Karava of Sri Lanka
Patabendige - Kings, rulers and Sub-kings
Patabendige
Patabändigé / Patabendige (also referred to as Patangatim, Pattangatti, Pattankatti in historical sources) is one of the most prevalent gé names among the Karava race of Sri Lanka. It is an exclusively Karava gé name.
History
A Patabanda of the past was a king, sub-king (Yuva Raja) or a titled military leader who had been honoured by a King for exceptional valour in war. Such honours had often been conferred on military leaders by tying a gold forehead-plate (nalalpata). These forehead plates were part of the 'five insignia of royalty', (pancha kakudha bhanda). The Pújávaliya lists the five insignia of royalty as: valvidunáva, nalalpata, magul kaduva, ran mirivädi sangala and dalapundu sesatha (yak tail whisk, forehead-plate, royal sword, golden footwear and pearl umbrella). Such whisks, swords and pearl umbrellas are among the traditional insignia used solely by the Karaves of Sri Lanka even now at their family ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.
The mothers of great warrior kings and generals too have been honored in royal times by investing them with gold waist ornaments. A 13th century stone inscription (EZ II page 223) of king Sahasamalla refers to such an instance as “bada ranpata bandawa” . The Ran Patabendige Kiri Ethana’s family, closely connected to the annual pageant at Dondra is an instance of a mother so honored.
Conferred Patabändigé titles were not lost with the demise of the recipient. It was a heritable title and gave rise to a hereditary titled class, distinguished by Patabändi names (Raghavan, 1961.110) . Patabändigé is an exclusively Karawa name and is not found among other communities.
Ancient period
The earliest reference in Sri Lankan history to a Patabända is found at the 5th century citadel of Sigiri. Among the ancient graffiti on the mirror wall at Sigiri is a verse inscribed by ‘Bandi Dápul Ápa’ (Paranavitana 28.46). The title of Ápa denotes that he was a sub king and therefore it seems to confirm that the Patabändas of this early period too were sub kings as they were in the late mediaeval period.
Pattalattanan in Tamil had meant a consecrated king according to the Tamil dictionary Yálpana Periyakarádi (655 & 656). Taylor too translates Pattangatti as ‘crowned’ (Taylor 1835) which obviously means a King or a sub king. In ancient India too Patta and Pattâvali (note phonetic similarity to Patabëndi ) had meant ‘titles of honour’ (South Indian inscriptions I.159 fn.1. Indian Antiquities XI.245 fn.). The earlier part the Mahavamsa describes how Suranimala a paladin of king Dutugemunu was honoured with a Dukula Patta forehead ornament (MV 23.38)
As shown above in the description of the 5 royal insignia (pancha kakudha bhanda), it was not the crown but the forehead-plate that was part of a Sri Lankan king’s regalia, the five insignia of royalty (pancha kakudha bhanda). As such the tying of the forehead-plate was the Sri Lankan equivalent of European coronations. The great chronicle of Sri Lanka, the Mahavamsa, calls the royal inauguration ceremony Pattabanda Mahossava (The great ceremony of tying the forehead-plate). In Chapter 67, verse 91 the Mahavamsa describes how King Parakramabahu the Great was inaugurated by tying the forehead-plate (Mahavamsa 67.91).
This practice appears to have continued right up to the end of the Sri Lankan royal line. John Davy writing in 1821 on the coronation of a Sri Lankan king says : " …Then the gold plate, the Nalalpate, on which the name was inscribed was tied to the prince's forehead……the prince who may now be called king dipped his fingers and touched the sword;……….Coronation it may be remarked was not one of the ceremonies of the Kandyan monarchy, nor, I believe of the eastern courts in general; nor is a crown named amongst the essential regalia, which are, the white umbrella,, the brush made of the tail of the Tibet cow, the gold sword, the gold forehead-plate, and the golden slippers. But though not essential the use of crowns was not prohibited, and there was a handsome one of gold set with diamonds, rubies and emaralds that belonged to the king of Kandy." (Davy page 123)
Mediaeval period
King Sahasamalla (AD. 1200 -1202 ), and Parakramabahu the Great were prominent among the many Sri Lankan kings who used the fish emblem ( a recurring emblem on Karava Heraldry ), on their stone inscriptions. An inscription of King Sahasamalla refers to the appointment of a Commander-in-chief cum Prime Minister as “senevirat patabandavá agra mantri kota” (EZ II.222 – 224 ). The 15th century Ummagga Jataka too narrates the practice of honouring military commanders with forehead plates as: “Senevirat patabandá” -Invested with the rank of Commander-in-chief (Ummagga Jataka 29.160). The Kavyasekaraya refers to such individuals as ‘isa sevulu bändi’ ( Kavyasekharaya XIV.64. EZ I.240 n3) The 16th century Gadaladeniya inscription (EZ IV.23) too shows that honouring a person was referred to as ‘patabändavíma’.
