Bodhivansha caste

Bodhi vamsa or bodhahara caste is a caste in Sri Lanka. The caste has been referred to as Panna dura,Villi dura or simply the Dura caste during the colonial period. Originially they were Appointed as guardians of Sri Maha Bodhi tree

History

The caste traces its origin to the arrival in Sri Lanka of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. Dipavamsa, the earliest document of the history of Sri Lanka, states that the following persons came to the island with or associated with Sri Mahabodhi^[1]

1. eight Kshatriya who were entrusted with protecting the bodhi tree
2. Bodhiguptha and Chandraguptha
3. sixteen Lanka Mahalekhas (Lambakarnas)
4. castes (or families) that received golden drums used for royal coronations (Lambakarnas)

The Mahavamsa records that during the reign of King Parakramabahu I, three lambakarnas were sent to south India for a coronation festival.^[2] Mahalekha is also a term used to identify lambakarnas. Accordingly, they are either descendents of Bodhiguptha,Chandragupta, eight kshatriyas or from The gotra lambakarnas.Mahavamsa itself contains a narrative of this incident which is less credible than Dipavamsa. As per it eighteen families of gods, eighteen families of ministers,eight families of Brahmins, eight families of kelembi etc. has been sent from India.^[3] However only certain eight situ families are Specifically mentioned as Bodahara Caste.^[4] As per later sources this situ clan is Bodhiguptha,Chandragupta, Samudragupta, Sumitta,Devagupta,Sooryagupta,Dharmagupta,Juthidara who are relatives of King Dharmashoka. Common belief of members of this caste is that they are descendants of this clan (particularly Bodhiguptha) who are also connected to the lambakarnas^[5][6]

Connection with Sinhalese royalty

Many Sinhalese royals prior to the kandyan era claimed descent from the families that accompanied the Sri Maha Bodhi. For example Kawyashekaraya, a kotte era literacy source mentions:

මහබෝ රකින ලෙස සැලසු බෝ කලක්‌ වැස එමහ බෝ අබියස විසූ කුලයන් මෙලක මුල් බැස

සිරි සඟබෝ නිරිඳු විකුම් වැඩි මහසෙන් රදු කිත්සිරි මේ නිරිඳු බුජස්‌ මහනම කුමර දස්‌ රඳු

the meaning of above two verses is castes that were entrusted to protect bodhi tree rooted in the country and produced kings like Sirisangabo, Mahasen, Kithsiri mewan, Buddhdasa,Mahanama and Kumaradasa. However, due to the absence of direct descendants who claim to be of this caste, it is difficult to prove that this is the royal clan that lost power by the 17 th century.Following is further such evidence for royal connection.

• The term "pannadura" literally means officials assigned with temples (pannasala). in historical sources similar officials are referred to as aramikas and inscriptions as veherkami.^[7] The Mahavamsa historical chronicle states that King Aggabodhi I assigned a hundred of his relatives to be aramikas.
• Some of the people belonging to this caste still attend to the duties assigned to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi holy tree to this day. The head of the clan attending to Sri Maha Bodhi is known as mahaya,^[8][9][10] which is the old term used to denote the next in line to the kinship of country.
• The Mehenavara clan (descendants of prince bodhiguptha) were the last line of traditional kings that ruled from Kandy.^[11] Descendants of the Mehenavara clan appear to have survived in the village of Mawela in Kotmale (Kobbekaduwa copper plate-given to Mehenavara Mawela Ratnavalli by king Sena Sammatha Vikramabahu of the same clan),^[12] which is the village associated with king Dutugemunu. Members of the this caste and Nekathi caste live in Mawela to this day.^[13] According to one legend King Dutugemunu lived in Mawela in a house belonging to a person of this caste.^[14]
• Village of origin of Jothiya Situ, ruler of Kandyan provinces during the reign of king Parakramabahu VI, and also known as Divanawatte Lankadikara (Madawala inscription)^[15] belonged to this caste^[16]

Colonial period

Since 17 th century the status of this caste gradually declined as a result of colonialism.During the colonial period, specially British colonial era this caste has been portrayed as several disconnected castes with names that were not been in use prior to 17 th century (pannadura, villidura,dura etc).Jobs like grass cutting ^[17][18][19] has been proposed by various writers without referring to historical and literary sources like Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Pujavaliya etc.Even at this time of decline,they functioned mainly as soldiers with some holding high ranks.^[20] and they also functioned as officers attached to various departments like kuruwe, royal stable, prison etc. some have taken care of the royal cattle shed and some have held posts as (mananna)(grain measurar)of royal store.^[21]Samarakkodi, Second adigar of king Kirti Sri Rajasinha, who was instrumental in re-establishing buddhism in Sri Lanka is a high ranking officer from this caste.^[22]

Notable members

• Ihagama unnanse (also known as Ihagama babasa)- leader of 1816, 1818 & 1834 rebellions to oust the british^[23][24][25]
• Puran Appu (leader of the 1848 rebellion)^[26]
• D. S. Senanayake (first Prime Minister of Ceylon)^[27]
• Ven. Harispattuwe Ariyawanshalankara Thero^[28][29]

References