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Mahācūla (Cūlika ) Mahātissa
Son of Khallātanāga and Anulādevi.
Vattagāmani adopted him (thereby earning the title of
Pitirājā) and took him with him when forced to flee from the Tamils
(Mhv.Xxxiii.35, 45; Dpv. xx.22f, 31).
Mahācūla succeeded Vattagāmani as king of Ceylon and ruled
for fourteen years (17-3 B.C.). He worked in a rice
field, disguised as a labourer, and with the wages so earned gave alms to
Mahāsumma. For three years he laboured in a sugar mill near Sonnagiri and built
the vihāras known as Mandavāpi, Abhayagallaka, Vankāvattakagalla,
Dīghabāhugallaka, and Jālagāma. He was succeeded by Coranāga (Mhv.Xxxiv.1ff).
Mahācūla had two sons, Tissa (poisoned by the notorious Anulā) and
Kutakannatissa. Mhv.xxxiv.15, 28.

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