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Silākāla

A Lambakaṇṇā, son of Dāṭhāpabhuti. He fled to Jambudīpa, through fear of Kassapa I, and became a monk in the Bodhimaṇḍa-vihāra. There, because of a that which he presented to the community, he came to be known as Ambasāmaṇera.

In the time of Moggallāna I, he brought the Buddha’s Hair Relic to Sri Lanka and was greatly honoured by the king. Silākāla returned to the lay life, and Moggallāna appointed him sword bearer to the relic — hence his name, Asiggāhaka-Silākāla.

He married the king’s sister and also the daughter of Upatissa III. He then returned to the Malaya district, where he rebelled against Upatissa. He defeated the king’s son, Kassapa, who committed suicide, and when Upatissa died of grief, Silākāla became king under the name of Ambasāmanera-Silākāla, ruling for thirteen years (524‑37 A.C.).

He had three sons: Moggallāna, Dāṭhāpabhuti, and Upatissa. Cv.xxxix. 44, 55; xli.10 ff.