In the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka, the Kings maintained a harem that consisted of a chief queen and one or two secondary queens. In addition to the queens, the harem also included concubines, who were divided into three categories based on their rank. The highest-ranking category was Randoli, which consisted of consorts of royal blood who held the position of chief queen. The second category, Rididoli, consisted of consorts from either noble families of royal lineage or sisters of Randoli. The lowest ranking category was Yakadadoli, who were from the Radala (Elite) castes.[1][2]
The names Randoli, Rididoli, and Yakadadoli are believed to have originated from the palanquins used by the different ranks of consorts of the Kings of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. The Randoli consorts used a palanquin made from gold, which is reflected in their name. The Rididoli consorts used a palanquin made from silver, and the Yakadadoli consorts used a palanquin made from iron. This naming convention was likely used to differentiate the different ranks and levels of status among the royal consorts.
Queen Consort (Sinhala: අග බිසව) was the highest-ranked position in the Randoli category, and her biological or adoptive children were the only ones qualified to succeed to the throne. Children of both Rididoli and Yakadadoli were disqualified from kingship. In the Kandyan Kingdom, the position of Queen Consort did not hold political power but enjoyed equal status as the king.
In the first dynasty to rule the Kingdom of Kandy, the House of Siri Sanghabo, the kings married Sinhalese royal blood lineage (Gampola, Keerawalle) as the Queen Consort. However, in the second dynasty, House of Dinaraja, the kings married South Indian princesses of the Madurai royal family, except for the first and the second king, who married the only successor of the previous dynasty, Siri Sanghabo.
In the last and the third dynasty, Nayakkar, the kings married South Indian princesses of Madurai. In this dynasty, the position of Queen Consort was more significant. They did not have any direct political powers, but they had the right to appoint the next successor to the throne, and their families had influence in the court of the Kandy.
Pramila Devi
One of the most famous queen consorts in the history of the Kandy Kingdom was Pramila Devi, who hailed from the Nayakkar Dynasty of Madurai. However, her association with the second adigar of the court, Daskon, who was of Portuguese and French descent and a close friend of the king, was frowned upon as a forbidden affair. Despite being a consort, Pramila Devi was childless and refused to adopt the king's only son from a Yakadadoli (royal concubine), leaving the question of succession to the throne in doubt. In the end, she appointed her brother as the Apa (ඈපා, Great Duke), a powerful position, to be the next king of the kingdom, thereby establishing a new dynasty.
Kusumāsana Devi, also known as Don Catherine of Kandy, was a significant figure in the history of the Kingdom of Kandy. As the only heir to the throne of Kandy from her father's lineage, she briefly ruled the kingdom as queen regent backed by the Portuguese army. However, she was deposed by Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy due to political reasons. Kusumāsana Devi eventually married Vimaladharmasuriya I, becoming a queen consort. Due to her unique position as the heir to the throne, she enjoyed more significant political powers than any other queen consort in the history of the kingdom. However, after Vimaladharmasuriya I's sudden death, she decided to become the regent of the kingdom to pass the throne to her son, Mahastane Adahasin. Unfortunately, her plans were disrupted when Senarath of Kandy forcefully married her to establish himself as the king of Kandy. Despite being a queen consort, she was relatively inactive in politics during the reign of Senarath due to her physical and mental illness, which was most likely caused by forced marriage. Kusumāsana Devi fell ill after her son Mahastane Adahasin died in 1612, and she passed away on 10 July 1613 at the age of 35.
The Portuguese Pedro Lopez welcomes the Empress of Ceylon, Dona Catharina.
Venkata Rangammal Devi
Venkata Rangammal was the mysterious queen consort who held the title in the final years of the Kingdom of Kandy. Not much is known about her life, but it is said that she lived a secluded life in the queen's quarters (Meda Wasala). Only her closest servants were able to catch a glimpse of her. After she was deposed from her position, she did not live much longer and passed away childless in the Vellore fort. Her life remains shrouded in mystery, leaving historians and curious minds to wonder about her story.
