Naga people (Lanka)
The Naga people are believed by some to be an ancient
Certain places such as Nagadeepa in Jaffna and Kalyani in Gampaha are mentioned as their abodes.[3] The names of some Naga kings in Sri Lankan legends such as Mani Akkhitha (Mani Naga) and Mahodara are also found in Sanskrit literature among superhuman Nagas[note 2], and the cult of Mani Naga prevailed in India up to medieval times.[4]
The Jaffna Peninsula was mentioned in Tamil literature as Naka Nadu, in Pali literature as Nagadeepa and in Greek gazetteer as Nagadiba.[5][6][7][8] The name Nagabhumi was also found on a Brahmi-inscribed coin from Uduthurai, Jaffna and in a Tamil inscription from Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu referring to the Jaffna peninsula.[9]
Etymology
The word "Naga" literally means "snake" or "serpent" in Sanskrit, Pali, Sinhala & Tamil language.
Origin
According to Manogaran, some scholars also "have postulated that the Yakshas and Nagas [...] are the aboriginal tribes of Sri Lanka".[10] Scholars like K. Indrapala regard them as an ancient tribe who started to assimilate to Tamil culture and language from the 3rd century BCE.[11][a] According to him, in the end of the 9th century or probably very long before that time, the Nagas assimilated into the two major ethnic groups of the island.
According to
Early references
Mahavamsa
The chronicle states that the
The chronicle further states that in the eighth year after the Enlightenment, the Buddha visited the island for the third time, on an invitation of Maniakkhita, the Naga king of Kalyani (Modern day Kelaniya) who is the uncle of the Naga king of Nagadeepa.[22]
Manimekalai
In the
By the time Buddhism had reached Tamilakam, the twin epics of ancient Tamil Nadu
Identifying Manipallavam
The similarity of the legend about the Buddha's seat given in the Mahavamsa to that in the Manimekalai has led certain scholars to identify the Manipallavam with Nagadeepa (currently Nainativu), which has caused the history to be extracted out of the legend.[3][note 4]
The Naga king Valai Vanan was stated in the Manimekalai to be the king of Naga Nadu, one of the two territories in Sri Lanka, the other being Ilankaitheevam.[29] Several scholars identify Naga Nadu with the Jaffna Peninsula, and Manipallavam with Nainativu.[32][33][34] Other scholars identify Karaitivu as Manipallavam.[35]
Ramayana
In the Indian epic Ramayana, the mythological island Lanka has been often identified with Sri Lanka. The inhabitants of Lanka were mentioned as non-humans, mainly referring to the Rakshasas and Yakshas, but also mentioning the Nagas.[10] Indrajit, the son of Ravana was married to Sulochana, a Naga princess.[37]
Others
Ptolemy in his 1st century map of Taprobane mentions Nagadibois.[8] Ptolemy mentions in 150 CE that King Sornagos, a descendant of this lineage, ruled from the early Chola capital of Uraiyur during this time.[38]
Culture
Irrigation
It is also believed they were great irrigation engineers who built water storages. The Giant's Tank dam and reservoir system in Mannar, Sri Lanka is considered by some (such as Author, Mudaliyar C. Rajanayagam) to have been built by the Nagas based on the extensive ruins and the presence of villages with surrounding the port with Naga name (e.g. Nagarkulam, Nagathazhvu and Sirunagarkulam).[39][failed verification]
Snake worship
Religion
There is substantial evidence to say that Nagas were Buddhist followers after the 4th century B.C. One such example is Buddha's second visit Sri Lanka mentioned in both the Manimekalai and Mahavamsa.[40]
See also
Notes
- ^ Kathiragesu Indrapala writes that "In the traditions preserved in the early Sri Lankan chronicles as well as in the early Tamil literary works the Nagas appear as a distinct group".[12] He further writes that "the adoption of the Tamil language was helping the Nagas in the Tamil chiefdoms to be assimilated into the major ethnic group there".[13]
- ^ In the Mahavamsa as indeed in the ancient Sanskrit and Pali literature in general, the Nagas are never represented as human beings, but as a class of superhuman beings, who inhabited a subterranean world.
- ^ Mahabharata, Bhandarkar oriental research institute edition, Adiparva, chapter 31, v.15
- ^ Manimekalai, V. Saminatha Aiyar, Cantos X-XII, Madras (1921)
- ^ The similarity of the legend of the holy seat given in the Mahawamsa to that in the Manimekalai has led certain scholars to identify Manipallavam with Nagadeepa, and as the former refers to the two kings as having their habitat in the Nagadeepa, the Nakanatu (the Naga land), wherever it is mentioned, has been taken as referring to the Jaffna peninsula. Continuing this method of extracting history out of the legend, a Naga damsel who is said in the Manimekalai to have appeared in a garden near Pukar, remained for sometime with a legendary Cola king and disappeared after conceiving a child, is taken to have been a princess form Jaffna and father an ancient ruler of Jaffna
- ^ Anku valvor yavarum inmaiyin, Canto XIV, I.86
- ^ Tevar-kon itta mamanippilikai, Canto VIII, I.52
References
- ^ a b Godwin Witane . (2003). The growth of the cobra cult in Sri Lanka kuhanjith and indrajith ruled kingdoms of srilanka. Available: "Online edition of Sunday Observer - Business". Archived from the original on 8 October 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2016.. Last accessed 7 March 2010.
