Kuveni
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This article possibly contains original research. (September 2023) |
Kuveni | |
---|---|
Queen of Lanka | |
Successor | Vijaya |
Spouse | Vijaya |
Issue | Jeevahatta Disala |
Kuveni, (කුවේණි/குவேணி) also known as Sesapathi or Kuvanna or Leelawathi, was a
Kuveni was the wife of Sri Lanka's first recorded king
According to Dayananda Binaragama, another prevalent legend about Kuveni among the Veddas is that she is the elder sister of deity
Legend
According to legend, 2,500 years ago, the demon queen Kuveni ruled Sri Lanka.
When Prince Vijaya landed on Tambapanni (5th century BC)[3] with his seven hundred followers, they saw a dog. Vijaya's men, surmising that 'Only where there is a village are dogs to be found', followed the creature, only to come upon the Queen of the Yakkhas, Kuveni. Though the protection of Suman Saman prevented Kuveni from devouring the hapless man, it did not prevent her from hurling him - and all of Vijaya's other companions - into a chasm.
Vijaya eventually comes upon Kuveni and threatens her with death unless she releases his men. When this is done, Kuveni supplies them with food and clothing, and, 'assuming the lovely form of a sixteen-year-old maiden' seduces Vijaya. Then, in a complete reversal of her allegiances, she states that she 'will bestow Kingship on my Lord (Vijaya)' and thus 'all the Yakkhas must be slain, for (else) the Yakkhas will slay me, for it was through me that men have taken up their dwelling (in Lanka)'. This Vijaya goes on to do, vanquishing the Yakkhas and driving them from the island, all the time with Kuveni at his side.
Though Kuveni bears him two children, a son and a daughter, Vijaya eventually rejects her with the words 'Go now, dear one, leaving the two children behind; men are ever in fear of superhuman beings'. Despite begging Vijaya not to send her away, a broken-hearted Kuveni eventually leaves the palace, taking the two children despite being ordered not to. Kuveni was killed by her relatives when she went back to them to ask for help, leaving the two children in the forest glades of
An alternative tale is that Kuveni flung herself from Yakdessa Gala, imploring the Gods to curse Vijaya for his cruelty - which they do by preventing any of Vijaya's children from ever sitting on the throne of Rajarata. 'Vijaya's curse' is held by some to still hold sway over Sri Lanka's troubled politics.
Palace of Kuveni
Ruins of the palace of Kuveni can be found inside Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka.
See also
- List of monarchs of Sri Lanka
- Mahavamsa
- History of Sri Lanka
- Place names in Sri Lanka
- Vedda people
References
- ^ "Answer to Sri Lanka's Curse". Sri Lankan Ministry of defence. Archived from the original on 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- ISBN 978-1-78478-430-0.
Legend has it that 2,500 years ago, Sri Lanka was ruled by a 'demon' queen, Kuveni;
- ^ "Vijaya (king of Sri Lanka) - Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.