Queens' Chambers
The Queens' Chambers, also known as the Meda Wasala (Sinhala: මැද වාසල), is located to the north of the Palle Vahale, which was used as quarters for the royal concubines and is similar in architectural design. It consists of a small open courtyard with verandahs and a single bedroom, constructed of valuable timber with a bed placed on four stone understructures. The entrance to the middle hall is made of large logs, and the door lid is small, attached to the tile with wooden hinges. The building is designed to be locked only from the inside, and the corridor near the courtyard carries frescoes, a unique feature for a residence.
Many features of Kandy era architecture can be seen in the Meda Wasala, including wooden pillars with carvings, piyassa with pebbles, a central courtyard with padma boradam, and a drain system built around it. According to historical records of the Kandy era, King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha secluded Queen Rangammal in this building, and only her closest servants had the chance to see her. Despite its size, the Meda Wasala has only one room, and four copper sheets in the archaeological museum are believed to have been used as a protective spell buried in pits in the four pillars of the bed. These mantras were likely used for the protection of sexual affairs. Some flower patterns drawn on a red background have also been found under the plaster on the surface of the wall.[3][4]
The Wedding Ceremony of Queen Consort
The wedding ceremony of the queen consort of Kandy, as detailed in "An Account of the Interior of Ceylon, and of Its Inhabitants" by John Davy, was a grand and elaborate affair. The Adikars first determined a lucky day and hour for the celebration and lavishly decorated the queen's apartment, Meda Wasala (Sinhala: මැද වාසල). On the wedding day, the king arrived and was presented with flowers by the chiefs while the ladies rubbed sandal powder and other perfumes on his arms. The same attention was given to the bride upon her arrival.
The ceremony continued for several days, during which the bride and groom underwent various traditional customs. They were bathed, dressed in saffron robes, and blessed by each member of the company as two necklaces were carried around on a gold plate. The father or nearest male relative of the bride poured water on betel leaves from a gold pot and declared that he relinquished his daughter to the king. The mother was asked if she assented, and upon answering in the affirmative, the king put a necklace around the bride's neck and clasped it. The curtain was then removed, and the bride and groom saw each other for the first time, joining their little fingers and tying the ends of their clothes together. This part of the ceremony was repeated for four successive days, and on the fourth day, the king put the second necklace on the bride and clasped it, completing the entire marriage rites.
The following day, the king and queen engaged in a playful activity of throwing perfumed balls and squirting scented water at each other. Even the wives of the chiefs were allowed to participate in this activity. Afterward, the chiefs and their ladies were invited to the palace for a grand supper, during which they were entertained with performances by dancers, singing girls, and musicians. The king presided over the entertainment, seated in an elevated chair, encouraging mirth and facetious conversation. Separate dishes, including two or three hundred different kinds of curries, were served, and milk or a sweet beverage resembling lemonade was offered as a drink.
The chiefs had the duty of making presents to the king and queen the following month, according to their respective ranks, situations, and means. The presents consisted of trinkets, jewels, and embroidered cloths, with each offering divided into two portions, one for the king and the other for the queen. The chiefs and their wives were invited to another supper and entertainment, during which they presented their gifts with all possible respect and attended by musicians, dancers, and singers.
Overall, the wedding ceremony of the queen consort of Kandy was a joyous occasion filled with festivities and an unusual exchange of civilities, as described by John Davy. It was an extraordinary relaxation of court discipline.[5]
Royal Consort
Rididoli (Sinhala: රිදී දෝලිය), also known as secondary queen consorts or Royal Consorts, were women who held the second-highest rank among the concubines in the harem of the Kings of the Kingdom of Kandy. They were either sisters or relatives of the Randoli, the queen consort. Their sons, however, could not ascend to the throne, but their offspring were often appointed as high officials of the royal court. If the queen consort adopted their sons, they could have a chance to become the king, although in history, no son of a Rididoli was appointed as a king.
