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Iḷanāga

King of Sri Lanka (A.D. 133‑102). He was the nephew of King Āmaṇḍa­gāmaṇī Abhaya. Ānanda was succeeded by his son Cūḷābhaya and he by his younger sister Sīvalī. After Sīvalī had reigned for four months, Iḷanāga dethroned her and became king himself. In the first year of his reign he incurred the displeasure of the powerful Lambakaṇṇā and was deprived of his throne and taken captive. It is said that the king was rescued from prison by his state elephant and that he escaped to Rohaṇa. Three years later he gave battle to the Lambakaṇṇā at Kapallakkhaṇḍa and massacred most of them. He had the noses and toes of the rest cut off as punishment.

He was succeeded by his son Candamukha-Siva. To his state elephant, who had helped him, he gave the tract of land called Hatthibhoga. During his exile in Rohaṇa, Iḷanāga built two tanks, the Tissa and the Dūra, and restored the Nāgamahāvihāra, which he gave to Mahāpaduma thera of Tulādhāra, who had taught him the Kapi Jātaka. He also gave land for its maintenance. Mhv.xxxv.14‑45; Dpv.xxi.41 f.