STATE 0F LANKA BEFORE KING VIJAYA part 2

The arrival of Vijaya and his band of men changed the social and cultural development of the entire Island. When they began to settle down the elements of the Indian culture began to take root with an unimaginable speed. The aryaniza- tion progressed as fresh bands of Aryans arrived from time to time.

It is generally believed that several batches of people came to Lanka. Some of them came from the Eastern area of India: whilst others came from the Western region. These groups settled in the Island from time to time. Vijaya's arrival was probably the last such influx. The chronicled information has to be supported by other forms of evidence. Such evidence can be gleaned from linguistic, physical and cultural elements preserved by the Sinhala pcople in the Island

The Sinhala Language of the earliest known period was a form of old Prakrit. It is like one of the Indo-Aryan languages found in India. Sinhala Language shows elements found in Bengali as well as Gujerati showing thereby the influence from both languages. The script and form of writing are very similar. The vocabulary is derived from the same common source with certain regional varia tions. On that score it can be said that the people who spoke and wrote the original Sinhala used the language common to East and West of India. According to the information couched in the ofVijaya story the new comers from the North Indian region of Bengal and Gujerat or Maharastra discriminated against the local population of the time. It could be on lines similar to those dis- layed by the Vedic Aryans when they arrived i India. Colour and culture may have been the main reasons for difference of race

The Aborigines were deemed inferior to the newcomers who were Aryans. Messengers were sent with gifts to Madura inviting the daughter of the Pandu King for Vijaya and daughters of others for his Ministers and retainers. The important point here is the despatch of a letter ofwith gifts. The importance of this mission lies in the fact that Madhura kingdom mentioned here must have been in Aryan pocket which maintained close association with the then king- doms of the North. This would have been the southern-most region of Aryan expansion at that time. During Buddha's day the region below the nowNarmada finds no mention. As it seems from the evidence available from this time as well as from the Asokan times the Southern region of India had not progressed to any degree of recognition.

Furthermore, from the oldest writings preserved on stones and rocks in India the script used was Brahmi generally called the Asokan script. The script used by Vijayan scribes would have been an earlier form of the Brahmi script. Fortunately, specimens belonging to the 3rd Century B.C. have been preserved in India and Lanka. The language is a kind of old Prakrit very similar to each other. The manner of writing was also from left to right. Writing from right to left was also known. In response to the request the daughter was sent with craftsmen and a 1000 families of the 18 guilds with a letter to the king. The entire company arrived by ship. Since the arrival of these immigrants the close association with the Sakyan Kingdom of the North continued to be maintained at the official and unofficial levels.

Next to arrive in Lanka was Vijaya's brother's youngest son named Panduvasdeva. He came with 32 sons of Ministers disguised as Mendicant monks. King Vijaya died before his nephew and successor arrived in Lanka at his invitation.

Anthropometrical data of the modern inhabi- tants of Bengal and Gujerat show strong similarities both in measurement and certain external charac- teristics to those of the Sinhalese. These tend to establish the close relationship that existed between these two groups of people. More remarkable is the observation made by a study of the physical anthropology of the Sinhalese and those of the West littoral of India. The analysis of the anthropometrical data and the external physical characteristics of the two communities showed a close similarity. This fact has made it possible for anyone to assume that the ancient Sinhalese were closely related to the Indians of Bengal and Gujerat. There is sufficient reason to establish the proposition that the ancient Sinhalese. whether they came from East or West of India belonged to the same Aryan stock, The later arrivals added to the admixture quite considerably even in other areas of culture such as arts and crafts, religion and ceremonial

The first city founded by Vijaya was Tambapanni. Here dwelt Vijaya together with Kuvanna surrounded by his ministers. In due course the ministers founded villages. Anuruddha built Anuradhapura on the bank of Kadamba river. On the bank of the Gambhira river to the North of Anuradhapura the Chaplain built Upatissagama. The other ministers built for each Uijeni, Uruvela and Vijita. Then there was Ramagona where Rama settled. Dighayu and Rohana were settled by Dighayu and Rohana. It is interesting to note that Anuradha built a tank and a palace to its South. There he took up his abode.

The indigenous population prior to the arrival of Vijaya and the succeeding hosts of mern and women from North Indian regions had attained a certain level of development. Their way of life depended on the control and utilization of the environment. Although at the very begin- ning of contact with the Aryan newcomers the local population kept aloof from each other their knowledge of local conditions would have been sought by the newcomers. In building construc tion hydrological engineering, and agricultural pursuits these local men would have offered willing assistance. Naturally thereafter there developed more communication and co-operation. The local chiefs came to be respected as equal partners This was clearly demonstrated by King Pandu- kabhaya who celebrated festive occasions with the Yakkha Chief Cittaraja receiving equality of treatment in public. The information in the drama spectacle called Kohombakankariya suggests the reconciliation the different groups which opposed each other. By that time conflicts had ended, peace had been restored and equality recognized. The newcomers would have absorbed a considerable amount of knowledge of arts and craft, techniques and processes. One wonders if the system of irrigation engincering was one of them and the art of cutting stone another. A Megalithic civilization of the ancient Yakkhas is inferred from the evidence obtained from irrigatiorn works studied in the light of recent discoveries.