- Senarath Paranavitana(1961). Journal of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic society# The Arya Kingdom in North Ceylon. Vol. VII, part II. Colombo apothecaries Co. Ltd. p. 181.
- ^ B.Ch.Chhabra, ed. (1950). Epigraphia Indica. Vol. XXVIII Part VI. pp. 330–334.
- ^ Nicholas, C.W. (1963). Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). p. 10.
Other obvious identifications are Nagadiba with Nagadipa or Nakadiva (the Jaffna peninsula) and Rhogandanoi with the inhabitants of Rohana (Ruhuna).
- ^ "Claudius Ptolemy's Sri Lankan Map". Archaeology.lk. 2 November 2020.
- ISBN 9780646425467.
- ^ a b Rajeswaran, S. T. B. (2012). Geographical Aspects of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. University of Jaffna: Governor's Office, Department of Geography. p. 61.
- ^ K. Rajan - Situating the Beginning of Early Historic Times in Tamil Nadu: Some Issues and Reflections (2008) p.56-57
- ^ a b c Manogaran 1987, p. 21.
- ^ Indrapala 2005, p. 172,174.
- ^ Indrapala 2005, p. 173.
- ^ a b Indrapala 2005, p. 174.
- ^ › ca... Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. I-A and B | INDIAN CULTURE "Castes and tribes of Southern Indian".
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ISBN 9788120601505.
- ^ a b Laura Smid (2003). South Asian folklore: an encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Great Britain: Routledge. 429.
- ^ Pillay, Kolappa Pillay Kanakasabhapathi (1963). South India and Ceylon. University of Madras. p. 37.
- ^ Geiger, W. (1950). Mahawamsa, Chapter 1, vv. 44–70 (English translation). pp. 5–8.
- ^ C.W. Nicholas (1963). Journal of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic society#Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval Ceylon. Vol. VI, Special number. p. 83.
- ^ Paul E. Pieris (1917). Journal of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic society# Nagadipa and Buddhist Remains in Jaffna (Part I). Vol. XXVI (no.70). pp. 11–30.
- ^ Paul E. Pieris (1919). Journal of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic society# Nagadipa and Buddhist Remains in Jaffna (Part II). Vol. XXVIII (no.72). pp. 40–60.
- ^ JCBRAS, C.W. Nicholas 1963, p. 119.
- ^ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar (1928). Manimekalai in its Historical Setting. London. p. 129.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Ordhendra Coomar Gangoly. The art of the Pallavas, Volume 2 of Indian Sculpture Series. G. Wittenborn, 1957. p. 2.
- ISBN 9789155453572.
- ^ C. Rasanayagam (1926). Ancient Jaffna. Madras. pp. 26–28.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Rao, Conjeeveram Hayavadana; Rice, Benjamin Lewis (1930). Mysore Gazetteer. Government Press. p. 519.
chola manipallavam.
- ISBN 9780811210980.
- ^ a b Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies. Institute of Asian Studies. 1991. p. 31.
- ^ Gunasegaram, Samuel Jeyanayagam (1985). Selected writings. Wim Gunasegaram. p. 33.
- ^ Samuel, G. John; Śivagaṇēśamūrti, Ār Es; Nagarajan, M. S. (1998). Buddhism in Tamil Nadu: Collected Papers. Institute of Asian Studies. p. 45.
- ^ Spolia Zeylanica. National Museums of Sri Lanka. 1955. p. 176.
- ^ Kantacāmi, Cō Na (1978). Buddhism as Expounded in Manimekalai. Annamalai University. p. 113.
- ^ Annals of Oriental Research. University of Madras. 1957. p. 9.
- ^ Rao, Tangsal Narayana Vasudeva (1979). Buddhism in the Tamil Country. Annamalai University. p. 156.
- ISBN 9788177021295.
- ^ Chattopadhyaya, Sudhakar (1980). The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea & Ptolemy on Ancient Geography of India. Prajñā. p. 103.
- ^ Lionel Wijesiri . (2009). The giant wakes up Revival of Yoda Wewa . http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/20/fea21.asp. Last accessed 7 March 2010.
- ^ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Mahāvaṃsa". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Sep. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mahavamsa . Accessed 26 January 2021.
Bibliography
- Manogaran, Chelvadurai (1987), Ethnic conflict and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, University of Hawaii Press