Kirti Sri Rajasinha ( Sinhala: කීර්ති ශ්‍රී රාජසිංහ,

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

: கீர்த்தி ஸ்ரீ ராஜசிங்கம்; 1734 – 2 January 1782) was the second Nayaka king of

Kandy Kandy (, ; , ) is a major city located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of ...

. He was a prince from the

Madurai Nayak Dynasty The Madurai Nayakas were a Telugu people, Telugu dynasty * * * * * who ruled most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital. The Madurai Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. * ...

and the brother-in-law of Sri Vijaya Raja Singha. He succeeded his brother-in-law to the throne in 1751. The king is credited for the revival of Buddhism and literature in Sri Lanka. Under the guidance and influence of

Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero Weliwita Asaranasarana Sri Saranankara Sangharaja Thero (19 June 1698 – 18 July 1778) or popularly Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero was a Buddhist monk, who was the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. He was the pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in Sri ...

, with

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

assistance, king Kirti Sri Raja Singha successfully invited

Bhikku A ''bhikkhu'' (, ) is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism. Male, and female monastics (''bhikkhunī''), are members of the Sangha (Buddhist community). The lives of all Buddhist monastics are governed by a set of rules called the prātimo ...

s from

Siam Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

(

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

) to revive the higher ordination of Buddhist monks in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

. He also built the existing inner temple of the

Sacred Tooth Relic The relic of the tooth of Buddha (Pali ''danta dhātuya'') is venerated in Sri Lanka as a sacred cetiya relic of the Buddha and primarily refers to the purported tooth at the Temple of the Tooth, but can also refer to the one believed to be at So ...

and Raja Maha Vihara (Gangarama) in

. During his reign the Mahavamsa

chronicle A chronicle (, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events ...

was continued from the time of

Parakramabahu IV of Dambadeniya Parakkamabahu IV was King of Dambadeniya in the 14th century, who was also a scholar known as Pandit Parakramabahu. He built a temple for the Tooth Relic at Kurunegala and was responsible for writing Dhaladha Siritha, a book that laid down procedu ...

. He also rebuilt the

Munneswaram temple Munneswaram temple (, ) is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-k ...

close to

Chilaw Chilaw (, ) is a city in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by an urban council, whereas the outskirts are governed by a pradeshiya sabha of the same name. The town is located 80 kilometers away from Colombo via ...

. He was the second Nayak king of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka, ruling from 1747 to 1782. He played a crucial role in reviving Buddhism in Sri Lanka and maintaining the independence of the Kandyan Kingdom during a period of increasing European colonial influence. His reign is noted for significant cultural and religious advancements, particularly in restoring Buddhist institutions and forging diplomatic ties with foreign nations.

Early Life and Ascension to Throne

Keerthi Sri Rajasinha was born into the Nayak dynasty of South India, which had established its rule in Kandy following the decline of the native Sinhalese royal lineage. He succeeded his predecessor, Sri Vijaya Rajasinha, in 1747. As a Tamil-speaking Nayak prince, he initially faced challenges in winning the trust of the predominantly Sinhalese Buddhist populace but gradually gained acceptance due to his commitment to Buddhism and the welfare of the kingdom.

Religious Contributions

One of Keerthi Sri Rajasinha’s most notable achievements was his dedication to restoring Buddhism in Sri Lanka, which had suffered under Portuguese and Dutch colonial rule. He sought assistance from Thailand (then Siam) to revive the ordination lineage of Buddhist monks. This led to the arrival of the Siamese monk Upali Thera in 1753, who re-established the higher ordination (Upasampadā) and strengthened the monastic order. As a result, the Siyam Nikaya, one of the major Buddhist monastic orders in Sri Lanka, was formed under his patronage. The king also undertook the restoration of significant Buddhist temples and monasteries, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy, which became the spiritual and political heart of the kingdom.

Relations with Colonial Powers

During his reign, Keerthi Sri Rajasinha had to navigate complex diplomatic and military challenges posed by European colonial powers. The Dutch, who controlled the coastal regions of Sri Lanka, frequently engaged in conflicts and negotiations with the Kandyan Kingdom. The king maintained a cautious approach, resisting direct European control while ensuring that trade and diplomatic relations were sustained when beneficial to the kingdom.

Cultural and Architectonic Contributions

Keerthi Sri Rajasinha’s reign saw significant developments in literature, art, and architecture. He encouraged the translation of Buddhist texts from Pali and Sanskrit into Sinhala, making them accessible to a broader audience. He also supported traditional dance and music, which flourished under his patronage. The architectural style of the Kandyan period, characterized by intricate wooden carvings and decorative elements, was further developed during his rule.

Attack on Dutch Forts

In 1761 King Kirti Sri Rajasinha attacked the

garrisons A garrison is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters. A garrison is usually in a city ...

and

forts A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from ...

at Matara, Katuwana,

Tangalle Tangalle ( Sinhala තංගල්ල , ) (also known as Tangalla) is a large town in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is one of the largest towns in southern province. It is located south of Co ...

, Marakade and Urubokke, completely destroying them, and killing Dutch while some surrendered and ended up as prisoners. In order to revenge the humiliation, the new Dutch governor Van Eck had immediate plans to attack

, but the weakness in fortification and garrison forbade the Dutch. Later they did attack in 1764 and in 1765. Hence, in the early part of 1763 the Dutch were only consolidating their positions and gradually expelling Kandyans from the territories taken over from Dutch. Throughout 1763 the King continually sought peace and sent his envoys to discuss terms. The Governor wished the King to cede the three four and seven Korales and Puttlam and hand over the entire coastline of island to the Dutch. The king was not agreeable to any demand that diminished his sovereignty and was deliberately delaying a settlement hoping for help from the

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Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...

after his discussion and negotiations with John Pybus 1762.

