Devanampiya Tissa

Devanampiya Tissa was a significant early monarch of Sri Lanka. He ruled from the ancient capital city of Anuradhapura. Historical records offer different timelines for his reign. Traditional chronology places his rule from 307 BC to 267 BC. However, modern scholars like Wilhelm Geiger suggest a modified timeline. They assign his reign from 247 BC to 207 BC.

He was the second son of Mutasiva. The Mahavamsa, an ancient chronicle, describes him as highly intelligent and virtuous. His reign is most famous for introducing Buddhism to the island.

The king maintained a diplomatic relationship with the Mauryan Empire in India. He was friends with the great Emperor Ashoka, also known as Dharmasoka. Interestingly, the two leaders had never actually met in person. They communicated by sending gifts to one another. Ashoka eventually sent news that he had converted to Buddhism. He also invited Tissa to adopt the faith. Tissa did not convert immediately. Instead, he adopted the title Devānaṃpiya, which means "Beloved of the Gods."

A pivotal moment in history occurred near the mountain of Mihintale. The king was out hunting with 40,000 soldiers. During the hunt, he encountered a man named Mahinda. Mahinda was the son of Emperor Ashoka and a Buddhist missionary. The Mahavamsa states the king was initially terrified by the encounter. He even thought Mahinda might be a "yakka," or a demon.

Mahinda explained that he was a disciple of the Buddha. He had traveled from Jambudipa to show compassion to the king.

To confirm the king's suitability for the faith, Mahinda used a test. He asked the king a series of riddles to check his intelligence. This interaction led to the king's formal conversion to Buddhism. Following this, the king requested more support from Ashoka. The Emperor sent his daughter, Sanghamitta, to visit Sri Lanka. She arrived carrying a sacred branch from the original Bo tree.

This branch was planted in the Mahamegha park. It is known today as the Sri Maha Bodhi. It is considered the oldest human-planted tree in the world.

Devanampiya Tissa was a prolific builder of religious and civic structures. He constructed the Thuparamaya, which was the first historical stupa on the island. A stupa is a dome-shaped monument used to enshrine sacred relics. This specific stupa held the right collar bone of the Buddha. He also built the Maha viharaya, a large monastery. Other structures included the Cetiya Viharaya and the Hatthalhaka Viharaya. Some of these buildings served specific groups, such as monks or nuns.

Beyond religious buildings, the king improved the island's infrastructure through irrigation. He constructed a massive reservoir known as Tissa Wewa. This tank covers an area of 550 acres. The embankment of the reservoir is 2 miles long. It also reaches a height of 25 feet. This reservoir remains a vital resource for farmers in Anuradhapura today. His ability to manage water helped support the growing population in the region.

The legacy of Devanampiya Tissa is preserved in several sacred locations. Mihintale remains one of Sri Lanka's most important religious sites. It contains the Ambasthala, or the "Mango tree stupa." It also holds the cave where Mahinda lived for forty years. The Maha Seya is another site containing a relic of the Buddha. These places connect the modern island to its ancient Buddhist roots. His reign established the cultural and religious foundations that shaped Sri Lankan society for centuries.