Aggabodhi VII of Anuradhapura

King of Anuradhapura

Aggabodhi VII
King of Anuradhapura
Reign	781 – 787
Predecessor	Aggabodhi VI
Successor	Mahinda II
Dynasty	House of Lambakanna II

Aggabodhi VII was King of Anuradhapura in the 8th century, whose reign lasted from 781 to 787. He succeeded his cousin Aggabodhi VI as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Mahinda II.^[1] His father was King Mahinda I.^[2]

Aggabodhi was appointed as the Adipada of Ruhuna by his father. His cousin Aggabodhi (the son of King Kassapa III) was the sub king (yuva raja) and was administering the east of the country. On Mahinda I's death, prince Aggabodhi was in the capital. The administration of the kingdom fell into his hands. However, he invited the sub-king Aggabodhi to become king and crowned him as King Silamegha (Aggabodhi VI). Prince Aggabodhi himself was appointed the sub-king and looked after the administration of the whole country.

Those who were not favoured by the sub-king managed to poison Silamegha (Aggabodhi VI) mind against him. In response, sub-king Aggabodhi escaped to Ruhuna where he collected a huge army. He waged a civil war before suffering a crushing defeat at Kadalinivatha. He escaped the battle and hid himself in the Malaya Rata (hill country).

Before long, King Silamegha realised that he had been wrong to turn against sub-king Aggabodhi and he went alone to Malaya Rata, met with Prince Aggabodhi and effected a peace between them. Aggabodhi was invited back to the capital and King's daughter, Sangha, was given to the sub-king in marriage. However, the marriage did not seem to a happy one as Sangha forsook her husband and entered a convent. From there she ran away with her cousin, Dappula. The sub king Aggabodhi waged war against Dappula with the help of the King and recovered his wife. They reconciled their differences and lived a contented life.

Aggabodhi ascended the throne as King Aggabodhi VII on the death of King Silamegha (Aggabodhi VI). He was well advanced in years when he ascended the throne. He devoted the six years of his reign for furthering Buddhism. He repaired and strengthened the image house at the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. He also built two viharas - Kollanda and Molla Vaataka. He cleansed the order of bhikkus by issuing decrees. He also prescribed the manner of holding festivities and funerals. He further issued ticket rice (Salaka dana) to the three chapters of sangha Maha Vihara, Abhayagiri and Jethavana - Theriya, Dhammaruchi and Sagali sects.

He died in the sixth year of his reign and was succeeded by his nephew, Mahinda II (Son of Silamegha).^[2]

References

^ "Aggabodhi". palikanon.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
^ ^a ^b Obeyesekere, Donald (1911). Outlines of Ceylon history. Colombo, Ceylon : The Times of Ceylon. pp. 109.

External links

Kings & Rulers of Sri Lanka
Codrington's Short History of Ceylon

Regnal titles
Aggabodhi VII of Anuradhapura House of Lambakanna II Born: ? ? Died: 787
Preceded by Aggabodhi VI	King of Anuradhapura 781–787	Succeeded by Mahinda II

Monarchs of the Sinhala Kingdom

Pre-Anuradhapura period
House of Vijaya (543–237 BCE)

Prince Vijaya (543 BCE–505 BCE)
Upatissa (505 BCE–504 BCE)
Panduvasdeva (504 BCE–474 BCE)
Abhaya (474 BCE–454 BCE)
Tissa (454 BCE–437 BCE)

Anuradhapura period
House of Vijaya (543–237 BCE)
Chola dynasty (237–215 BCE)
House of Vijaya (215–205 BCE)
Chola dynasty (205–161 BCE)
House of Vijaya (161–103 BCE)
The Five Dravidians (103–89 BCE)
House of Vijaya (89 BCE–66 CE)
House of Lambakanna I (66–436)
The Six Dravidians (436–463)
House of Moriya (463–691)
House of Lambakanna II (691–1017)

Pandukabhaya (437–367 BCE)
Mutasiva (367–307 BCE)
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Dutugamunu (161–137 BCE)
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Thulatthana (119 BCE)
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Khallata Naga (109–104 BCE)
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Aggabodhi II (598–608)
Sangha Tissa II (608)
Moggallana III (608–614)
Silameghavanna (614–623)
Aggabodhi III (623)
Jettha Tissa III (623–624)
Aggabodhi III (624–640)
Dathopa Tissa I (640–652)
Kassapa II (652–661)
Dappula I (661–664)
Dathopa Tissa II (664–673)
Aggabodhi IV (673–689)
Unhanagara Hatthadatha (691)
Manavanna (691–726)
Aggabodhi V (726–732)
Kassapa III (732–738)
Mahinda I (738–741)
Aggabodhi VI (741–781)
Aggabodhi VII (781–787)
Mahinda II (787–807)
Dappula II (807–812)
Mahinda III (812–816)
Aggabodhi VIII (816–827)
Dappula III (827–843)
Aggabodhi IX (843–846)
Sena I (846–866)
Sena II (866–901)
Udaya I (901–912)
Kassapa IV (912–929)
Kassapa V (929–939)
Dappula IV (939–940)
Dappula V (940–952)
Udaya II (952–955)
Sena III (955–964)
Udaya III (964–972)
Sena IV (972–975)
Mahinda IV (975–991)
Sena V (991–1001)
Mahinda V (1001–1029)

Anuradhapura from Rohana

Kassapa VI (1029–1040)
Mahalana–Kitti (1040–1042)
Vikrama Pandu (1042–1043)
Jagatipala (1043–1046)
Parakrama Pandu (1046–1048)
Loka (1048–1054)
Kassapa VII (1054–1055)

Polonnaruwa period
House of Vijayabahu (1055–1187)
House of Kalinga (1187–1197)
House of Vijayabahu (1197–1200)
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Lokissara (1210–1211)
House of Vijayabahu (1211–1212)
Pandyan dynasty (1212–1215)
Eastern Ganga dynasty (1215–1236)