Favorite consorts of the king frequently received land grants, and they used a palanquin made from silver that reflected their level in the royal household. Muttu Kannamma Devi Degal Sami and Venkata Ammal Degal Sami were the last Rididolis in the Kandyan court.
During the reign of Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha of Kandy, the royal court was greatly influenced by several royal consorts, known as Rididolis. Among these influential consorts were Upendra Ammah, also known as Opiantia Ammah, and Renganaikie Ammah, who was the sister of the queen consort Alamaloo Ammah and also the sister of Ramasamy. Upendra Ammah, the cousin of Ramasamy, had a son named Coomarasamy Raja. Coomarasamy Raja was jointly adopted by Queen Consort Alamaloo Ammah and Royal Consort Renganaikie Ammah. He went on to have a son named Muttusamy Raja, who would become an important figure in the Kandyan court. The relationships and influence of these Rididolis, particularly Upendra Ammah, Renganaikie Ammah, and their adopted son Coomarasamy Raja, highlight the complex political and social dynamics of the Kandyan court during Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha's reign.[6]
Royal Consorts Quarters
The Royal Consorts Quarters, also known as the Lower Palace or Palle Wahale (Sinhala: පල්ලේ වාසල),[7][8] is a historical building constructed during the Sri Vickrama Rajasingha era. It was primarily used as the quarters for the king's royal concubines, known as Ridi dolis and Yakada dolis.[9] The main doorway leads to a small hall in front of the central building, flanked on either side by two wings. Inner verandahs on all four sides face an inner central courtyard. The windows are made of wooden poles with cracks, and legend has it that King Kirti Sri Rajasingha first resided in this building. In 1942, the building was converted into the National Museum of Kandy and is currently maintained by Department of National Museums.[10]
Yakadadoli (Sinhala: යකඩ දෝලිය) were a group of royal concubines who belonged to elite castle families known as Radala. Many of their fathers served as officials to the king, and they lived in separate mansions (Walawwa) near the royal palace. Some of them also resided in Palle Wahale, the royal consort quarters. However, their children were disqualified from inheriting the throne.[11][12]
Favorite concubines frequently received land grants, and their offspring were appointed as high officials of the royal court. If the queen consort, Randoli, adopted their sons, they had a chance to ascend to the throne. In one rare case, Muthukuda Devi, a Yakadadoli from Vimaladharmasuriya II of Kandy, had her son, Prince Kundasale, adopted as the son of the Madurai queen consort. He succeeded the throne on June 4, 1707, as Vira Narendra Sinha of Kandy. However, another prince from a different Yakadadoli, Prince Pattiye Bandara, who was not adopted by the queen consort, was disqualified from inheriting the throne when his brother, Prince Kundasale, was crowned as the king.
One of the Yakadadoli in the harem of the Nayakkar King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (AD 1747 - 1782) was the daughter of the Bintenne Disawe and the granddaughter of Mámpitiye Disawe. She had a very capable and popular son by the king, named Mámpitiya Bandára. However, Mámpitiya Bandara was not considered an heir to the throne. This Yakadadoli was later selected as a mistress of Kirti Sri Rajasinghe's successor, Rajádhi Rajasinghe (A. D. 1782 - 1798).[13]
As per customary law, anyone seeking refuge in the house of a Yakadadoli could not be arrested.
Related Research Articles
King Rajasinghe II, also known as Rajasingha II, was a Sinhalese King, reigned 1629 – 6 December 1687; third king of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. Rajasingha requested Dutch aid to help expel the Portuguese from the island, which they successfully did in 1656. By this time however it had become clear to the Kandyans that the Dutch not only intended to expel the Portuguese but to replace them as the major colonial power on the island. This transfer of power is also believed to be where the Sinhala idiom / figure of speech “ඉඟුරු දී මිරිස් ගත්තා වාගේ” Inguru di miris gaththa wagay was originated - in reference that the Dutch Rule was much more of a menace to the king and cruel to the people in the island than the Portuguese. From 1645 onwards Rajasingha was engaged in sporadic warfare with his erstwhile allies.
