The Sage and the teacher called Kapila was a noble person who lived in ancient Lakdiva

The Sage and the teacher called Kapila was a noble person who lived in ancient Lakdiva[1]

The king Chethiya[2] had five sons. Following the instructions of the Sage called Kapila, they built cities in different places and lived in those cities. One of them, built and lived in the city called Hasthipura[3], how it was called in the past, Kurunegala, as it is called in the present day. This incident is mentioned in Poojawaliya ( Page 111).

In the Buddhist literature, above mentioned Sage Kapila, has been explained in many occasions. He had been a teaching Sage who was through in art and science. This Sage was a son of Lanka, he had lived in Lanka and was a noble person who had advised the Maha Sammatha Dynasty. Because of this, his name had been taken in to the inscriptions in Lanka. One such inscription in which his name can be seen is as follows.

803'    wpßh lms, mq; n.fojy p   Achariya kapila putha bagadewaha cha

        mreul wkqä p ums; f,fK  parumaka anudi cha mapitha lene

        w.; wk.; Y.Y             Agatha anugatha shagasha

The cage build by Bhagadewa, the son of teacher Kapila and also Pramuka Anudi is (given) for all the Sanga[4] who are present and not. (Inscriptions of Ceylon, Page 61).

The Parumaka called Anudi also had joint hands with Bhagadewa. This particular Anudi's father had been stated as Uththara[5]. In looking in to the names mentioned in these inscriptions, one particular thing is very clear. And that is that these names of people and castes had been used in very ancient times. Kapila, Bhagadewa, Anudi and Uththara are the examples for that. It is not necessary to hold on to the doubt that Anudi, the person who built the cave with Sage Kapila, was a prominent character in the Okkkaya Dynasty. The Pramukas can be identified as a group who follow the instruction of teachings Sage Kapila. Having said all these, it is evident that these names and incidents are related to the ancient heritage of Sri Lanka.  

[1] Lakdiva - the island called Lanka.

[2] Chethiya is pronounced as Che-thi-ya.

[3] Hasthipura - the city of elephants.

[4] Sanga- The non-lay disciples of the Buddha.

[5] Uththara is pronounced as Uth-tha-ra.

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)