A Mahavamsa story: a heart on fire

Ummadachitha, the face that lured a thousand men -- and saved a kingdom

By Elmo Leonard

Princess Chitta was the youngest and only girl born to Queen Bhaddakaccana, as per the earliest history written of Lanka. Chitta, fathered by King Panduvasudeva had to be a bewitching lass. But eight of her brothers said: `Let us kill our young sister’. Abaya, the eldest of the siblings, restrained them. For at birth, the Brahmins skilled in sacred texts foretold that the princess would bear a son, who will for the sake of sovereignty, slay his uncles.
In due time, Chitta, was lodged in a fortress, standing on one pillar. Into that tower, entry was only through King Panduvasudeva’s sleeping chamber. Within the chamber was a serving-woman; outside, a hundred soldiers.
It was before Bhaddakaccana came over to Lanka to be consecrated queen by Panduvasudeva that Bhaddakaccana was described in the Mahavamsa as `easily wooed.’ And as a maiden, she was `as a woman, made of gold’.
Chitta, drove men mad by the mere sight of her beauty. So, her name was lengthened by an epithet to `Umadacitta’.
With the coming of Bhaddakaccana to Lanka, her brothers, with the exception of one, urged by their mother, followed her to the island.
On arrival, the brothers met King Panduvasudeva and their sister and lamented as some translations suggest, probably over the fate of Umadacitta.
The brothers, by freedom granted by King Panduvasudeva, took up abode in a location in the island, conforming to their choice.

Settlements

Where Rama settled, came to be known as Ramagopa. The settlements of Uruvela and Anuradha became known by their names. Vijita’s settlement became Vijithagama; of Dighayu ‘Dighavu’ and of Rohana ‘Rohana.’
Anuradha built a tank and when he had built a palace to the south, he took up residence there. Next, the great King Panduvasudeva consecrated his eldest son Abhaya vice-regent.
When Dighagamini, the son of prince Dighayu heard of Ummadacitta, he was driven by longing for her. So, he went to Upatissagama and sought out the ruler of the land. He was later appointed to service at the royal court.

Chitta saw Gamini as he stood in front of her window. Chitta’s heart was set alight. `Who is that’? She asked her serving-woman. `He is the son of thy uncle’.
As love knows no bounds — literally, making a hook ladder came down at night. Gamini climbed up broke the window and entered.
Ummadacitta, yielded to intercourse and Gamini remained there till day break. Gamini returned persistently to his love, but he was not found out, there being on entry to the chamber.
Chitta became pregnant with child by Gamini. When the fruit of her womb was ripe the serving-woman told the queen. The mother, having questioned her daughter, told the king. The king took counsel with his sons. `Dighagamanhi, too must be received among us. We must give her (in marriage) to him.’ And, they agreed, if the child born be a son, they slay him. Thus, the father and sons gave Chitta to Gamini.

Delivery

When the time of delivery was approaching, Chitta went to the lying-in-chamber. Not trusting even the herdsman Chitta, and the slave Kalavela, attendants of Gamini, the princess did them all to death as they would not make a promise not to fall in line with the brothers, to kill the boy who might perhaps come into the world. The two were born as yakkhas and both kept guard over the child in the mother’s womb.
The princess made her attendants find another woman who was close to time of delivery. Chitta bore a son and the woman, a daughter.
Chitta caused a thousand pieces of money to be handed over to the woman together with her son. But the woman’s daughter was laid beside her.
`A daughter is born’ was the message given the king’s sons and they were well pleased. The mother and daughter, by conjoining the names of the boy’s grandfather and eldest uncle, gave the boy the name Pandukabhaya.
When Pandukabhaya was born, King Panduvasudeva died, having reigned over Lanka for thirty years.
All the king’s sons assembled and held a great festival consecrating their brother the safety-giving Abhaya, the King of Lanka.