Gothabhaya of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
Gothabhaya, also known as Meghavannabhaya, Gothakabhaya and Goluaba, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom
of Sri Lanka
who ruled the country from 249 to 262 AD. During his reign, Gothabhaya renovated several temples and monasteries and also built a new temple. He is the last of three friends who seized the throne from King Vijaya Kumara and ruled the country. He is known for banishing 60 Buddhist monks who followed teaching contradictory to Theravada
, and also for rebelling against his friend Samghabodhi to seize the throne himself.
. He entrusted the education of his sons to a South Indian monk named Sanghamitta who had befriended him. This turned out to be a key point in Sri Lankan history since Mahasena, who had embraced Vaitulya doctrines taught by Sanghamitta, constructed the Jetavana temple
which became one of the country's three main schools of Buddhism of the Anuradhapura period
despite Gothabhaya's efforts to arrest the spread of Vaitulyavada.
Anuradhapura Kingdom
The Anuradhapura Kingdom , named for its capital city, was the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 377 BC, the kingdom's authority extended throughout the country, although several independent areas emerged from time to time, which grew more numerous...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
who ruled the country from 249 to 262 AD. During his reign, Gothabhaya renovated several temples and monasteries and also built a new temple. He is the last of three friends who seized the throne from King Vijaya Kumara and ruled the country. He is known for banishing 60 Buddhist monks who followed teaching contradictory to Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
, and also for rebelling against his friend Samghabodhi to seize the throne himself.
Legacy
Gothabhaya had two sons named Jetthatissa and MahasenaMahasena
*Mahasena, A Hindu deity known from Kushana and other coins and inscriptions*Mahasena, A historical king of Sri Lanka who ruled from 275 to 301 CE.*Mahasena, A legendary king of Sri Lanka, who legend says ruled Sri Lanka while Buddha visited the island....
. He entrusted the education of his sons to a South Indian monk named Sanghamitta who had befriended him. This turned out to be a key point in Sri Lankan history since Mahasena, who had embraced Vaitulya doctrines taught by Sanghamitta, constructed the Jetavana temple
Jetavanaramaya
The Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred world heritage city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. King Mahasena initiated the construction of the stupa following the destruction of Mahavihara, his son Maghavanna Ithe construction of the stupa...
which became one of the country's three main schools of Buddhism of the Anuradhapura period
Anuradhapura Kingdom
The Anuradhapura Kingdom , named for its capital city, was the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 377 BC, the kingdom's authority extended throughout the country, although several independent areas emerged from time to time, which grew more numerous...
despite Gothabhaya's efforts to arrest the spread of Vaitulyavada.