Home: The Mahavamsa

history of sri lanka, the mahavamsa

The Mahavamsa "The Great Chronicle" otherwise known as "The Great Dynasty" is the single most important work of Lankan origin (written in Pali language). It describes the life and times of the people who forged our nation, from the coming of Vijaya in 543 BCE to the reign of King Mahasena (334 – 361) (6th Century BC to 4th Century AD). A companion volume, the Culavamsa or Choolavansha ("lesser chronicle"), covers the period from the 4th century to the British takeover of Sri Lanka in 1815.

The Mahavamsa itself is actually comprised of three parts, all written at different times in Lankan history. The combined work, sometimes collectively referred to as the "Mahavamsa" or "Mahawansha", provides a continuous historical record of over two millennia and can be considered as the world’s longest unbroken historic record. Continue..

Cingalese history is authenticated by the concurrence of every evidence that can contribute to verify the annals of any country - "Ceylon" Pearl of the East by Harry Williams

Introduction to George Turnour’s edition of the Mahavamsa

In the year 1826 an Englishman, the Hon. George Turnour sat in his office in the Kachcheri buildings at Ratnapura in the Saffragam Province of Ceylon. Those were the days of Empire, full-blooded and confident. The Colonial Service, in particular, was attracting men of culture and high feeling, for whom the betterment of mankind in general, and not personal prosperity, was the principal objective. George Turnour was one of these men, and history has shown him scant recognition, for his contribution to a fuller knowledge of the past must be considered unique.

The documents which lay on the desk before him that morning were not connected with his routine duties as Government Agent of the Province. They afforded the key, if a scholar could be found to decipher them, to such fabulous historic riches that the mere sight of them filled Turnour with excitement. He resolved to dedicate his own life to the task of solving the problem. Read Full Story..

 

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The Six Kings – Culavamsa Chapter 37

So after the Ruler Mahasena[1] had in consequence of his association with impious people, done good and evil all his life, he went according to his doing Continue Reading »

  1. There is not the slightest doubt that with v. 51 the work of the continuator of the old Mahavamsa begins. We must assume that originally an ornate strophe followed 37, 50 as conclusion of Mahanama’s work. The continuator like his successors (cf. 79. 84; 90. 102), veiled the gap. The content of the lost strophe is apparent from v. 51-52, as also from the last verse of the Dipavamsa (22. 76), which Dhammakitti seems to have taken as his starting-point. -1 [^]

Constructions of King Mahasen

Kaudulla Reservoir: (Tissavaddhamanaka of Mahavamsa)

Kaudulla has a bund of 120 ft wide at the base extending to a greater height than the bund of Minneriya. Height of the bund of this reservoir is measured to be 50 ft. In 1680 AD, an Englishman named Mr. Pybus had written that this reservoir was in working order. Continue Reading »

King Mahasen (275 AD – 301 AD)

After Mahasen was consecrated, his mentor Mahayana bhikku Sanghamittha came back to the city. Bhikku Sanghamittha convinced King Mahasen that Mahavihara bhikkus were not teaching real Vinaya (Disciplinary Code of Buddhism). Continue Reading »

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