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Shvoong Home>Science>Status of women in Sri Lanka Summary

Status of women in Sri Lanka

Book Summary   by:JITHENDRAANTONIO     Original Author: JITHENDRA ANTONIO
  • Summary rating: 4 stars (8 Ratings)
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Royal women had very high status in ancient Sri Lanka. The chief queen played a significant role in the royal succession. She participated in the coronation of the king, and her sons had a preferential right to the throne. The sons of the king''s sister were also eligible for kingship, but they were placed low in the line of succession. After the 10th century, the king had to have the right connections on the mother''s side as well as the father''s, in order to inherit the throne. Royal women were given recognition by the king. Buddhist monasteries were named after them. Vattagamani built Somavati Chaitya in honour of his queen Somadevi. Kutakanna tissa built Anula pavata after his wife. In the Kotte period, Parakrama bahu VI built Sunetra Devi pirivena in honour of his mother.
The royal women made many donations to temples. This indicates that they had certain amount of independence and position within the royal structure. Kathiya Devi, wife of Dutugemunu donated a vihara according to the Kosavakanda inscription. Vasabha''s consort Mitta and Sundara Devi the mother of Gajabahu II also donated viharas. Chandravati Devi wife of Dappula II renovated Girihanda vehera. Kirthidevi, wife of Sena V built three ponds for the monks. Kokebbe inscription states that Princess Talatha donated to Harayada vihara, paddy fields, forests, and the income from selling deer, peacock and gona meat. Mother of Gajabahu I spent 4000 kahavanu and bought Kubalaragama wewa and donated it to a temple. Sena Devi, consort of Udaya I restored the Silamegha nunnery. She bought back its lands.
The monarchy was usually given to a male, but on four occasions, women ruled the country. The first was Anula (48-44 BC) the consort of king Coranaga. She became queen after poisoning Coranaga and his successor. She thereafter fell in love successively with a palace guard, a city carpenter, a wood carver, and the purohita. She poisoned all four. The next queen was Sivali (33 AD), also known as Revati. She was the sister of king Chulabhaya (32-33 AD) and therefore belonged to the ruling house. She ruled for four months after the death of Chulabhaya.
Queen Lilavati, became queen three times between 1197- 1212, and was on the throne, off and on, for a total of five years. Kalyanavati (1202-1208) ruled after Lilavati''s second time as queen. According to the Batalagoda inscription, Kalyanavati ruled over three autonomous provinces. Lilavati was the chief queen of Parakrama bahu I and Kalyanavati was the second queen of king Nissanka malla. Lilavati and Kalyanavati were placed on the throne to prevent others taking over the throne. Their rule adds up to 11 years. Coins were issued in their names. They seem to have ruled well. Lilavati was praised in the Sasadavata and the Dhatuvamsa. She established an alms house in Anuradhapura for feeding the poor and funded it with taxes levied from the south Indian traders (Nanadesi) operating in Sri Lanka. Kalyanavati built many viharas and endowed them with land.
One royal failed to become queen. Sugala, grand daughter of Vijayabahu I was ruling in Ruhuna, when Parakrama bahu I was coming into power. She opposed him and refused to hand over the tooth relic and bowl relic, which were in her possession. Parakrama bahu I had to defeat her in battle. Another queen was active from behind the throne. The widow of Moggallana II exercised kingly powers during the reign of her son, Kithsirimegha (551-569). It was not a successful administration.
Royal women who belonged to the ruling house did not see themselves as mere companions to the king, leaving politics to the men. They took an active interest in politics. Viharamaha devi, encouraged Dutugemunu in his ambitions and accompanied him to battle. Vattagamani Abhaya''s queen Somadevi got down from the carriage when they were fleeing from the Tamils, in order to help the others to escape. These two queens are considered heroworked behind the scenes. Ratnavali, mother of Parakrama bahu I brought her son and Gajabahu II together, on Gajabahu''s deathbed. She had previously given one daughter in marriage to Gajabahu.
Some royal women actively intervened in the political process. They clearly had some degree of public support. During the reign of Sena II (853-887) the queen mother led a rebellion against him. . After the death of Vijayabahu I, his sister Mitta and her sons caused a civil war. Some queens thought that they could rule as well as the men. The wives of Mahasena (274-301), Moggallana I, (491-508) Upatissa II (517-518) and Mahinda II (777-797) wanted to get rid of their husbands and take over the throne.
Nissanka malla (1187-1196) stated in his Polonnaruwa inscription, that in the absence of a suitable male, the official consort of a king could be appointed as ruler. He prepared his queens for this role. He appointed his two chief queens, Kalyanavati and Subadhra on to the Kings council. The Allai copper plate shows that they sat in this Council, together with the principal officers of the kingdom. They were present when matters of state were discussed. They signed as witnesses to the royal order given in the Doratiyawa sannasa and had sat in the Kings Council when the grant was approved. The 13th century work, Saddharmaratnavaliya, also said that a woman could ascend the throne.
Published: October 01, 2007   
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