Martanda Cinkaiariyan
Encyclopedia
Martanda Cinkaiariyan (died 1348) ascended the throne of Jaffna Kingdom
under the throne name Pararasasekaram III. He is one of the early Aryacakravarti kings about whom historical and epigraph
ical evidence is available. He was noted by Ibn Battuta
in his well known travelogue as well as he has left behind a few inscriptions.
, a Moroccan
traveller described his rule in his travelogue. Ibn Battuta mentions that the King had a large navy, and was seen trading in pearls, cinnamon
and ahil and had cordial relationship with Indian rulers. In his travelogue it was noted that the king has encamped in the Puttalam
are where he had his seasonal capital. He was encamped due to the pearl
ing season.
records that Martanda was forced to subdue Vanniar chieftains from the Vanni
region who had rebelled against him. An inscription dated in the 3rd regnal year of Vikramabahu III (1357–1374), found at the Medawala Rajamaha Vihara in the Kandy District
records a treaty between that king and an Aryacakravarti named Martanda (Sin ai Ariyan) of Jaffna. In the Medawala inscriptions of 1359 found near a bo-tree
at Medawala in Harispattuva reveals that Martanda appointed tax collectors to collect taxes from the villages of Sinduruvana, Balawita, Matale
, Dumbara and Sagamathunarata which belonged to the Gampola kingdom.
It is believed that because of Martanda's incursions into Four Korales (a medieval division of western Sri Lanka) belonging to Gampola kingdom as well as other sections of Udarata kingdom came under the control of Jaffna kingdom
. The Rajavaliya a primary source
written during that period too refers to the fact that the Aryacakravartis collected taxes from Udarata and Southern lowlands. Some historians attribute the Kotagama inscriptions
which describes a victory by an unknown Aryacakravarti to him but others date it to the 15th century based on language usage.
Jaffna Kingdom
The Jaffna kingdom , also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka was a historic monarchy that came into existence around the town of Jaffna on the Jaffna peninsula after the invasion of Magha, who is said to have been from Kalinga, in India...
under the throne name Pararasasekaram III. He is one of the early Aryacakravarti kings about whom historical and epigraph
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
ical evidence is available. He was noted by Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
in his well known travelogue as well as he has left behind a few inscriptions.
Ibn Battuta
Ibn BattutaIbn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
, a Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
traveller described his rule in his travelogue. Ibn Battuta mentions that the King had a large navy, and was seen trading in pearls, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
and ahil and had cordial relationship with Indian rulers. In his travelogue it was noted that the king has encamped in the Puttalam
Puttalam
Puttalam is the capital city of the Puttalam District in North Western Province, Sri Lanka.-History:The history of this dry zone dates back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya, nearly 2500 years ago, when his vessel washed ashore. The name "Puttalam" may be a modification of the Tamil word Uppuththalam...
are where he had his seasonal capital. He was encamped due to the pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
ing season.
Military exploits
The primary source such as Yalpana Vaipava MalaiYalpana Vaipava Malai
Yalpana Vaipava Malai is a book written by a Tamil poet called Mayilvagana Pulavar 1736 AD. This book contains historical facts of the early Tamil city of Jaffna. The book which may have been written around 1736 during the Governorship of Jan Maccara, the then Dutch Governor of Jaffna. It was...
records that Martanda was forced to subdue Vanniar chieftains from the Vanni
Vanni (Sri Lanka)
The Vanni is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It covers the entirety of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts, and most of Kilinochchi District. It has an area of approximately 7,650 km2...
region who had rebelled against him. An inscription dated in the 3rd regnal year of Vikramabahu III (1357–1374), found at the Medawala Rajamaha Vihara in the Kandy District
Kandy District
Kandy District is a district of the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Its area is 1906.3 km². The capital of the district is Kandy.- Demographics :...
records a treaty between that king and an Aryacakravarti named Martanda (Sin ai Ariyan) of Jaffna. In the Medawala inscriptions of 1359 found near a bo-tree
Sacred Fig
The Sacred Fig, Ficus religiosa, or Bo-Tree , Peepal is a species of banyan fig native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina...
at Medawala in Harispattuva reveals that Martanda appointed tax collectors to collect taxes from the villages of Sinduruvana, Balawita, Matale
Matale
Matale is a town in the hill country of Sri Lanka, from Colombo and from Kandy. It is an area steeped in history and village living. The mayor of Matale is Hilmy Careem, as of May, 2006....
, Dumbara and Sagamathunarata which belonged to the Gampola kingdom.
It is believed that because of Martanda's incursions into Four Korales (a medieval division of western Sri Lanka) belonging to Gampola kingdom as well as other sections of Udarata kingdom came under the control of Jaffna kingdom
Jaffna Kingdom
The Jaffna kingdom , also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka was a historic monarchy that came into existence around the town of Jaffna on the Jaffna peninsula after the invasion of Magha, who is said to have been from Kalinga, in India...
. The Rajavaliya a primary source
Primary source
Primary source is a term used in a number of disciplines to describe source material that is closest to the person, information, period, or idea being studied....
written during that period too refers to the fact that the Aryacakravartis collected taxes from Udarata and Southern lowlands. Some historians attribute the Kotagama inscriptions
Kotagama inscriptions
The Kotagama inscriptions found in Kegalle District in Sri Lanka is a record of victory left by the Aryacakravarti kings of the Jaffna Kingdom in western Sri Lanka.The inscription reads;...
which describes a victory by an unknown Aryacakravarti to him but others date it to the 15th century based on language usage.