Meeting with the British

The King in mid-1762 sought help from the Governor of

Fort St George Fort St. George (or historically, White Town) is a fortress at the coastal city of Chennai, India. Founded in 1639, it was the first English overseas possessions, English (later British Empire, British) fortress in India. The construction ...

for assistance. The British eager to obtain the monopoly of trading in cinnamon, pepper, betel nut (puwak) from the Kandyan Kings also wanted to expel the Dutch from the coasts. A reason to call on the British for assistance by the Kandyan King in 1762 was that after the treaty of

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, the Dutch poured troops into

. They were bent on capturing

from six directions (1764). Anticipating such a scenario the King sent an envoy to the English

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

to assist him in expelling the Dutch. This envoy, a junior Kandyan Official in the military made a clandestine trip to Madras Fort, and the English responded by sending their councilor Mr Pybus. John Pybus, a writer of the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

, sailed to Kandy with a backup of five ships and about 200 armed men. A British vessel brought Pybus to

Trincomalee Trincomalee (; , ; , ), historically known as Gokanna and Gokarna, is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee District and major resort port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. Located on the east coast o ...

on 5 May 1762. The

knew of the arrival of Pybus through their spies and they were kept informed of his movements. Pybus took an exhausting covert trip to meet the King on 24 May 1762. After several talks without any conclusive decisions Pybus left after a month. The King gave him a

ring (The) Ring(s) may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell Arts, entertainment, and media Film and TV * ''The Ring'' (franchise), a ...

sword A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...

, a

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chain with breast jewels and left the country crossing the river at Puttalam pass while the Dissawa who accompanied Pybus presented the ships commander

Samuel Cornish Samuel Eli Cornish (1795 – November 6, 1858) was an American Presbyterian minister, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist, publisher, and journalist. He was a leader in New York City's small Free Negro, free black community, where ...

chain and a ring in the name of King ''"Keerthi Sri Rajasinha ".'' John Pybus in his notes described the King as a man of tolerable stature, reddish in complexion and very brisk in his movements. Pybus was amazed as to how the Kandyans had managed to fight a war with Dutch and had captured Matara Dutch Fort. He wrote that "They had put every European to the sword except two officers who are now prisoners of the country." The Dutch attacked

once again in 1765 and in this occasion, both parties suffered severe casualties. The king went to

Hanguranketha Hanguranketha (; ) is a town in the Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is approximately southeast of Kandy and northeast of Colombo and located on the B413 Road. History The name of the town is purportedly derived from ...

and hid there for safety. Battles continued for months and the king wanted peace with the Dutch due to the widening of internal issues of the

Kingdom of Kandy The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the Sri Lanka, island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom ...

. Taking advantage of this opportunity the Dutch forwarded a treaty biased towards the themselves. The king, having no other option signed the treaty in 1766. The Kingdom of Kandy lost its access to the ocean by this treaty.

Marriage

He married the daughter of one Nadukattu Sami Nayakkar in 1749. He further married three more Nayakkar queens from

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

, but had no children. He also married two daughters of Vijaya Manna Naicker who was the grandson of

Vijaya Raghava Nayak Vijaya Raghava Nayak (also Vijayarāghava Nāyaka, 1590s–1673) was the fourth and last king of Sevappa Nayak's line. He ruled from 1634 to 1673. In 1673, Vijaya Raghava Nayak was defeated in battle by the Madurai Nayak king Chokkanatha Nayak w ...

.University of Ceylon. (1956). ''University of Ceylon review'', Volumes 14-16, p.129 states: ''Kirti Sri in turn married two daughters of Vijaya Manan Naicker, the grandson of a former king of Tanjore named Raja Vijaya Ragheva Naicker '

/ref> He had six daughters and two sons by his favorite Sinhala lady (Yakada Doli), daughter of the late

Dissava The Mahâ Dissâvas was a Great Officer in the Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical Sri Lanka. Like many of the existing high offices at the time it had combined legislative and judicial ...

(Headman) of Bintenna, granddaughter of the blind and aged Mampitiya Dissave. Both his sons survived the king and his daughters married Nayakkar relatives of the king. Mampitiya’s sons claim for the throne was overlooked and the choice fell on the king’s brother who was living in court. The king died on January 2, 1782, of the injuries caused two months before by a fall from his

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 mi ...

after a reign of 35 years which the people saw as a great religious revival, and had a sentimental attachment to the King.

Statues

There are very many life-size portraits of King Kirti Sri Raja Singha in all the temples he renovated and built. But the most famous are the four life sized wooden statues of the king today, two of them can be seen at Dambulla temple and at Malwatta temple in

Legacy and Death (1782)

Keerthi Sri Rajasinha passed away in 1782, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential rulers of the Kandyan Kingdom. His efforts in reviving Buddhism laid the foundation for its survival in Sri Lanka, despite colonial pressures. His successor, Rajadhi Rajasinha, continued his policies, maintaining the independence and cultural richness of the Kandyan Kingdom until the British conquest in 1815. Today, Keerthi Sri Rajasinha is remembered as a pivotal figure in Sri Lankan history, revered for his religious devotion and efforts to preserve the sovereignty and traditions of the Kandyan Kingdom.

Sources

Kings and Rulers of Sri Lanka

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirti Sri Rajasinha 1782 deaths Deaths by horse-riding accident Monarchs of Kandy 1734 births Rajasinha Rajasinha K Buddhist revivalists