| Gothabhaya | |
|---|---|
| King of Anuradhapura | |
| Reign | 254–267 |
| Predecessor | Siri Sangha Bodhi I |
| Successor | Jettha Tissa I |
| Died | 267 |
| Issue | Jettha Tissa I Mahasena |
| House | House of Lambakanna I |
Gothabhaya, also known as Meghavannabhaya, Gothakabhaya and Goluaba, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka whose reign lasted from 254 to 267. [1] During his reign, Gothabhaya renovated several temples and monasteries and also built a new temple. He is the last of three princes who seized the throne from King Vijaya Kumara and ruled the country. He is known for banishing 60 Buddhist monks who followed teaching contradictory to Theravada, and also for rebelling against his friend Samghabodhi to seize the throne himself. [2] [1]
Prince Gothabhaya came from the Lambakanna dynasty, he was invited by the previous ruler called King Vijaya Kumara to the palace alongside with Prince Sangha Tissa and Prince Sangha Bodhi, by hearing a prediction Prince Gothabhaya had been interested on capturing the throne of the kingdom and with the help of his friend Prince Sangha Tissa which at the time of the conspiracy had held the position of commander in chief of the army, together they killed the king. [2] [1]
According to a legend a blind man had predicted that the three Princes would reign over the kingdom. [1]
Gothabhaya had two sons named Jetthatissa and Mahasena. He entrusted the education of his sons to a South Indian monk named Sanghamitta who had befriended him. This turned out to be a key point in Sri Lankan history since Mahasena, who had embraced the Vaitulya doctrines taught by Sanghamitta, constructed the Jetavana temple which became one of the country's three main schools of Buddhism during the Anuradhapura period despite Gothabhaya's efforts to arrest the spread of Vaitulyavada. [3]
