Rajarata

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Thun Sinhale (Three Divisions of the island)
Administration centers of Sri Lanka before the 13th century
  Raja Rata
  Malaya Rata
  Ruhunu Rata

Rajarata (Sinhala: රජරට, romanized: rajaraṭa (IPA: [rad͡ʒəraʈə]); Tamil: ரஜரட, romanized: rajaraṭa; meaning "King's country") was one of three historical regions of the island of Sri Lanka for about 1,700 years from the 6th century BCE to the early 13th century CE.[1] Several ancient cities, including Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, were established as capitals within the area by successive rulers.[2] Rajarata was under the direct administration of the King (raja/king, rata/country). Two other areas, Mayarata and Ruhunurata, were ruled by the king's brothers "Mapa" and "Epa"[citation needed] . The Magha invasion in the 13th century brought about the end of the Rajarata kingdom.[3][4]

History and kingdoms

The first kingdom in Rajarata was established by Prince Vijaya in 543 BCE.[5] He settled near the delta of the Malvathu River between Chilaw and Mannar. According o a local myth, Prince Vijaya married a local princess, Kuveni, to gain control of Rajarata. With her help, he betrayed and killed all of the regional leaders.[6] After his death, the administrative center was moved to the countryside along the Malvathu Oya. The river was ideal for agriculture. The first three administrative centres Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, and Anuradhapura, were situated close to the Malvathu Oya. King

Pandukabhaya, once a prince descended from local Yaksha and Sinha tribes, formed a stable kingdom in Anuradhapura. He garnered support from tribes in different areas of the island.[7]

Administrative centres in Rajarata:

  1. Tambapanni - Prince Vijaya - Founded in 543 BCE[5]
  2. Upatissa in 505 BCE[8]
  3. Pandukabhaya in 377 BCE[citation needed
    ]
  4. Sigiriya - Built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE), but after the death of the king center moved to Anuradhapura[citation needed]
  5. Vijayabahu I[citation needed
    ]

Settlements

Prince Vijaya and his clan settled in Tambapanni, near the Malvatu Oya delta. According to

Mahavamsa, various groups came from India in the period between Prince Vijaya and King Pandukabhaya's reign, frequently settling along the Malvathu Oya. In 377 BCE, King Pandukabhaya moved the administrative centre to Anuradhapura. Most of the settlements were located near rivers and reservoirs. Water was used for agricultural purposes. According to the Yodha wewa area in Mannar District by King Dhatusena,[9] Eropathana in Vavuniya District, Padawiya area in Anuradhapura District and Mullaitivu District
by King Moggallana II[10] the extent of Sri Lanka's golden civilization spread to the southern boundary of the Vanni forest.[citation needed] The thick Vanni forest acted as a barrier to colonizers above the southern border of the forest. Tanks built during the Anuradhapura era (Giant's, Padaviya, Minneriya, Kantale, Mahavillachchiya, Thabbowa, Kala) are proof of the early settlements in Rajarata area.[citation needed]

Initial settlements based near rivers:[citation needed]

Boundaries

Boundaries of the three divisions (Rata):[11]

  • Raja rata - Area between Deduru oya and the Mahaweli river
  • Ruhunu rata - Area between the Mahaweli river and Kalu gaga
  • Malaya rata - Area between Deduru oya and Kalu gaga

Fall of Rajarata

In 1215,

Pandyan troops established an administration centre in Jaffna Peninsula which was more secure and isolated by the impenetrable Vanni forest. Later Rajarata was annexed by king Parakramabahu II(1236–70).[citation needed] His power extended over Rohana, the central hills, Rajarata and the Vanni.[12]

The Sinhalese tried to re-establish the administrative centre in Rajarata but this never happened because of constant battles with invaders from south India. The administration centre was moved away from Rajarata by the Sinhalese. The defeat of

Pandyan in South India in the rising Mogul empires weakened the Tamil power in Sri Lanka. The last Pandyan ruler of Madurai, was defeated and expelled in 1323 by Malik Kafur, the army general of the Muslim empire Delhi Sultanate.[13]
The falling of Pandyan was a historical event that had a big impact for Sri Lanka.

It leads to following events:

Also, ancient Rajarata (before the 13th century) was divided into three parts:[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "A series by Gaveshaka in association with Studio Times". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Funday Times".
  3. ^ The Island
  4. ^ Padaviya: the Eastern Capital of the Rajarata Kingdom Archived 2012-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b Sunday Times
  6. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  7. ^ A tale of two nation
  8. ^ The Mahávansi, the Rájá-ratnácari, and the Rájá-vali. Parbury, Allen, and Co. 1833.
  9. ^ Yoda Wewa - Mannar District amazinglanka.com
  10. ^ The Sri Lanka Reader History, Culture, Politics by John Clifford Holt, Robin Kirk, Orin Starn page 55
  11. ^ Short History of Ceylon By Humphrey William Codrington page 2
  12. ^ A history of Sri Lanka by K. M. De Silva Page 82
  13. ^ The History of Sri Lanka By Patrick Peebles page 31
  14. ^ A History of Sri Lanka K.M. De Silva, p. 64.


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