Karava of Sri Lanka

The Garuda Flag was used by King Parakramabahu V (AD 1348 - 1360) of Dedigama as the royal or national flag [1]. It was similar to the Garuda flag used by the Rajputs of Rajastan, India[2] .

During the reign of King Parákramabáhu II, in the year  A.D. 1237, the famous Rajput Thakura arrived in Sri Lanka . He married the daughter of Vijayabahu III, who was also the sister of the reigning monarch. Later, when General Mitta assassinated Vijayabahu IV in A.D. 1270 and usurped the throne, Rajput Thakura personally slew Mitta and placed his own nephew Buvanekabahu I on the throne[3].

According to inscriptional evidence, a grandson of Rajput Thakura, named Thakuraka Mandalika Raja  of Dedigama formed the Keerawella royal family in the 14^th  century. His daughter, Princess Swarna Menike (Ran Menike) `was the chief queen of Parakrama Bahu VI of Kotte[4].

This Keerawella royal family was the ultimate repository of the Surya Wansa Sri Sangabo Okkaka Lemeni Kula line of kings of  Ceylon.  Thus Rajput Thakura founded the family which was the fountain and ultimate locus source where from; the kings of Gampola, Kotte, Sitawaka, Kandy and Raigama sought their queens in the 15^th and 16^th centuries[5].

Hugh Nevill notes that the first three pages of the Keerawella Bandaravaliya in his collection[6]  appeared to have been vandalised and thereby obscured the progenitor of this family. However the inscriptions quoted above now fill this void.

King Parakrama Bahu V later transferred his capital from Dedigama to Gampola and appointed his kinsman, the above mentioned Thakura, as his Mandalika Raja (Regional ruler) [7].

Presently the only family in Sri Lanka claiming descent from this illustrious Rajput Thakura is the Karava family of Thakura Artha Déva Adithya Gárdiyavasam Lindamulage de Silva family of Moratuwa. Details of this family are given in the ola manuscript Ádithyawamsa and an English translation thereof appears in Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon [8].

The only extant specimen of this Royal Garuda flag was among the collection of eighteen flags preserved as heirlooms by the family of Mr. S. U. Kulasekaram Pillay  the Udaiar of Egoda Pattu, Tamankaduwa, a Kaurava family. However E. W. Perera has omitted its Karáva connections and listed it as the Mayura flag  of Tamankaduwa despite  the bold and clear legend  “Garudathám Upayam” appearing on the top left corner of the flag [9].

Of this collection of eighteen flags, E. W. Perera has omitted many. The few that have been  published are scattered under various other headings thereby concealing the historical and cultural significance of the collection. A collection such as this, really merited a separate and complete chapter as it was the largest collection found in one locus.

This family at Tamankaduwa had been rewarded by the grant of Egoda Pattuwa  as a Nindagam by the indomitable enemy of the Portuguese, King Rajasingha I (AD 1581 - 1593) of Sitawaka. Arasa Nila Itta Kurukula Meegomuwe Mudiyanse of  Grand Street , Negombo had received Egoda Pattu while Arasa Nila Itta Warnakula Suriya Maha Gaurendra Mudiyanse of  Sea Street , Negombo had received Megoda Pattu [10].

Thus these eighteen Kaurava flags were preserved for posterity while the western coast lost most such flags, mainly due to religious persecution during Dutch rule.

This family at Tamankaduwa also had a heirloom ‘Mutu Kuda’ (ceremonial pearl umbrella) which they used at family functions. It was borrowed in the recent past by a powerful family from Horowpotana and never returned.

Similarly Sembahap Perumal  (ie. Buvanekabahu VI AD 1473 - 1480) Bandaravaliya, an ola manuscript in archaic Sinhala and Tamil was taken by an early Prime Minister for perusal and publication, but was never returned nor published.

                                                       Dr.  K. P. V. D. Fernando

Editors Note

The British Museum catalogue numbers for related ola manusctipts are :

• Kandure Bandaravaliya Or 6606 (77 -III),
• Keeravelle Rajamula Or 6606 (50),
• Kandure bandarage Niti potha : Keravelle Rajamula Or 6606 (152) ,
• Malala Kathava Or 6606 (150- III ) ,
• Rajavaliya  Or 6606 (132)

The Garuda flag of the Karava from Tamankaduwa. Verse 151 of the Thisara Sandesha from the Kotte period refers to the Garuda flag as a royal flag.

The flag of the Karava ‘Thakura Arta-deva Adithya’ clan from 20th century impressions of Ceylon. The colors of the stripes are blue, gold, red , white and purple. Colonel Olcott’s design for the Buddhist flag was based on this flag