Parakramabahu II

Parakramabahu II, also known as Panditha Parakramabāhu, was the King of Dambadeniya in 13th century, whose reign lasted from 1236 to 1270. As a pioneer in literature, he was bestowed with the honorary title "Kalikala Sahitya Sarvagna Pandita". Parakramabahu's reign is notable for the creation of numerous Sinhalese literal works such as, Kausilumina, Pūjāvaliya, Pāli Vishuddḥi Mārgaya, Thūpavaṃsa and Sidhath Sangarāva. He succeeded his father Vijayabahu III as King of Dambadeniya, and was succeeded by his elder son, Vijayabahu IV, after his death.

Life before kingship Parakramabahu II was born in Sirivardhanapura, as mentioned in the chronicle Pujavaliya, to king Vijayabahu III of Dambadeniya. Following Vijayabahu, this king is regarded as the second monarch of the House of Siri Sanga Bo.

According to a popular legend, the day after the birth of Parakramabahu II, his mother (also the chief royal consort of Vijayabahu III) died and the king remarried a Muhammadan, and not long after, a son named Wattimi was born to the concubine. Due to this, the people of the country, including the Buddhist monks, became very enlightened about Parakramabahu II.

While preparing for the battle, the king had to face another invasion in his eleventh year (1244-1245), by a Javaka or Malay ruler named Chandrabhanu from the Tambralinga kingdom of Southeast Asia. The reason Chandrabhanu invaded Sri Lanka is uncertain, but historians suggest that he invaded the politically fragmented island in the aim of claiming the relic of the Tooth of the Buddha.

Although Chandrabhanu's initial invasion of the country wasn't a success, he settled in the North of Sri Lanka with an aim of re-invading the island.

Parakramabahu II successfully pushed Kalinga Magha out of Polonnaruwa by 1244, Chandrabhanu fled to Jaffna kingdom and secured the throne from Kalinga Magha. The fate of Magha after his withdrawal to Jaffna kingdom remains unknown.

Malay invasions

Parakramabahu II had to face two Malay invasions in his reign; the first one occurred in 1244, led-by Chandrabhanu of Tambralinga. The invasion was successfully repulsed. However, Chandrabhanu settled in the North (present-day Jaffna) with an intent to re-invade Dambadeniya. He adopted the regnal name 'Srīdḥarmarāja' and re-constructed Buddhist temples in the region.

Although not mentioned in historical chronicles, there's solid evidence that a huge Pandyan invasion, launched by Sadayavarman Sundara, occurred sometime between the years 1254 and 1256. Dambadeniya wasn't much affected, but Chandrabhanu had to submit his territory of Jaffna to Pandya rule as a vassal.

Despite the invasions, Chandrabhanu gathered a large army of Sinhalese and Tamils and launched an invasion to the South, but this time Parakramabahu II sided with the Pandyas and he was defeated and killed in the war. Panditha Parakramabahu was able to annex large parts of the North to his kingdom, while the region of Jaffna remained under the rule of Chandrabhanu's son, Savakanmaindan.

Contributions to Sinhala literature Parakramabahu II's reign is regarded as a golden age of Sinhalese literature, and Parakramabahu himself too was a patron in poetry and literature. He was popularly known as 'Kalikāla Sāhitya Sarvagna Paṇḍitha' or 'Panditha Parakramabahu'.

Death Having reigned for thirty-three years, Panditha Parakramabahu II abdicated in favor of his son Vijayabahu IV in 1269 and died around a year later, in 1270.

Dambadeniya after Parakramabahu II's reign Parakramabahu II was succeeded by his son Vijayabahu IV. He was a very kind-hearted ruler, and made numerous contributions to Buddhism. Thus, he was popularly known as Bosath Vijayabahu.