King Kassapa

King Kassapa (478 AD – 495 AD)


After Kassapa came to power, his brother Moggallana fled to Jambudeepa. (India). Kassapa knew that
Moggallana would come back with an army to fight him.
Treasure of King Dhatusena:
Migara told King Kassapa that huge treasure was hidden by Dhatusena to be given to Moggallana.
Kassapa sent men to his father’s prison to inquire of the treasure. Dhatusena sent the messengers back.
Kassapa sent messengers again and again. Dhatusena thought “He is planning to kill me. Let me go
and meet my teacher and friend bhikku living near Kalavapi and bathe there and die”.
Dhatusena told Kassapa’s men that if he could go to Kalavapi, he would show the treasure. Kassapa
allowed, Dhatusena to go to Kalavapi (Kala Wewa). On his way, Dhatusena asked the chariot driver to
take him to the Vihara where his teacher and bhikku friend lived. Chariot driver took him to the
Vihara. King Dhatusena gave a letter to the chariot driver stating the favor.
Seeing King Dhatusena coming to the Vihara, the Thera was joyful. Two men were happy to see each
other. They felt like they conquered a kingdom and sat next to each other. The Thera preached the
law of impermanence to King Dhatusena.
(Author’s Note: The name of the Thera is not given in Mahavamsa. One may wonder whether it
is Mahathera Mahanama)
Then King saluted the monk for the last time and went to Kalawawa with Kassapa’s men. King
Dhatusena bathed in the reservoir and drank from it. Then he took a handful of water from Kalavapi
and told Kassapa’s men “This is my treasure”. Soldiers went back and gave the message to King
Kassapa. Kassapa was enraged. Kassapa thought if his father lived, he would help Moggallana.
King Kassapa gave the order to Migara to kill his father. Migara was extremely happy since he could
avenge the death of his mother. Migara went to Kalawawa to see Dhatusena. Seeing Migara,
Dhatusena said “I have same feelings towards you as for Moggallana”. Migara laughed and shook his
head. Then he had King Dhatusena killed by plastering him to the bank of the reservoir.
After murdering his own father, King Kassapa decided to build his palace on top of a rock. He built a
staircase in the form of a lion.

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