EPOCH OF POLONNARUWA – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando
During this period of Kingdom, Ceylon was divided into three regions: Rohana (Matara), Southern and Raja Rata (Up county). In the early part of this kingdom, disputes, conspiracies or threats of fear of war existed. Therefore, it caused many problems towards the progress of the country. At times all three regions’ economy was spent on war compulsions.
When considering how those Kings of the Polonnaruwa era took care of Ceylon’s interest by making a liberal nation towards the early part of the kingdom, especially King Parakramabahu did not allow any foreign invasion to occur. He built several fortresses at strategic locations in his kingdom.
King Parakramabahu was keen on increasing agricultural production by growing much land for paddy cultivation and promoting several irrigation channels. It revealed the King’s ambition and popular saying: ‘Do not allow a single drop of water go to the ocean.’ Thereby, his kingdom became the most powerful kingdom out of all the other domains in Ceylon.
When he was just Prince, he had four ambitions or dreams in his mind, and once he became the King of Ceylon, he fulfilled his dreams in no time. This was mentioned in Pali Language in chronicles or (wansa kataha), as follows:
- To make his subjects completely contented.
- To make Buddhism a stable position.
- To protect Chronicles.
- To feed beggars.
It is also mentioned that those who gained state patronage were rewarded according to their suitability and talent. King Parakramabahu had given huge almsgiving and offered his subjects and various favours to his people, in line with ancient customs and traditions involved in Buddhistic affairs. It was tattooed in a Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara in an ancient manuscript. Apart from those, it was mentioned that the King performed ‘dansalas’ (free food and drink to passers-by) in every corner of his reign, including the Buddhist clergy, Brahmins and the poor or beggars.
As the chronicles mention, King Parakramabahu erected a massive hall and employed doctors and nurses. The King visited the Buddhist viharas without fail in every Poya. There are 4 “Poya” in a month (known as Pura Atawake–Pasalowawaka, Atawake and Amawake).
Similarly, it is possible to think that the King’s sole income came from taxes. The King gave orders to tax collectors in every district not to abuse or threaten his subjects but at the same time not to take any short money from taxes. It was mentioned in the Theravada chronicles (Nikaya Sangrahaya). Parakramabahu 1 divided his reign into 15 ‘Padavies (areas) and deforestation of Land in the Anuradhapura District of the North Central Province of Ceylon. To fit into such orders, the King formed the following departments.
- Preparation of Records- Eight Departments (Viyapahh Path 8).
- Treasury – 4 departments (Sathara Mudala).
- Department of Transport (Ata Wadige).
- Divided Elephant Welfare Department into eight.
- A decentralisation was done with inland boards and eighty-four counties
It was also mentioned that during the Parakramabahu 1, what the villagers paid as the tax was utilised to pay day-to-day expenses of the Palace, all royal expenses, but did not include the king’s personal expenses. King Nissankamalla, out of such taxes, managed to reduce taxes to civil servants.
An overhaul of the administration strategies was done. It was stated in the chronicles that there were two officials in charge of the Royal Administration. between these two officials, one officer was apparently responsible for war affairs, and the other was not in an official position. He had several accountants (Ganakamaluwa) under him. Two accountants were in charge of the royal money and shared the responsibility. They were dealing with expensive commodities such as precious stones, alloy stuff, oils and valuable land, collecting taxes and were responsible to the treasury officials.
After Parakramabahu 1, followed other Royals’. Their opinion was that the taxation by the previous kings was unfair to the people. As a result, the king gave a tax moratorium for five years to bring relief to their subjects. It was reordered in the ancient inscriptions that they were just kings and had advised treasury officials not to involve in bribery and corruption but to make the country prosperous.
People, their vocation and society.However
During this epoch, the southern province was adopted in the 12th century, It was mentioned that the country was divided into twelve “regions” and was split into eighty-four segments (“countries” or counties). Therefore, each local region would have seven areas. Each part (mandala) was in charge of one person known as Rattia.
King Parakramabahu was the Southern province’s king before becoming the King of Polonnaruwa. Once he became the King, many administrative changes took place. The public life of people’s life concentrated on lakes, Buddhist temples, Dageba (stupa) and paddy cultivation. During the Pollanaru era, there were no drastic changes because of the king’s choice of ruling in the ‘middle path,’ People did not interfere but were loyal to the royalty.
It is the duty of the King to rule to safeguard every citizen’s right, and people accept it. When the cultivated land is increased, the amount of tax too proportionately increases. How King Parakramabahu devoted his efforts to agriculture shows that he collected more tax from the paddy fields in the Sothern Province. As a result, he managed to show elude any fears of starvation, and the country became self-sufficient. During the Polonnaruwa era, people could buy extra land as they were self-sufficient.
During this epoch, there is no record of the Kings owning every land that freely existed. On historical records, every land consisted of valuable precious stones and the Kings appointed a special administrative officer to collect such tax.
During the Polonnaruwa era, an intelligent and optimistic king (Parakramabahu) looked after the welfare of the socially rich people, and the social standards were the most. Systematic agriculture made the country self-sufficient. Agriculture and other social areas such as health, education, housing and royal patronage existed to bring about the common man’s problems. Once King Parakramabahu became king, he offered alms to the clergy, Bamunas, beggars and pedestrians. The King built massive sick bays are recorded in the chronicles.
During the Parakramabahu era, the King reconstructed what was ruined by Solei’s invasion of Anuradhapura’s reign through a Minister. During this period, many industries existed, and as a result, people lived happily.
In this era, professions such as medicine, spirituality, and magic prominently existed—similarly precious stone industry, pillows, mats and mattresses were prominent. One of Parakramabahu’s enemies, King Gajabu’s soldiers (Kalawapiye), to favour Prince Parakramabahu, offered expensive presents such as various precious stones and a massive elephant to Kalwapiye’s assistants.
The first Indian emperor’s time, Ceylon was considered part of Solei’s reign, and during Solei’s invasion, there was much damage to Ceylon. Is it possible to take Ceylonese’s expensive items to their Solei reign? Considering this fact, it is possible to wonder whether the entire country fell into Solie’s. King Parakramabahu, together with Lankapura soldiers, formed a battalion. He beheaded one Kulsekera and made the king of Pandu sit on his throne, and returned to Ceylon was mentioned in old Ceylon history. Subsequently, this soldier formed a fortress in Thundukala in India and brought a substantial number of Indians as prisoners and made use of them to construct the big stupa in Anuradhapura.
Courtesy: The writer translated into English from Sinhala from the Book by the late Prasad Milinda on Financial Analysis between BC 543 – 1832 (only sections of the book is concentrated to fit into publication).
