The Aditye Wansaya presenting the Lindamulage Clan

Johnny De Silva, presenting a typed copy of the English translation of an ola book, The Aditiya Wansaya,  carried out by Pandit Yatinuwara Indaratne Thero for my granduncle Mr Charles de Silva

THE ADITYE DYNASTY (CLAN) OR  ADITYE WANSAYA

The son of Aditiya was known as Aditye i.e. the sun. The lineage that originates from the sun is known as the Solar  dynasty, or ‘Surya Wansaya’.  The ‘Aditye Wansaya’ is the Solar Dynasty in another name; and those that belong to this clan are of Royal descent. The foremost of the Royal clans in ancient India was the Aditye Clan. The ‘Surya Wansaya’ ‘Dinakan Wansaya’ are other names used for this clan.

There was yet another pre-eminent clan known as the Chandra Wansaya or the Lunar Dynasty. These two dynasties as time went by distributed themselves into numerous sub-clans, all of which being Royal clans. It could be seen that the origin of all the latter are the two above clans; and also that the origin of any subsequent Royal clan could be traced to the above.

Historically it could be gathered that even in Ceylon several kings belonging to the above clans wielded power. The dynasties to which they belonged are the Sakya Wansaya, lnansya Wansaya, Lambakarna Wansaya, Skandhawana Wansaya, Mahwawana Wansaya, Sewul Wansaya and Kalinga Wansaya. It should be borne in mind that kings of the original Solar and Lunar (Chandra and Surya) dynasties also reigned in Ceylon.

Even from historical times, due to the close connection between India and Ceylon, many a Prince of Royal blood used to come into Ceylon; and the appearance of various royal clans could be attributed to this.  There is sufficient evidence to form the idea that the appearance of the royal clans mentioned in this book called Aditya Dynasty is due to a group of princes of royal blood who migrated into Ceylon.

It could not be doubted that though separated into different ramifications The Royal Clan is just one that comes through from ancient times from King Maha Sammata. Even to have the multitudes of sons and daughters of two parents run into different races determined by time, place, occupation and behaviour.

The writing in the ancient ola manuscript appearing in the book Atidya Wansaya is of immense help in forming an idea of the condition of the Atidiya dynasty. It is given briefly here for obvious reasons.  The arrival in Ceylon of a group of princes belonging to the Royal clan “Arya Kshathriya” from the district “Jaya” in Rajaputana in India, is supposed to be during the latter half of the twelfth century or the beginning of the thirteenth century during the reign of either Vijayabahu III or his son the second Parakrama renowned for the titles Kalikala Sahithya Samuraksagra Panditha. This was the time when India was over run by the Muslims and the latter began to establish their rule. The same fate befell this land of Rajaputana and many princes and princesses left their land and emigrated to other domains. Of them a group of Thakuraka, some prominent members of the Arya Kihathiyas migrated into Ceylon. With the help of a king reigning at that time they settled themselves in the neighbourhood of Kurunegala. These princes were extremely warlike and it appears that they served in the army of Kalikala Sathithye Sarvakgna Panditha Parakrama Bahu II. The Aryakshathiyas played a leading part in the battle that Prince Vijayabahu waged against the Jawakas at the instance of his father King Parakrama Bahu. It was in this battle that their loyalty and warlike qualities were evinced. Thakuratha the chief of the Aryakshathiyas army became the commander of the Aryasenawa.

Vijayabahu IV who reigned after Parakrama Bahu was assassinated by “Miththa” a cruel army chief at Polonnaruwa and the latter according to his wishes became King. Whilst the Sinhalese warriors in the army accepted payment of wages the Aryakshatryas imbued with loyalty refused to accept payment. As a further demonstration of their loyalty Army Chief “Thakuraka” having come into the presence of the king seated on the throne raised the sword high and laid the king low. Later having explained to the people the reason for the murder of the king, he invited

Bhuvaneka Bahu the second son of Parakrama Bahu II who was living at Yapahuwa and getting him enthroned he lived the same life of loyalty as of old under Bhuvenaka Bahu.

Thus “Thakuraka” who has royal favours settled down in Kurunegala along with those that belonged to his clan.

