History (contd...)

According to Mahawansa, King Kashyapa reigned for 18 years from 479 AD to 497 AD. Mahawansa records depict the king living in constant fear of his brother Moggalana. Mhawansa indicates that there were at least 2 attempts made by Kashyapa to kill his brother who assembled forces in India. It states that the same fear persuaded Kashyapa to build his palace on top of the Sigiriya Rock. The king lived in constant sadness and despair for what he did to his father.

Kashyapa, now the father of two daughters: Bodhi and Uppalavanna, wanted to cleanse his soul of his sins. He planted gardens at the gates of the city and grooves of mango trees throughout the Island. He repaired the existing temples and built new ones for in service of Buddhism.

Eighteen years from Kashyapa gaining the throne Moggalana returned to the Island. Mahawansa indicates Moggalana and his forces camping near the Kuthari Vihara near the country of Ambaththa-kola. Ambaththakola is a district near Kurunegala situated about 88 Kilometers from Anuradhapura. Sri Lankan scholars interpret Moggalana returned from India without any forces and collected an army sufficient enough to challenge Kahsyapa, while some of the scholars agree the description in Mahawansa depicting the return of Moggalana with a massive army led by 12 Noble warriors. It could have been Moggalana returning with 12 warriors from India training and gathring forces near Kuthari Vihara.

According to Mahawansa, and the folk lore, Kashyapa gathered his army and went ahead to face his brother in battle. Mahawansa describes the clash between the two massive forces were: "like two seas which burst their bounds". Proceeding Kashayapa had to turn his war elephant to avoid a mash, which was mistaken by his forces as their king fleeing in defeat. Kashyapa's forces broke ranks and Moggalana's forces soon overwhelmed them. Seeing the eminent loss in battle, Kashyapa in despair raised his head up and cut his throat with a knife and returned the knife to its sheath.

After the death of Kashyapa, Moggalana converted the Sigiriya fortress to a temple monastery and gave it to the Mahanama thero. Mahanama thero is the uncle of the former king Dhathusena and was the author of the first 36 chapters of the Mahavansa.