Kotte period
The Rajavaliya says that when King Vijayabáhu VII (AD 1528 -1529) of Kotte was conspiring to kill his sons, the three princes escaped from their Father’s kingdom through the Kauravadhipathi gate and went to the king of Jaffna for refuge. This king is clearly referred to as a Patabenda in the historical sources. This king appears to have been. Segarajasekaran VI from the Karava Singhe Dynasty of Jaffna.
Later, one of the princes, Máyadunne, left the other two princes, Bhuvanekabahu and Raigam Bandára with the Patabenda (who is also referred to as Kauravadhipathi), and went to Kandy to seek assistance from Jayaweera Bandára who was married to his cousin, a Keerawella princess. (Rajavaliya 225) This illustrates the interconnectedness of the Karava Patabendas of the period. They were from same same Surya wansa clan (Solar dynasty) as the ruling families.
Just as much as the ruler of the Jaffna kingdom is referred to in the Sinhala chronicles as a Patabenda, the region is referred to as Yapa Pattana.
The Portuguese who arrived in Sri Lanka in the early 16th century described the Patabändas / Patangatims at the time of their arrival as “Kinglets (subkings) of the Karávas who controlled not only one village but sometimes the whole coast as a master or ruler” (Valignano 1577. Perniola 82). Other Portuguese writers, Joaõ de Barrows (1520) and Castan Heda (1528), refer to five Kings stationed at important coastal towns, their ears laden with jewels and claiming relationship with the King of Kotte. (Ferguson 1506, JRASCB XIX.283 -400) These five kings were evidently the Patabändas, the Kinglets of the Karávas referred to by others.
King John III of Portugal says the following in his letter of 20th March 1557 to his guardian of the religious order: “I am much pleased to rejoice at the news you give me of how our lord has been pleased through the agency of the members of your order to illuminate the Nation of the Carias who you say live in the ports of Ceylon, and are said to exceed 70,000 souls, whose captain named Patangatim accompanied them” (Queyroz 327).
The Portuguese historian Fr. Queyroz describes an early Portuguese battle in Sri Lanka as follows: “At that time the Kinglet of the Careas appeared with the whole might of that kingdom which exceeded 20,000......” (Queyroz 631). Valentyn too notes that the Karava was the royal caste, the highest caste and that the chiefs of Sri Lanka were from among the Karávas (Valentyn 67). During this period, Chem Nayque and other Karavas were the Naval commanders of the Nayaks of Tanjore (Queyroz, 638). But in addition to manning the Navy, the Karavas appear to have also been engaged in trading. For example the Patangatim of Mannar had been responsible in the early 1600s for arranging the sale of pearls in the Nayaks’ territory in India. (Pieris The Kingdom of Jaffnapatnam )
It should be noted here that the early Portuguese historians refer to the Patabändas as Kinglets, meaning sub-kings, and not as mere chiefs as they later came to be referred to after a century of European rule.
Portuguese period
When the Kotte kingdom was ceded to the Portuguese by the 'Malvana convention' in AD.1597, at least one of the three local nobles who signed the agreement on behalf of the Sinhalese can be definitely identified as a Karava Patabenda. Portuguese nobles who were known as Fidalgos signed it on behalf of the Portuguese king. Francisco Bethencourt refers to the leading men of Kotte who signed the Malwana convention as Korales – a mispronunciation of Karava. The three local nobles had been selected by a council of nobles and people (Ribeiro 95) and confirm the regal status of the Patabendas of 16th century.
The 'Nallur convention' of 1591 ceding the kingdom of Jaffna to the Portuguese was also signed by Karava nobles.
The Portuguese Tombos from the period show that the Patabendas did not pay any taxes on their land, ships or other assets as they continued to be regarded even by the Portuguese invaders as independent rulers.
The Portuguese who arrived in Sri Lanka in the early 16th century described the Patabändas / Patangatims at the time of their arrival as “Kinglets (subkings) of the Karávas who controlled not only one village but sometimes the whole coast as a master or ruler” (Valignano 1577. Perniola 82). Other Portuguese writers, Joaõ de Barrows (1520) and Castan Heda (1528), refer to five Kings stationed at important coastal towns, their ears laden with jewels and claiming relationship with the King of Kotte. (Ferguson 1506, JRASCB XIX.283 -400) These five kings were evidently the Patabändas, the Kinglets of the Karávas referred to by others.
