Continued from last week
As it was customary for the King to be the guardian of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Alms Bowl Relic, King Parakramabahu fought and defeated Queen Sugala and obtained the Sacred Relics. It was also believed that whoever had the possession of the Sacred Relics was the rightful ruler of the country.
Sacred Relics and the Vatadage
King Parakramabahu having brought the Sacred Relics to Polonnaruwa built a circular building called the Vatadage to house them.
The King’s vision for the country was to make it the greatest nation among all nations. He soon set about to achieve this.
Irrigation works
He appointed various chiefs and set in motion a massive irrigation program to help develop agriculture. The greatest of his irrigation works is the Parakrama Samudraya or the Sea of Parakrama. This tank is so vast that it was called a samudraya or sea. To construct the Parakrama Samudraya, the Amban Ganga was dammed at Angomediila.
The King also repaired and developed the Kala wewa, Minneriya, Girithale and Kaudulu wewa.
King Parakramabahu developed agriculture to such a great level that Sri Lanka was called ‘the Granary of the East’.
He also undertook major construction projects such as hospitals, large parks with many ponds and bathing pools. Rules for bhikkhus
Rules for bhikkhus
King Parakramabahu did much for Buddhism too. A set of rules for bhikkhus was drawn up and they were inscribed on a stone wall near the Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa. Jetavanaramaya and the Alahena Pirivena are among the temples built by him. He also restored some temples in Anuradhapura including Ruwanweliseya and Mihintale.
King Parakramabahu improved trade to generate money for his work to make the nation the greatest nation on Earth. Exports from Sri Lanka included rice, pearls gems, elephants and spices.
Good relations
He maintained good relations with Burma till King Alausitu ascended the throne and started harassing and robbing Sri Lankans in Burma. King Parakramabahu sent a large force to Burma and they captured several Burmese cities.
A Pandyan King in India, Parakrama Pandya asked King Parakramabahu to help vanquish the Cholas and he sent a large force to help Parakrama Pandya. But before the Sri Lankan Army arrived Parakrama Pandya was killed. But once in South India the Sri Lankan force captured the capital city and b built Parakrama Pura, a fortress in Rameshwaran.
King Parakramabahu ruled for 38 years before he died in 1186 A.D/
As he was a great king who did much for Sri Lanka he was called Maha Parakramabahu or Parakramabahu the Great. His reign is regarded as a golden era in the history of the country.
Sources: Historical records/folklore/ King Parakramabahu retold by Kamala Silva