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| Bhuvanaikabahu VI of Kotte | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siri Sanga bo, Tri-Sinhaladīswara (overlord of Three Sinhala), Navaratnādhipathi (Possessor of nine gems)[1] | |||||
| King of Kotte | |||||
| Reign | 1469-1477 | ||||
| Predecessor | Jayabahu II | ||||
| Successor | Parakramabahu VII | ||||
| Chieftain of Jaffna ofKingdom of Kotte | |||||
| Reign | 1450-1467 | ||||
| Predecessor | New office Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan (as king of Jaffna) | ||||
| Successor | office abolished Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan (as king of Jaffna) | ||||
| Spouse | Queen Consort Dhana Manike fromAmbalanthota royal family | ||||
| Issue | Parakramabahu VII | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Siri Sanga Bo | ||||
| Father | King Parakramabahu VI - adopted father Lord Panikal Prathiraja - father | ||||
| Mother | Queen Consort Swarnamanikya Kirawelle - adopted mother Princess Swarnawathi Kirawelle - mother | ||||
| Religion | Theravāda Buddhism | ||||
Bhuvanekabahu VI of Kotte (Sinhala:සපුමල් කුමාරයා,romanized: Sapumal Kumārayā,Tamil:செண்பகப் பெருமாள்,romanized: Ceṇpakap Perumāḷ), also known as Sapumal Kumaraya or Yudistra Darma Dorai and Chempaka Perumal, was an adopted son ofParakramabahu VI. His principal achievement was the conquest ofJaffna Kingdom, a historical kingdom of what today is northernSri Lanka, in 1447 or 1450.[2] Although he was victorious and ruled, he was unable to prevent Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan and his two son's return fromMadurai with mercenaries to wrest the Jaffna Kingdom from Kotte's over lordship.[3][4]Bhuvanaikabahu was apparently summoned south after the demise of his adopted father. He then ruled for 17 years. According toRajavaliya, he killed the grandson of Parakrama Bahu VI, namely Vira Parakrama Bahu or Jaya Bahu (1468 – c. 1470).
Do Couto,[clarification needed] however, who was well-informed, says after a few years' reign Parkramabahu died and his half-witted son was put on the throne by his aunt, who two years later finding herself unable to rule sent for Sapumal Kumaraya from Jaffna.[5][6][7]
There are number of theories as to his ethnic origin and the reason for the rebellion against his rule. According to John Holt, he was an ethnicTamil from the malabar part of the island, whereas other sources say that he may have come from theMalabar region,Tulunadu or theCoromandel Coast.[8]
He has also been identified as adopted byParakramabahu VI after the death of his father Manikka Thalaivan, aKaraiyar chief, who was killed in a battle mentioned in the manuscriptMukkara Hatana.[9][10][11]
He is credited with building theNallur Kandaswamy temple inJaffna as well as other temples and Buddhistvihares in the south. The rebellion against him is seen as a reflection of ethnicSinhalese identity against a perceived outsider.But he won.[6][7][8]
The conquest of the Jaffna kingdom took place in many stages. First, the tributaries to Jaffna in theVanni area, theVanniar chieftains of theVannimai, were neutralised. Two successive invasions followed. The first invasion did not succeed in capturing the kingdom. The second invasion in 1450 eventually did. Apparently connected with this war of conquest was an expedition to Adriampet in modernSouth India, occasioned, according to Valentyn,[clarification needed] by the seizure of a Lankan ship laden withcinnamon. TheTenkasi inscription of Arikesari Parakrama Pandya ofTinnevelly "who saw the backs of kings at Singai, Anurai", and elsewhere, may refer to these wars; it is dated between A.D. 1449–50 and 1453–4.[12]Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan theAryacakravarti king fled to South India with his family. But after Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan and his two son's returned fromMadurai with mercenaries to wrest the Jaffna Kingdom from Kotte's over lordship, Jaffna Kingdom became Independent.[3][4]
This victory seemed to have left a very important impression on theSinhaleseliterati and political leaders.[citation needed] The glory of Sapumal Kumaraya is sung in theKokila Sandesaya (Message carried by Kokila bird), written in the fifteenth century by the Principal Thera of the Irugalkula Tilaka Pirivena inMulgirigala. The book contains a contemporary description of the country traversed on the road by thecookoo bird fromDevi Nuwara (City of Gods) in the south toNallur (Beautiful City) in the north.[13][8]
"Beloved Kokila, wing the way to Yapa Patuna ( or present dayJaffna). Our Prince Sapumal has driven away from there KingArya Chakravarti, and has established himself in war-like might. To him, I offer this message"
"Arya Chakravarti beheld his glory, dazzling as the glory of the sun. He beheld his might which was poised throughout the eighteen ratas. Thereupon grief entered into his heart, he abandoned his realm and fled beyond the sea".
The return of the prince to Kotte was sung by the poet,Sri Rahula Thera of Totagomuva in theSelalihini Sandesaya (Message carried by the Selalihini bird) thus:
"Dear one, behold, here comes Prince Sapumal, the conqueror of Yapa Patuna [Jaffna].[5][14]
He is known asChempaha Perumal as well asAriavettaiadum Perumal inTamil sources.[2]
Although he was victorious and ruled asSrisangabodhi Bhuvanekabhahu, he was unable to prevent Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan and his two son's return fromMadurai with mercenaries to wrest the Jaffna Kingdom from Kotte's over lordship.[3][4]
Sapumal Kumaraya also known as Yudistra Darma Dorai ascended the Kotte throne under the name of Bhuvanaika Bahu VI. (c. A.D. 1472–1480 at least). According toRajaveliya, having heard that Jayabahu (1467-1472 AD) had ascended to the throne, Yudistra arrived from Jaffna, killed Jayabahu, seduced Jayabhu's wife Lavinia and took the throne. An embassy arrived fromPegu for the purpose of obtaining the priestly succession from Lanka in 1476, at a moment when a serious rebellion had broken out. In the chronicles this king is given a reign of seven years from his coronation, but the Dedigama inscription is dated in his ninth year. According to E.W. Codrington, this period was from 1472 to 1480 AD. He was succeeded by his son PanditaParakrama Bahu VII.[5]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Preceded by | Jaffna Kingdom 1450–1467 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Kotte Kingdom 1472–1480 | Succeeded by |
