Mahinda IV of Anuradhapura

Mahinda IV also known as Mihindu IV (Sinhala: හතරවන මහින්ද / මිහිඳු ( 956–972 CE) was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka. He was one of the later kings of the Lambakanna II dynasty and is mainly known from a large number of inscriptions found in different parts of the country.

His reign is especially important because his inscriptions give detailed information about Buddhist monasteries, land, taxes, workers, money, irrigation works and the administration of religious institutions. His father was Udaya III, and his mother was Queen Deva. His maternal grandfather was Kassapa IV.

During his reign, there were invasions from south India and he successfully defeated them. According to the chronicles, an invader named Vallabha invaded the north of Sri Lanka and was defeated by a Sinhalese general, Sena. According to south Indian chola Inscriptions, a general named Sriyavelar died in a battle in Sri Lanka.

Reign

Mahinda IV succeeded Sena IV and was succeeded by Sena V. His reign is generally dated to about 956–972 CE, although the exact chronology of the later Anuradhapura kings has been debated by historians. His inscriptions give secure regnal dates, including records from his tenth and sixteenth regnal years.

Mahinda IV had held important positions before becoming king. The Mihintale inscription describes him as having held the titles of Apa and Mahaya before he became ruler.

The Mihintale inscriptions are among the most important records from his reign. They contain detailed rules for the monastery and its workers and describe the handling of income and expenditure. The inscriptions also show that the king worked with the monastic community when establishing these regulations.

Mahinda IV was also involved in the repair and construction of Buddhist buildings. The Dambegoda pillar inscription, dated to his tenth regnal year, records the construction of the Magul Maha Pirivena and the giving of the four basic requirements to monks. It also mentions Buddha images, a relic house and other religious works.

The same inscription mentions several important Buddhist establishments, including the Mahavihara, Mahapaya, Ruwanwelisaya, Mahiyangana, Polonnaruwa and Thuparamaya. This shows the wide area of royal patronage during his reign.

The Dambegoda pillar inscription also records the restoration of ruined reservoirs. The inscription says that the restored water facilities helped to reduce famine in Sri Lanka. This is the claim made by the inscription, and the exact size of the famine is not known from other evidence.

The Mahavamsa gives the victory to General Sena rather than to Mahinda IV personally. The exact identity of Vallabha has been debated. Some older historians connected him with the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III, while other scholars accepted the Chola identification given by the chronicle.

There is also South Indian evidence for fighting between the Cholas and Sri Lanka during this period. An inscription records the death of the Chola officer Sriyavelar in Sri Lanka during the reign of Sundara Chola (Parantaka II).

This evidence shows that Chola military activity took place in Sri Lanka during the period, but it is not certain that the Sriyavelar episode was the same war mentioned in the Mahavamsa.

Inscriptions

A large number of inscriptions are connected with the reign of Mahinda IV. Important examples include the Mihintale inscriptions, the Dambegoda pillar inscription, the Anuradhapura slab inscription and inscriptions from Jetavanaramaya, Vessagiriya, Divurumvela and Polonnaruwa.

The Mihintale inscriptions are particularly valuable because they give detailed information about the administration of a Buddhist monastery. They mention monks, officials, servants, income, expenditure and monastery property.

The exact circumstances of Mahinda IV's death are not known.

Legacy

Mahinda IV is important mainly because of the large number of inscriptions left from his reign. They give a much clearer picture of how Buddhist monasteries were organised and how their land, money and workers were managed.

His reign also shows the continued importance of royal support for Buddhism, irrigation and religious buildings during the later Anuradhapura period. The inscriptions give more information about administration and religion than about Mahinda's personal life, making him one of the better documented kings of the later Anuradhapura Kingdom.