Ellalan

Ellalan
Ellalan
	Statue of Ellāḷaṉ in the premises of Madras High Court in Chennai
King of Anuradhapura
Reign	c. 205 – c. 161 BCE
Predecessor	Asela
Successor	Dutugamunu
Born	235 BCE
Died	161 BCE
Issue	Veedhividangan; Princess Shardha
Dynasty	Chola Dynasty
Religion	Hinduism

Ellalan (Tamil: எல்லாளன், romanized: Ellāḷaṉ; Sinhala: එළාර, romanized: Eḷāra), also referred to as Elara the Pious, and by the honorific epithet Manu Needhi Cholan, was a member of the Tamil Chola dynasty in Southern India, who upon capturing the throne became king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, in present-day Sri Lanka, from 205 BCE to 161 BCE.^[3]

Ellalan is traditionally presented as being a just king even by the "'Sinhalese'".^[4] The Mahavamsa states that he ruled 'with even justice toward friend and foe, on occasions of disputes at law,^[5] and elaborates how he even ordered the execution of his son for killing a calf under his chariot wheels.

Ellalan is a peculiar figure in the history of Sri Lanka and one with particular resonance given the past ethnic strife in the country. Although he was an invader, he is often regarded as one of Sri Lanka's wisest and most just monarchs, as highlighted in the ancient Sinhalese Pali chronicle, the Mahavamsa.

According to the chronicle, even Ellalan's nemesis Dutugamunu had a great respect for him, and ordered a monument be built where Ellalan was cremated after dying in battle. The Dakkhina Stupa was believed to be the tomb of Ellalan. Often referred to as 'the Just King', the Tamil name Ellāḷaṉ means 'the one who rules the boundary".

^ "From the annals of history". The Hindu. India. 25 June 2010.
^ Paramu Pusparaṭṇam (2002). Ancient Coins of Sri Lankan Tamil Rulers. p. 92. The Mahāvamsa ( XXI : 15-34 ) talks high of the just and righteous regime of Ellālan . He followed the Hindu religion but did not persecute the Buddhists.
^ Allen, C. (2017). Coromandel: A Personal History of South India. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-4087-0540-7. Retrieved 10 October 2022. A later chapter of the 'Great Chronicle' describes how the Chola prince Elara (Ellalan) of Thiruvarur invaded and captured the throne of Lanka in about 205 BCE but was later killed in battle by the Sinhala prince Dutugamunu in about 161
^ "Chapter XXV". lakdiva.org.
^ "Chapter XXI". lakdiva.org.

[auto-1] "From the annals of history". The Hindu. India. 25 June 2010.

[2] Paramu Pusparaṭṇam (2002). Ancient Coins of Sri Lankan Tamil Rulers. p. 92. The Mahāvamsa ( XXI : 15-34 ) talks high of the just and righteous regime of Ellālan . He followed the Hindu religion but did not persecute the Buddhists.

[3] Allen, C. (2017). Coromandel: A Personal History of South India. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-4087-0540-7. Retrieved 10 October 2022. A later chapter of the 'Great Chronicle' describes how the Chola prince Elara (Ellalan) of Thiruvarur invaded and captured the throne of Lanka in about 205 BCE but was later killed in battle by the Sinhala prince Dutugamunu in about 161

[Chapter_XXV-4] "Chapter XXV". lakdiva.org.

[Chapter_XXI-5] "Chapter XXI". lakdiva.org.

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