In the inscriptions, 'Samankara' is mentioned as Shumana

One particular section of the genealogy of Mahasammatha[i] Dynasty is explained in Wansaththapakasani as follows. "…. out of these eighty four thousand kings, the king called Nimi, who came in to the throne in the latter part, became a very powerful king. His son was Kalarajanaka[ii]. His son was Samankara[iii]. Samankara's son was Asoka. The Atuwa[iv] reports that eighty four thousand kings who were the sons and their sons of Asoka had reigned in Baranas Nuwara[v] itself" (Wansaththpakasani[vi], Page 87). An explanation for the statement which is 'The Atuwa reports' is given in the beginning of this book. According to that, that book is nothing but  the book called Silattakatha Mahavamsa[vii] (Wansaththapakasani, Page 31). Silattakatha Mahavamsa   firmly explains that Mahasammatha Dynasty is a heritage of Heladeepa or Sri Lanka.

This identical genealogy which is a heritage of Lanka is explained in Poojawaliya[viii] as well, but with some little changes in to it. That particular explanation in Poojawaliya goes as follows. '' … hence the identity of Makhadeva Dynasty [ix] experienced some changes (later),  finally, a king called Ashoka who is the son of Kalara Janaka[x] came in the throne. His son was Okkaaka ». From then,the identity of Makhadeva Dynasty was changed and continued as Okkaaka Dynasty. (Poojawaliya,Page 114). Here, a king called Nimi is not mentioned and he has been replaced with Makhadeva Dynasty.  The king called Kalarajanaka found in Wansaththapakasani has been identified as Kaalaarajanaka in Poojawaliya. This small change found in the name is not a serious matter to be worried about. But, according to Wansaththapakasani the son of Kalarajanaka is King Samankara. According to Poojawaliya he is Ashoka and this drives to a very complicated situation. Ashoka is the son of King Samankara, Wansaththapakasani reports. In this case, we can consider Wansaththapakasani as the most ancient book and also can depend on the information given by it as it has taken information from Atuwa itself. There is another reason to be considered the information of Atuwa as true and more historical. That is because, that information has been proved by the inscriptions as well. The inscription discovered from Dulwala is a sound example for this task. That inscription is given below.

810. parumaka shumana putha ashokaha lene (Inscriptions of Ceylon,62)

It is evident that this Shumana found in this inscription is Samankara who is found in Atuwa aswell. This name called Samankara has been mentioned as Shumana across all the inscription. It is evident by all the inscriptions written for God Saman[xi], and in all of them, his name has been highlighted as Shumana (Shumana Saman). This suggests two things, first, Ashoka mentioned in Wansaththapakasani is the son of Samankara and secondly this dynasty is a part  of the heritage Heladeepa or Lanka.

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[i] Mahasammatha is pronounced as Ma-haa-sam-ma-tha.

[ii] Kalarajanaka is pronounced as Ka-laa-ra-ja-na-ka.

[iii] Samankara is pronounced as Sa-man-ka-ra.

[iv] Atuwa, pronounced as A-tu-waa are the commentaries.

[v] The city called Baranas.

[vi] Wansaththapakasani is pronounced as Wan-sath-thap-pa-kaa-sa-nie, is an ancient local text.

[vii] Silattakastha Mahawamsa is pronounced d as See-lat-tha-ka-thaa Ma-haa-vam-sa.

[viii] Poojawaliya is pronounced as Poo-jaa-wa-li-ya, is an ancient local text.

[ix] Makhadeva is pronounced as Ma-khaa-deva.

[x] Kalara Janaka is pronounced as Kaa-laa-ra Ja-na-ka.

[xi] Sumana Saman is a local god. In all Buddhist texts,  he has been identified as the god who invited Lord Buddha to place his sacred footprint on the top of Samanala Peak. This God Saman had been a Parumaka, a regional head, and after his passing away he had been, and still, worshipped as a god.

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)