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was the last of four Kings to rule the last Sinhalese monarchy of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. The Nayak Kings were of Telugu origin and practiced Shaivite Hinduism and were patrons of Theravada Buddhism. The Nayak rulers played a huge role in reviving Buddhism in the island. They spoke Telugu and Tamil, and used Tamil as the court language in Kandy alongside Sinhala.
Radala refers to a small minority group in Sri Lanka in the former provinces of the Kingdom of Kandy, who are either descendants of chiefs and courtiers of the King of Kandy of Nayaks of Kandy or descendants of native headmen appointed by the British colonial administration following the Uva Rebellion in 1818.
Yakadadoli were aristocratic concubines in the harem of the Kings of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. Kandyan Kings maintained harems, in addition to a chief queen and one or two secondary queens. The concubines in the harem, consisted of two categories, the Randoli who were concubines of royal blood and Yakadadoli who were primarily from the Radala caste. Children of both Randoli and Yakadadoli were disqualified from kingship. This was the case with Vira Narendra Sinha who had Sri Vijaya Rajasinha the brother of his queen succeed him as opposed to his sons from his Randoli. Favorite concubines frequently received land grants and their offspring were appointed as high officials of the royal court, and in a few cases captured kingdoms by deposing less scandalous and more legitimate heirs to the throne.
The Nayaks of Kandy were the rulers of the Kingdom of Kandy between 1739 and 1815, and the last dynasty to rule on the island. The term Nayak is derived from the Sanskrit word Nāyaka. Their rise to power came about as a result of the death of Vira Narendrasinha, who left no legitimate heir- the throne passed to his brother-in-law, who was crowned as Sri Vijaya Rajasinha in 1739. They were of Telugu origin, spoke Telugu and Tamil, and used Sinhala and Tamil as their court languages. They are also credited for building various Vishnu temples in Sri Lanka dedicated to their clan deity Vishnu, known as Upulvan in Sinhala. A prominent one of them was the Kandy Vishnu Temple established at their capital Kandy.
The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the 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.
Vimaladharmasūriya I was a king of Kandy from 1590 to 1604. His reputation was built when he successfully repulsed two major Portuguese offensives on Kandy, the Battle of Danture in 1594 and the Battle of Balana in 1602, in both of which the Portuguese were humiliatingly defeated.
Kirti Sri Rajasinha was the second Nayaka king of Kandy. He was a prince from the Madurai Nayak Dynasty and the brother-in-law of Sri Vijaya Raja Singha. He succeeded his brother-in-law to the throne in 1751.
Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha was a member of the Madurai royal family and succeeded his brother, Kirti Sri Rajasinha as King of Kandy in 1782.
Vimaladharmasurya II was a king of Kandy who succeeded his father, Rajasinghe II. He allowed Joseph Vaz to settle in his kingdom and allowed him to preach the Christian faith.
The Royal Palace of Kandy, located to the north of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, was the royal residence of the Sri Lankan monarchy of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. The last king to reside in it was King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (1798–1815). Once part of a large palace complex that included the King's Palace, Royal Audience Hall, Queen's Palace, King's Harem Quarters and Queen's Bathing Pavilion (Ulpange), together with the Temple of the Tooth. Adjacent to the Royal Palace is the Victorian era building that until recently housed Kandy High Court.
Sri Vira Parakrama Narendra Singha was the last Sinhalese King of Sri Lanka of the Kingdom of Kandy. He was also known as the "Prince of Kundasale".
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The relic was historically held by Sinhalese kings. The temple of the tooth is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple and the relic.
The National Museum of Kandy in Kandy, Sri Lanka is located next to the Temple of the Tooth in part of the former Royal Palace of Kandy. The primary exhibits are housed in the Palle Vahala building, which was the former home of the King's harem. A secondary exhibition is located in the main palace building. The museum is maintained by the Department of National Museums.
