. Later, a Yakkhini appeared before them in

1564-495: The kingdom. The men's heads were half-shaved, and they were put on a ship that set out to sea. The wives and children of the 700 men were sent on separate ships. Vijaya and his followers landed at a place called Supparaka; the women landed at a place called Mahiladipaka, and the children landed at a place called Naggadipa. Vijaya's ship later reached Lanka, in the area known as Tambapanni , on the day that Gautama Buddha died in northern India. Those who think that Vijaya set out from

1610-591: The legend as fiction aimed at justifying Sinhalese territorial claims in Sri Lanka. Yaksha The Yakshas ( Sanskrit : यक्ष , IAST : Yakṣa , Pali : Yakkha ) are a broad class of nature spirits , usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in Hindu , Jain and Buddhist texts , as well as ancient and medieval era temples of South Asia and Southeast Asia as guardian deities. The feminine form of

1656-525: The new ruler. In Sri Lanka, the legend of Vijaya is political rhetoric used to explain the origin and genetics of the Sinhalese; it is often treated as an account of historical events. Sinhalese scholars such as K. M. de Silva have used the legend to confirm the Indo-Aryan origin of the Sinhalese, distinguishing them from the Dravidians ; Tamil authors such as Satchi Ponnambalam have dismissed

1702-485: The region. Four versions of the legend explain the origin of the Sinhalese people. In all the versions, a prince comes to the island of Lanka and establishes a community which gives rise to the Sinhalese people. The Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa identify the prince as Vijaya, and the other two legends have different names for the prince. According to the Mahāvaṃsa , the king of Vanga (the historical Bengal region) married

1748-523: The ships of the traders she had devoured for Vijaya and his followers, and Vijaya took her as his consort. Vijaya woke up to the sounds of music and singing. Kuveni told him that the island was home to Yakkhas, who would kill her for sheltering Vijaya's men, and the sound was from wedding festivities in the Yakkha city of Sirisavatthu. With Kuveni's help, Vijaya defeated the Yakkhas. Vijaya and Kuveni had two children: Jivahatta and Disala. Vijaya established

1794-642: The three divisions (Rata): In 1215, Kalinga Magha invaded Rajarata with an army of 24,000 soldiers . After the conquest of Rajarata, Magha established his capital in Pollonnaruwa. Then the Kalinga forces extended their power to the Malaya Rata. During the rise of the Kingdom of Dambadeniya under the king Vijayabahu III (1220-1224 CE), Magha lost the control of Malaya Rata. The native Sinhalese resisted

1840-680: The west coast of India (Sinhapura was in Gujarat) identify present-day Sopara as the location of Supparaka. Those who think that Sinhapura was in the Vanga-Kalinga region identify it with locations off the east coast of India; S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar speculates that Supparaka might have been Sumatra . According to the Mahavamsa , Gautama Buddha asked the lord of gods (identified as Indra ) before he attained Nirvana to protect Vijaya in Lanka so Buddhism could flourish there. Indra gave

1886-518: The wilderness and waylays and devours travellers, similar to the rakṣasas . Yakshas appear in Hindu , Jain and Buddhist texts. Several monumental yakshas are known from the time of the Maurya Empire period. They are variously dated from around the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century BCE. These statues are monumental (usually around 2 metres tall), and often bear inscriptions related to their identification as yakshas. They are considered as

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1932-399: The word is IAST : Yakṣī or Yakshini ( Sanskrit : यक्षिणी , IAST : Yakṣiṇī ; Pali : Yakkhini ). In Hindu, Jain and Buddhist texts, the yakṣa s have a dual personality. On the one hand, a yakṣa may be an inoffensive nature- fairy , associated with woods and mountains; but there is also a darker version of the yakṣa , which is a kind of ( bhuta ) that haunts

1978-472: The yaksha decided to let him go. Panchayudha explained that Silesaloma's monstrous state was caused by wicked deeds from his past lives, and he taught the yaksha the five precepts , after which Silesaloma renounced violence and transformed into a friendly forest spirit. The Mahāmāyūrīvidyārājñī Sūtra, a text that dates back to fourth century or earlier (translated from the Sanskrit by Kumarajiva ), gives

2024-401: Was a beastly outlaw human living in the jungle. Lala is identified as Bengal's Rarh region (part of the present-day Indian state of West Bengal ) or Lata , part of present-day Gujarat . Suppadevi fled from the attack, but encountered Sinha again. Sinha was attracted to her and she caressed him, mindful of the prophecy. He kept Suppadevi in captivity in a cave, and they had two children:

2070-505: Was defeated and expelled in 1323 by Malik Kafur , the army general of the Muslim empire Delhi Sultanate . The falling of Pandyan was a historical event that had a big impact for Sri Lanka. It leads to following events: Also, ancient Rajarata (before the 13th century) was divided into three parts: Prince Vijaya Prince Vijaya (c. 543–505 BCE) was a legendary king of Tambapanni , based in modern day Sri Lanka . His reign

2116-485: Was first mentioned in Mahāvaṃsa . He is said to have came to Sri Lanka with seven hundred followers after being banished from Sinhapura . However, there is no archaeological evidence of this. After arriving on the island, Vijaya and his settlers defeated a yaksha near "Thammena" ( Tambapaṇṇī ) displacing the inhabitants. Eventually Vijaya's married Kuveni , a daughter of a yaksha leader legitimizing Vijaya’s rule over

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