Valagamba

Valagamba (Sinhala: වළගම්බා), also known as the Great Black Lion, Vattha gamani Abhaya[1] and Valagam Abha, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka.

Five months after becoming king, he was overthrown by a rebellion and an invasion from South India, but regained the throne by defeating the invaders fourteen years later.

[2] A general of the army named Kammaharattaka (Maharattaka) killed Khallata Naga and seized power.

[3] Vattha gamani then sent a message to the Tissa Brahmin that he did not care about the power and he could take the throne if he so dared, but only if he defeated the invading army.

[2] When the pursuers were gaining on them, Queen Somadevi jumped down from the chariot to lighten it and give the king a chance to escape, and was captured.

Valagamba fled to Malayarata for safety and a monk named Kuppikkala Mahatissa helped him while he was in hiding.

The Tripitaka, which had been handed down orally by the Bhikkhu order, was recorded on books made of palm leaf paper in the Aluvihara Temple, Matale during the Fourth Buddhist Council.

This was the first time a temple was offered privately to a monk and it caused the first conflict between the Sangha when 500 Bhikkus decided to leave Mahavihara and join Abayagiriya where they created another sect.

[8] The Dipavamsa states that during the reign of Valagamba (Vattagamani Abhaya) (29–17 BC) the monks who had previously remembered the Tipitaka and its commentary orally now wrote them down in books, because of the threat posed by famine, war, and the growing power of the newly established Abhayagiri vihara, which enjoyed the king's favour.