Vikkama Pandu
| Vikkama Pandu | |
|---|---|
| King of Anuradhapura | |
| Reign | 1042–1043 |
| Predecessor | Mahālāna-Kitti |
| Successor | Jagatipala |
| Died | 1043 |
| Issue | |
| Father | Mahālāna-Kitti |
Vikkama Pandu (Sinhala: වික්කමපාණ්ඩු), (d. 1043) also known as or Vikrama Pandita was King of Anuradhapura from 1042 to 1043.[1][2] He reigned primarily from Rohana as the capital of the Anuradhapura kingdom was under attack from the Chola Empire and Rohana functioned as the base for the Sinhalese resistance.[3] The son of Mahālāna-Kitti, he lived in exile in Duludesa, likely located in South India, during the Chola occupation, when upon learning of the events in Sri Lanka, he returned to Rohaṇa to carry on the resistance after his fathers death. Vikkama Pandu ruled from Kālatittha, situated at the western edge of the Rohana. This decision appears to have been motivated more by considerations of personal security than by administrative effectiveness, as Kālatittha lay farther from the principal Chola centers of power.
Ruling primarily from Kālatittha on the western edge of Rohaṇa, Vikkama Pandu chose this location likely for personal safety, as it was farther from the core Chola strongholds, rather than for administrative efficiency.[3] His brief reign occurred during Rohana's "dark decade," a period marked by internal division and turmoil. After the end of the legitimate Sinhalese royal line with the death of Kassapa VI, local forces accepted leaders of Pandya or North Indian origin to fight Cola dominance.[3] Historical accounts differ on his time in power, the Cūlavaṃsa states he ruled for one year, while the Rājāvaliya credits him with a three-year reign.[4][2] Vikkamapandu was ultimately killed in battle by his successor, Jagatipala.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ↑ De Silva 2005, p. 741.
- 1 2 Gunasekara 1995, p. 59.
- 1 2 3 Weerasooriya 2026.
- ↑ Geiger 1953, p. 191.
- ↑ Malalasekera 2026.
Bibliography
[edit]- Web
- Malalasekera, G.P. "Pāli Proper Names — V". www.aimwell.org. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- Weerasooriya, Nishan. "King Vickrama Pandita [1042-1043 CE]". AmazingLanka.com. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- Books
- Dhammakitti (1953). German trans. - Geiger, Wilhelm; English trans. - Rickmers, C. Mabel (née Duff) (eds.). Cūlavamsa: Being the More Recent Part of the Mahāvamsa, Part 1 (PDF). Colombo: Ceylon Government Information Department.
- Gunasekara, B., ed. (1995). Rajavaliya, Or, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings from Vijaya to Vimaladharmasuriya ΙΙ. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.
- De Silva, K. M. (2005). A history of Sri Lanka ([Revised.] ed.). Delhi: Vijitha Yapa Publications. ISBN 9558095923.
External links
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