rajagala and Samangala

Rajagala and Samangala

Most of the information recorded about King Mahanaga who is considered to
be the founder of Rohana Kingdom, is found in Ampara. The Wottaya Kallu stone
inscription of Ampara district mentions King Mahanaga as Viceroy Naga, Malayadikanda
cave inscription as Viceroy and Samangala stone inscription as Gamini Naga. Similarly,
Samangala and Malayadi Kanda stone scription mention about Mahanaga’s dynasty,
namely Gotabhaya, Kawantissa and Saddhatissa. In addition, Karandawela Vihara
inscription which was written after Kawantissa regime mentions Kawantissa as King
Kawantissa and archeologists are of the opinion that the symbol of that inscription was
used by King Kawantissa as his signature. Accordingly since all these places of source
are located within Ampara, what is revealed is that Ampara was used as a centre of
government by the chief rules of Ruhunuudynasty since King Mahanaga.
Mahawansha mentions that King Saddhatissa ruled the area now known as Ampara for a
long time and took great efforts to develop agriculture. Inscriptions in proof of this have
been found in Digamadulla. Among them Samangala cave inscription is the foremost.
According to it, it is clear that the cave has been offered by King Saddhatissa. It mentions
“GAMINI NAGA PUTHA AYA ABHAYA PUTHA AYA TISAHA PUTHA THISA
AYATHE KARITHE .”
So far the history is Ampara is analyzed , Rajagala area is found to be a source of many
valuable historic information. The sentence “YE IMADIYA PATAMAYA IDIYA
AGANNA ITIKA THERA MAHINDA THERA THUBE” is inscribed on a stone slab
which is found near the ruins of a chaitya in this area in Rajagala. Accordingly, this
chaitya is introduced as the dagaba of Ittiya and Mahinda Theras who visited the island
for its wellbeing. This proves the historical record of the Mihindu Thera’s visit to Sri
Lanka, accompanied by Ittiya thera as mentioned in Mahawansa. It also gives evidence to
prove the fact that after the passing away of Arhat Mihindu, dagabas with His relics
embedded, were built all over the country. In addition to this, another stone inscription
discovered from Rajagala, mentions about a lady called Rajitha who is introduced as one
of King Dutugemunu’s queens. This inscription is also of much historical importance.
Similarly, yet another stone inscription has been
discovered from Rajagala which gives information about a marriage connection between
the two families of Nandimithra, giant and King Dutugemunu. When this inscription and
the inscription of Mumunugala are juxtaposed, it provides evidence to prove that the
daughter of King Dutugemunu and the son of Nandimithra were married.

Similarly, according to Dathuwansa King Kawantissa built Seruwila Chaitya and
embedded the Buddha’s relic was found at Kukkutagiri Vihara in Hatthota colony.
Ellawala Medhananda thera brings fourth his opinion that Hatthota colony is
Manthottama in Ampara and Kukkuta Vihara is Kukuluwa Vihara which is presently
situated there. Historical sources say that during the period King Dutugemunu was
getting ready to wage war against King Elara, Velusumana, the giant on his journey from
Magama to Anuradhapura visited Ambarapitisi Piyanganaya and took his midday meal.
Ambarapitisi Piyanganaya mentioned there, may most probably be present Ampara. Facts
are found from Ampara itself that say that after King Saddhatissa, his son King Lajjatissa
also ruled this area. King Lajjatissa’s name is mentioned in the cave inscription set up at
Nuwaragala, Maha Oya in Ampara district, in Ginikurumbara Vihara pillar inscription
and in the stone inscriptions discovered from Rajagala.