The first act of real organization was the establishment of royalty on the basis of a proper coronation. Vijaya refused his consent unlessa maiden of noble house was consecrated as queen This led to the opening of communication witl King Pandu of Madura. There is a certain doubt about this kingdom of Madura. So far as the Buddhist reconds go no mention is made of a King- dom below the Narbada river. The Southern part of the Indian continent does not appear to hav reached the same advanced state as the central kingdoms. The epigraphical records do not speak of any early kingdoms. Besides, people of the South were racially and culturally quite different from those of the North, No ports situated in this area are mentioned

The Indian Anthropological Survey has evidence to establish that the Southern most area of Aryan spread was to the South of present Mysore State. There were pockets of Aryan people scattered in this region and Madhura was one such area where the people were of Aryarn stock. Naturally, therefore Vijaya and his mern sent messengers to woo the daughter of the Pandu King. The name itself connotes the Northern connections with the dynasty with names like Panduvasdeva and Pandukabhaya seem to indicate.

During the period of 5th Century BC. no mention is made of the people living in the south of India in any literary works either in the Vedic or Pali Pitaka texts. During the Mauryan and Asokan Empires too historical information is lacking. This state of affairs continues until the Ist Century B.C. when for the first time a Damila King is mentioned in the Mahavamsa. The entire area where Dravidian Languages are spoken find no mention from the time of Vijaya up to the time of Dutugemunu. In language and culture this area differs distinctly from that of the Aryan land. There has been no intercourse or communication by land or sea between the Southern region of India and Lanka. Under the circumstances Vijaya would have only agreed to obtain a Royal Princess from an Aryan Dynasty. Likewise his Ministers too, would have obtained brides of suitable ranks from Aryan families. Madhura would have been an Aryan Kingdom where King Pandu of the Sakya dynasty would have ruled

King Pandu responded by sending maidens of rank, elephants, horses and weapons. The mportant point is the arrival of a thousand families belonging to the 18 guilds and craftsmen. Theyracial too arrived by ship and landed at Mahatittha in Lanka. This clearly shows the commencement of building operations. The craftsmen belonging to 18 kinds of guilds formed an essential factor in the establishment of a city. Vijaya bestowed the maidens according to their ranks as brides to h ministers and retainers. Then Vijaya was conse- crated King and King Pandu's daughter was conse- crated his queen.

The next batch of Sakyans to arrive was Prince Panduvasudeva ac Ministers. They came disguised as mendicant monks. A princess of the Sakya dynasty of Pandu was also sent to be consecrated as his queen. 32 women friends arrived with her by ship at Gonagamba robed like nuns. A strange fact is the disguise adopted by the incoming visitors to the Island. Perhaps that was the safest method of travel in those days when people had to cross inhospitable areas. The ascetic garb was respected companied by 32 sons of a passport for safe travel. More Sakyans began to arrive and the process of aryanization progressed speedily. By and by the Brahmins too established the position in the royal household as soothsayers or persons versed in vedic lore. The king's advisers became Brahmins and their advice was based on Hindu scriptures. Meanwhile brothers of Bhaddakaccana too arrived and took up their abode wherever it pleased them. Among them was Rama who settled at Ramagona. At Uruvela settled Uruvela and Anurudha settled at Anuradha. The settlement of Vijita, Dighayu and Rohana are named Vijitagama, Dighayu tively. The first tank was built by Anuradha and to its south a palace was built. Here Anuradha resided. and Rohana respec- tively. The first tank was built by Anuradha and to its south a palace was built. Here Anuradha resided.

With the coming of successive groups of men and women belonging to different ranks and vocations the stage was set for the establishment of a ruling class organised on the pattern similar to that obtaining in Aryan India. The King, Nobles Ministers, Brahmins and ascetics or priests and ordinary men and women belonged to that society They were strong enough to resist the strength of the aboriginal groups of Nagas and Yakkhas. When two cultures of different power confront each other the stronger and more advanced culture naturally overcame the weaker and less developed. The Yakkhas and Nagas were the weaker. They succumbed to the stronger.

In conflict between the newcomer and the Nagas and Yakkhas there followed a period of suspicious association leading to conquest and assimilation. Pockets of resistance may have continued in remote regions. By a process of gradual assimilation the newcomers were accepted and recognised as rulers. There was bound to be racial admixture and cultural exchange. The newcomers certainly benefited by the experience and know how of the local population of different races. At this time the division of society was made on the basis of vocation and not birth. Caste did not exist as such. But certainly class was recognized. Racial discrimination was observed as did the Vedic Aryans when they arrived in India. Still the local kingdoms with their local chiefs were recognized by the Aryans. However the traditional customs, practices and beliefs were strictly observed by each of the groups until the wastime of King Pandukabhaya when the Yakkha chiefs were publicly recognized on terms of equality at ceremonial occasions. By that time the pacifi- cation of the different tribal kingdoms had become an accomplished fact. The Nagas living n the plains were the first to be absorbed. Then the dicanta crossthe Veddas of later times. Yakkhas began to yield by degrees (Pulindas) continued to live in the tropical rain forests at the base of the Samanala mountains as the veddas of later times.

continued to later times. They had developed techniques of water control and management. wasIt is believed that King Mahasena built the mighty reservoirs with the labour of the Yakkhas. The tradition of stone cutting is associated with the Yakkhas. Some of the megalithic structures may be attributed to them. The rock temple at Yakkhas. This shows that the Yakkhas of The memories of Yakkhas as great builders Alutnuwara was supposed to have been the work of ancient times had developed the technique of cutting, splitting, and utilizing stone for the construction of reservoirs and buildings and sculpture.