King John III of Portugal says the following in his letter of 20th March 1557 to his guardian of the religious order: “I am much pleased to rejoice at the news you give me of how our lord has been pleased through the agency of the members of your order to illuminate the Nation of the Carias who you say live in the ports of Ceylon, and are said to exceed 70,000 souls, whose captain named Patangatim accompanied them” (Queyroz 327).
The Portuguese historian Fr. Queyroz describes an early Portuguese battle in Sri Lanka as follows: “At that time the Kinglet of the Careas appeared with the whole might of that kingdom which exceeded 20,000......” (Queyroz 631). Valentyn too notes that the chiefs of Sri Lanka were from among the Karávas (Valentyn 1726). During this period, Chem Nayque and other Karavas were the Naval commanders of the Nayaks of Tanjore (Queyroz, 638). But in addition to manning the Navy, the Karavas appear to have also been engaged in trading. For example the Patangatim of Mannar had been responsible in the early 1600s for arranging the sale of pearls in the Nayaks’ territory in India. (Pieris The Kingdom of Jaffnapatnam )
It should be noted here that the early Portuguese historians refer to the Patabändas as Kinglets, meaning sub-kings, and not as mere chiefs as they later came to be referred to after a century of European rule.
Jesuit annual letter of 29/12/1606 from Cochin states that the early Portuguese missionaries first concentrated on converting the Karava Patabändas as they were the leaders and rulers of the people. They were used as examples for other gentiles to follow (Perniola II.254) The Portuguese have documented many instances where hundreds of others converted, following the Patabända’s conversion (Perera. C.A. & L. R. 1916 II.24).
Similarly, in Jaffna, in 1623 the Portuguese baptized King Pararajasekaran IX’s two queens as Dona Clara da Silva and Dona Antonia da Silva, several nephews of the king, nine Patangatims and all other chief persons of the Karava caste.(Perniola Portuguese period III)
The European invaders as well as Sri Lankan Kings had approached the Patabändas for assistance in wars. As a result the Mahapatabëndá of Colombo was beheaded and quartered by the Portuguese in 1574 for treasonable communication with King Mayadunne (AD 1535 - 1581) of Sítáwake (Queyroz 424). In AD 1656 the Patabända of Coquille (Koggala) was approached by King Rajasingha II (AD 1635 - 1687) of Kandy for assistance (Pieris Portuguese Era II.454)
The principal kinglets were the Mahapatabëndás who were referred to as Patamgatim Major and Patamgatim Mor (Mor = grand. Tammita Rala was reffered to as Camereira Mor - grand Prince) by the Portuguese. Two of the Mahapatabëndás of Negombo in 1613 were: Kurukulasuriya Dom Gaspar da Cruz and Varnakulasuriya Afonco Perera (Raghavan, 1961.33. The Portuguese Tombo of 1615 which deals with the ports, villages and lands on the coast from Puttalam to Dondra, lists the chiefs of each village along with their land holdings, crops and revenue. It is noteworthy that the chiefs of most coastal villages which included Negombo , Chilaw , Kammmala, Kalutara, Maggona and Donrda were Patabëndás(Pieris Ceylon Littoral)
The funeral procession of prince Mahasthana, son of Maha Patabendige Dona Catherina, sole heiress of the kingdom of Sri Lanka, 23rd August 1612 .Illustration from Baldaeus 1672 (see Gallery for larger image). Note the use of flags and other insignia as done by the Karavas todate. Click for larger image
According to Philip Baldaeus Dona Catherina, the sole heiress of the Kandyan kingdom was also a Patabenda and bore the name Maha Bëndigé (Baldaeus VIII.681).
Baldaeus also refers to two other Patabëndigé princesses, Malabanda Wandige and Rokech Wandige (Baldaeus I) and the Patabëndigé vice-admiral Wandige Nay Hanni who was a nephew of the Karáva Prince of Uva, Kuruvita Rala (Baldaeus XIII.668 & 692).
Dutch & British periods
The Portuguese diminished the position of the Patabendas from Sub-kings to chiefs but the Portuguese Tombos (official state records) of 1613 still rank the Patabendas above the Mayóráls (Pieris Ceylon Littoral.26). The Mayóráls were the local equivalent of European city mayors. The Dutch who succeeded the Portuguese, stripped most of the Karávas of their powerful official positions as they suspected the Karávas to be more loyal to the Kshatriya kings of Kandy or to the Portuguese whose religion many of the Karávas professed.
The Dutch elevated persons of mixed origins to replace the traditional Karáva chiefs and many such families of mixed origin appear to have identified themselves with the Govi caste as they could not be accommodated within any of the other castes. (See Sri Lankan Mudaliyars ). Disfavoured by the Dutch, the position of the Patabëndás dropped sharply to the level of a Muhandiram during the 18th century Dutch period (Raghavan, 1961.42. JRASCB.XXXI.No. 83.448).