As time went by, a warlike chieftain by the name of “Arthadeva” belonging to the “Thakuraka” lineage went out of Kurunegala and settled down in the famous village, Rankothdiwela in Sathara Korale. He contracted a marriage from Rankothdiwela Walauwa and had a son.  He was named

“Atidiya Bandara” after the origin of their ancestry. This was a time when the land of Lanka was war torn; and in the Kingdom of Kotte was reigning King Vijayabahu the seventh. From his first queen he had four sons named Rayagam Bandara, Bhuvaneke Bahu, Para Rajasinghe and Mayadunne of whom the first died in his childhood. After the death of the queen mother, King Vijayabahu betook unto himself a princess from Keerawella who bore a son named Deva Rajasinghe. Due to some reason a displeasure arose between the king and the sons of the first queen. They fled the city and having collected an army, began a battle with the king. Among them Prince Bhuvaneke Bahu learned the arts of war under “Arthadeva” at Rankothdiwela. On his march to Kotte prince Bhuvaneke Bahu accompanied Princess Siribaba (a niece of Arthadeva – his sister’s daughter) his wife Samudra Devi and his daughter Princess Chandrawathie.

In this battle between the three brothers and the king, the latter was killed. Bhuvaneke Bahu then became King of Kotte Prince Para Rajasinghe the provincial head of Riygama and Prince Mayadunne the provincial head of Sitawaka. King Bhuvaneke Bahu sent messengers inviting his childhood friend Aditya Bandara, the son of “Arthadeva” to Kotte. Aditya Bandara who had won the royal pleasure was an expert in the art of warfare and was helpful in the war that Bhuvaneke Bahu waged. He was made the Chief of the King’s Protective Regiment. He was granted the name “Gardiya Wasam”, meaning thereby the chief of the King’s Protective Army.  Due to his being a favourite of the king and skilled in the arts of war he lived mostly at the Palace. The king was so highly pleased with his capabilities and resourcefulness that he granted him several gifts of lands.

Some time after, “Aditya Bandara” married his cousin Princess Siribara aforementioned at the  palace itself. It appears that Aditya Bandara’s relations were invited to the wedding. They also settled down in the capital. From Princess Siribara, Aditye Bandara had five sons and two daughters. The eldest son was known as Pedru de Silva.  It was at his baptism that he was given this Portuguese name.  The Sinhalese all along had Arya Sinhala names; but after the advent of the Portuguese and the consequent adoption of the Christian faith by the Sinhalese there began free use of western names, but from a natural point of view this did not seem to be good.

Aditye Bandara happened to be known as “Lindamulage” and it seems to have originated from an indignant term used by Don Juan Dharmapale who was in all respects obedient to the Portuguese.  In whatever terms he had been in the beginning Aditye Bandara does not appear to have been well disposed towards the Portuguese towards the latter part. Even at the beginning several sons of Aditye Bandara were on the side of Mayadunne which fact was indicative of their antagonism towards the Portuguese. With the onset of Dharmapala’s period after that of

Bhuvaneke Bahu, Aditye Bandara found himself in distress. Once he seems to have been sentenced with capital punishment. When however he pleaded as to how loyal he was to the previous king and showed how he brought victory in the wars, he was granted freedom.

In his life sketch it is reported that he dug an extremely beautiful well for his daughter to bathe in and that he esteemed it more than his life.  It was thus that he came to be known as “Linda mulage” and later this was used as an ancestral name in the form of “Lindamulage”.  And those like Pedru de Silva that belong to this lineage of Aditya Bandara use their ancestral name as Thakuraka Arthadeva Aditya Gardiye Wasam Lindamulage. This usage is continued it is seen up to date.

The story in brief

In or about the reign of King Kalikala Sahitya Sarwagna Panditha Parakrama Bahu II of Dambadeniya, there arrived in this land a group of Arya Kshatriyas from the province named “Jaya” in the state of Rajputana in India. Their chief was named Thakuraka and they settled down in the neighbourhood of Kurunegala.  A pre-eminent person that came from that

ancestry and named “Arthadeva” subsequently went to live at Rankothdiwela in Sathara Korale.  He had a son named Adithye Bandara.  King Bhuvaneka Bahu the seventh who reigned in Kotte invited Adithye Bandara to his domain.  Having become the chief of the King’s Protective Army and hence known as Gardiye Wasam he won royal favours and having married Princess Siribara he had five sons and two daughters.  His eldest son was known as Pedru de Silva.  Aditye Bandara came to be known somehow as Lindamulage due to an indignant term used by King Don Juan Dharmapa1a.  Those that belong to this ancestry write their ancestra1 name as

“Thakuraka Arthadeva Atidya Gardiya Wasam Lindamulage”.

For the lnformation of Thakuraka Arthdeva Atidiya Gardiya Wasam Lindamulage Charles de Silva Esqr.

I have read through the book Aditye Wansaya.  It brings to light much information on the lineage of Aditye Bandara according to the ancient writing indicated therein; and the facts shown are in accord with history.  A dissemination of this information is a signal honour to whomsoever that is living in the ancestry of Aditye Bandara.

I remain Pandit Yatinuwara Indaratne Thero