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Jettha Tissa I

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Jettha Tissa I
ජෙට්ඨ තිස්ස
King of Anuradhapura
Reign263 – 273
PredecessorGothabhaya
SuccessorMahasena
FatherGothabhaya

Jettha Tissa I (Sinhala: ජෙට්ඨ තිස්ස, lit.'Tissa Senior', [dʒeʈʈə θissə], ruled 263–273)[1] also referred to as Detu Tiss (Sinhala: දෙටු තිස්, [deʈu θis]), Kalakandetu Tissa, and Makalan Detu Tissa,[2] was the eldest son of Gothabhaya and brother of Mahasena. He was a king of Sri Lanka for ten years.[3]

The chronicle of Sri Lanka - Mahavamsa described Jettha Tissa I as a cruel person and stated that immediately after his father’s death, he had all of his father’s court ministers killed and then had their bodies placed on spikes around the pyre.[4]

Sources cite that Jettha Tissa and his brother Prince Mahasena were educated by the Buddhist monk Sanghamitta.[5] It is said that the young Jettha Tissa, who later embraced the Maha Vihara priests instead of Buddhism, disliked his teacher.[3] The monk was forced to flee when he became king but returned and became influential during Mahasena's reign.[3]

Reign

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Accounts cited that upon the death of Gothabhaya, there were faction among the dignitaries of state who were dissatisfied.[6] Several ministers refused to participate in the funeral rites. In response to the perceived insult, Jettha Tissa forced them to join the procession leading to his father's cremation and had them killed at the end of the ceremony.[2]

During his reign, Jettha Tissa added more storeys to the Lovamahapaya constructed by King Dutugamunu, turning it into a seven storey building.[4] He renovated the stupa in Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya. This building was stripped of its adornments during Mahasena's reign and the materials were transferred to the Abhayagiri Vihara.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Ray, H.C. (1960). History of Ceylon: Vol. I: Part II. Ceylon University Press. Colombo. pp. 843–847.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Senaveratna, John M. (1997). The Story of the Sinhalese from the Most Ancient Times Up to the End of "the Mahavansa" Or Great Dynasty: Vijaya to Maha Sena, B.C. 543 to A.D.302. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 278. ISBN 81-206-1271-X.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Blaze, L. E. (2004). History of Ceylon. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 48. ISBN 81-206-1841-6.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Mahavamsa". The Mahavamsa.org. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  5. ^ Mahanama-sthavira, Thera (1999). The Mahavamsa: The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka. Fremont, CA: Jain Publishing Company. p. 360. ISBN 978-0-89581-906-2.
  6. ^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1986). Vakataka - Gupta Age Circa 200-550 A.D. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 256. ISBN 978-81-208-0026-7.
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Jettha Tissa I
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Anuradhapura
267-277
Succeeded by