797 AC - 801 AC

When King Mahinda II died, he was childless. His legitimate son had predeceased him. However, he had a son born before he ascended the throne. According to the Mahavamsa, realizing that this prince was talented, King Mahinda secretly raised him with great care to protect him from other royal princes. Yet, in all the battles the king faced, this prince acted as an unrecognized hero at the forefront. When the city was surrounded by enemies and also during the battle fought in the north, as well as in the battle at Mahummath village, this prince fought bravely. Impressed by his courage, the king appointed him as a commander. After King Mahinda’s death, this prince ascended the throne.
According to the Mahavamsa, the name of this king is not revealed. In the version of the Mahavamsa edited by the Venerable Sri Sumangala and Batuhantudawa, and in the English translation by Mr. Wijesinha, this king has been named Dappula. The reason appears to be that he built a monastery named Dappula, and thus it was assumed that the monastery was named after him. However, when compared with other historical records, this identification is inaccurate. The Pujavaliya and Nikaya Sangrahaya mention that this king was named Udaya. Therefore, he would be the first king by that name.
King Udaya had two sons and several daughters. His queen was a beautiful princess named Sena. The Mahavamsa notes that she bore him an excellent son. The king appointed his eldest son as yuvaraja (crown prince) and gave his daughters in marriage to various regional rulers, conferring on them the title of Rājani (queen). He ruled the country following the four principles of righteous governance (Sangraha Vastu).
While the king was staying at Minneriya, a rebellion arose in a distant province. During the reign of King Mahinda II, the northern provincial chieftains had often rebelled against him, and they seemed to have been displeased about Udaya’s ascension to the throne. They must have considered that he had no legitimate claim to kingship. On the other hand, they would have rebelled to prevent the son of their great enemy from becoming king. To suppress the rebellion, the king sent his commander and his son.
According to the text, it should be understood that the king sent his eldest son along with the commander to battle. However, Professor Paranavitana interprets the passage as referring to “the commander and the commander’s son.” In the translation by Venerable Sri Sumangala and Batuhantudawa, the phrase appears as “Therefore, he sent his commander and his own eldest son.” According to the Mahavamsa verse “tato senāpatiñ ca eva jeṭṭhaputtañ ca attano,” it is clear that the king’s eldest son went to battle.
When the commander and his son went to pacify the enemy, they later spoke ill of the king and turned against him. Enraged, they plotted to seize the king. Consequently, the king went to Dūratissa Tank, executed both of them, expelled the enemies, and returned to Polonnaruwa.
Here, an important point not yet clarified should be raised — the prince next in line to the throne, the king’s second son, was killed by the king himself. If he had already been appointed yuvaraja, he should have succeeded the throne after the king’s death. However, after King Udaya, the throne was inherited by Prince Mahinda, the son of Princess Sena. This fact makes it clear that some individuals, through slander, created discord between the king and his second son to deprive that prince of his right to the throne and transfer it to the youngest son.
While these events occurred in the Rajarata, it is useful to briefly examine the situation in the Rohana (southern) region. During the reign of King Mahinda II, he fought a decisive battle against Prince Dappula, reducing the southern frontier up to the Gal Oya boundary, as mentioned earlier. However, after his death, it seems that the officials of Rohana began to act beyond this border. The Mahavamsa records that during this period, the revenue officer of Rohana was one named Dāṭhāsiva, and that his son, Prince Mahinda, came to Anuradhapura in rebellion against his father. King Udaya welcomed him, gave him his daughter Princess Deva in marriage, and sent him with an army to subdue Rohana.
Prince Mahinda went to Rohana, overthrew his father Dāṭhāsiva, exiled him to India (Dambadiva), and consolidated his power in the Rohana region.
This incident is confirmed by an inscription found at Rajagala in the Gal Oya valley. The inscription describes several lands donated to the Arittarā Vihāra by one Āpāyi Daḷ Sivaṇhu (interpreted as Adhipati Dāṭhāsiva). This official can be confidently identified with the Dāṭhāsiva mentioned in the Mahavamsa. The Arittarā Vihāra is the same as the Girikumbhīla Vihāra located at present-day Rajagala. Dāṭhāsiva offered his donations to a sacred site situated north of Gal Oya.
According to the law of territorial boundaries established during King Mahinda II’s time, such actions could not have been permitted. Therefore, it is evident that Dāṭhāsiva (Daḷ Siva) had crossed the border and attempted to extend his power north of Gal Oya into Rohana. Consequently, King Udaya, through the son of the Adhipati, deposed him and established new relations with the rulers of Rohana.
After stabilizing the kingdom, King Udaya resumed religious activities following ancient traditions. The Mahavamsa gives lengthy details about this. He built numerous monasteries and granted villages for their maintenance. It appears that the king was also concerned about the health and welfare of his people, as evidenced by his establishment of hospitals at Polonnaruwa and Pandaviya. The Kanthakacetiya at Mihintale was built by his queen. King Udaya showed compassion toward both humans and animals alike. He was also attentive to judicial affairs — he had court records and legal documents written and preserved safely within the royal palace.
Although the early part of King Udaya’s reign was troubled by unrest, it was peaceful thereafter. There is no sign that the country suffered from poor development during his rule. Had there been an economic decline, the king would not have been able to carry out such vast religious works. His reign lasted about five years — a short one indeed.