Kusumāsana Devi, also known as Dona Catherina, was ruling Queen of Kandy in 1581. She was deposed, but queen consort of Kandy by marriage to Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy from 1594 to 1604.
The Danture campaign comprised a series of encounters between the Portuguese and the Kingdom of Kandy in 1594, part of the Sinhalese–Portuguese War. It is considered a turning point in the indigenous resistance to Portuguese expansion. For the first time in Sri Lanka a Portuguese army was essentially annihilated, when they were on the verge of the total conquest of the island. A 20,000-strong Portuguese army, led by Governor Pedro Lopes de Sousa, invaded Kandy on 5 July 1594. After three months, severely depleted by guerilla warfare and mass desertions, what remained of the Portuguese army was annihilated at Danture by the Kandyans under King Vimaladharmasuriya. With this victory, the Kingdom of Kandy emerged as a major military power; it was to retain its independence, against Portuguese, Dutch, and British armies, until 1815.
Kandyan law is the customary law that originates from the Kingdom of Kandy, which is applicable to Sri Lankans who are Buddhist and from the former provinces of the Kandyan Kingdom. It is one of three customary laws which are still in use in Sri Lanka. The other two customary laws are the Thesavalamai and the Muslim law. At present it governs aspects of marriage, adoption, transfer of property and inheritance, as codified in 1938 in the Kandyan Law Declaration and Amendment Ordinance.
The Kandyan period covers the history of Sri Lanka from 1597–1815. After the fall of the Kingdom of Kotte, the Kandyan Kingdom was the last Independent monarchy of Sri Lanka. The Kingdom played a major role throughout the history of Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1476. The kingdom located in the central part of Sri Lanka managed to remain independent from both the Portuguese and Dutch rule who controlled coastal parts of Sri Lanka; however, it was colonised by the British in 1815.
The Dynasty of Vimaladharmasuriya I was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Kandy for nearly 150 years, from 1590 to 1739. This royal dynasty played a significant role in the history of Sri Lanka, as it oversaw the reestablishment and flourishing of the Kandyan Kingdom after the Portuguese captured Kandy in the 16th century. The Dynasty of Vimaladharamasooriya I was responsible for ushering in a new era of political stability and cultural vibrancy in Kandy, during which time the kingdom saw significant economic growth and artistic innovation. Despite its eventual downfall in the mid-18th century, the legacy of the Dynasty of Vimaladharmasuriya I continues to endure in Sri Lanka's cultural heritage.
References
↑ Fernando, A. Denis N. (1986). "ANCIENT MAPS OF SRI LANKA—as a Primary Source of Information for the Study of HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND POLITICAL BOUNDARIES". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka Branch. 31: 82–114.
↑ Vimaladharma, Kapila Pathirana (2000). "FAMILY GENEALOGIES IN THE STUDY OF PRE-COLONIAL KANDYAN SOCIETY AND POLITY". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 45: 93–128.
↑ Wimaladharma, Kapila P. (2003). Women in the Kandyan Kingdom of the Seventeenth Century Sri Lanka: A Study in the Application of Gender Theory in Historical Analysis. Varuni Publishers. p.121. ISBN9789555660013.
↑ "Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka". 45–46. Colombo: Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 2000: 110–111.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
↑ Seneviratna, Anuradha (1983). Kandy: An Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments with Historical, Archaeological and Literary Descriptions including maps of the City and its suburbs. Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs. p.79.
↑ Fernando, A. Denis N. (1986). "ANCIENT MAPS OF SRI LANKA—as a Primary Source of Information for the Study of HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND POLITICAL BOUNDARIES". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka Branch. 31: 82–114.
↑ Vimaladharma, Kapila Pathirana (2000). "FAMILY GENEALOGIES IN THE STUDY OF PRE-COLONIAL KANDYAN SOCIETY AND POLITY". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 45: 93–128.
Pon Kulendiren. Sufferings of Innocent Souls: Short Stories on Human Rights Violations. Xlibris Corporation, Sep 1, 2012 pg. 62[self-published source]
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