King of Ceylon (A.D. 133-102). He was the nephew of King Amandagāmani Abhaya. Ananda was succeeded by his son Cūlābhaya and he by his younger sister Sīvalī. After Sīvalī had reigned for four months, Ilanaga dethroned her and became king himself. In the first year of his reign he incurred the displeasure of the powerful Lambakannas and was deprived of his throne and taken captive. It is said that the king was rescued from prison by his state elephant and that he escaped to Rohana. Three years later he gave battle to the Lambakannas at Kapallakkhanda and massacred most of them. He had the noses and toes of the rest cut off as punishment.

He was succeeded by his son Candamukha Siva. To his state elephant, who had helped him, he gave the tract of land called Hatthibhoga. During his exile in Rohana, Ilanaga built two tanks, the Tissa and the Dūra, and restored the Nāgamahāvihāra, which he gave to Mahāpaduma, thera of Tulādhāra, who had preached to him the Kapi Jātaka. He also gave land for its maintenance. Mhv.xxxv.14-45; Dpv.xxi.41f.


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