We know that the forehead-plate continued to denote nobility even as late as the beginning of the Dutch period as a Dutch envoy of 1612 refers to the ‘gold headband of a Sinhala dignitary’ (JRASCB.XXXVII 1946 No.102.49). The A.D. 1691 tombstone of Patangatim Francisco Piris’ wife from St. Thomas Church, Jinthupitiya illustrated here, shows that the Karava heraldic symbols: Pearl umbrella, Palm tree, caparisoned Elephant and Fish symbol were used even on their tombstones to denote their status.(JRASCB XXII 387)
A few of the Patabändas who figure in the late Dutch period tombos are: Chikoe Patabändigé Thome Silva Kurukulasuriya, Pattangatyn of Kalutara, A. D. 1760; Mahabadugé Jasientoe Fernando Kurukula Jayasuriya, joint Pattangattyn of Barberyn. A. D. 1759; Bastian Pieris Rasa Manukula Warnakula Ditadipadicear, joint Pattangattyn of Colombo, A. D. 1761; Steeven Fernando Weerawarna Kurukulasuriya, Pattangattyn over the Rue Grande (Grand Street, Negombo), A. D. 1763; Luis Fernando Varuna Kurukula Áditya Adapannár. Pattangattyn of Colombo, A. D. 1769 (Ceylon Dutch Records: 785/120, 785/543, 2284/91, 2443/75 and 1034/607. Raghavan 1961.44 & 45). In 1762 the Dutch refer to the Basnáyaka of Devundara as Bandáranáike Suriya Pattangatyn (Secret minutes of the Dutch political Council, Wednesday 22nd September 1762)
Kandyan period
Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (AD. 1798 - 1815) the last king of Kandy, is also described as a Pattangattyn in a South Indian source (Taylor 1835 Kuruksetra II.26).
And indeed British records and colonial despatches from the period show that King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was truly a Patabenda. An elegant gold forehead plate (Nalalpata) set with rubies , emeralds and pearls had been among the Kandyan regalia seized by the British in 1815. The King’s regalia had also included:
- Eleven slips of gold with Chingalese inscriptions; used in conferring titles, being for that purpose bound on the forehead.
- A band or circlet of gold with a double border of leaves, to the inner row of which were pendant 78 pearls of uniform size and fine colour
- A complete suit of richly embossed gold armour (as used by the Ponnna Hennedige Karava families)
The British Agent John D’Oyly hadn’t classified any of the above royal ornaments under the head of ‘Regalia of the Crown’. Possibly he was misguided by one of his low caste interpreters. As such, all the above were sold by auction on 13th June 1820 by Thomas King at Covent Garden. The gold and jewels had been sold by weight, in ozs and carats respectively (Pieris 1939 pg 206). Now no one even knows that that King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s symbol of sovereignty was a gold Nalalpata. The Colombo Museum misleads everyone by displaying a hat of sheet gold as the king’s symbol of sovereignty.
Although the Karava Patabendas had lost much of their importance in the coastal areas due to the European conquest and the collapse of the coastal Karava kingdoms, Patabendas had still been administering provinces in the Kandyan kingdom even as late as 1805. A surviving record from the Kandyan period shows that three Patabendas had been administering the Tun Korale of the Kandyan kingdom (Pieris 1939 pg 77). Many such records have since been deliberately destroyed and the fate of the above document too which was in the custody of Senerat Paranavitana is now unknown.
The gradual displacement of the traditional Patabëndigé rulers and sub-kings of Sri Lanka during the colonial period is clearly evident in contemporary colonial records. The Patabëndas who figured prominently in early Portuguese records as kinglets, are reduced to chiefs by the end of the Portuguese era. They fade away gradually during the Dutch period and are hardly mentioned during the British period. See Timeline of the Karavas
Current usage
Some of the Patabandige / Patabendige / Patebandige / Patebendige ancestral family names still used only by Karava families of Sri Lanka are:
Abeydira Gunaratne Patabendige, Abeysuriya Patabendige, Abeyavarna Patabendige, Abeydeera Viravaruna (Weeravarna / Weerawarna) Patabendige, Alut Patabendige, Arketti Patabendige, Arukutti Patabendige, Abedira (Abeydeera / Abeydheera) Jayawickrama Liyana Patabendige, Asuramana Patabendige, Bala Patabendige (Bala pronounced originally as in Balapitiya - meaning 'Army / forces' . The corrupted modern pronunciation as Baala conveys incorrect associations with junior / inferior etc) , Chandiram Patabendige, Colomba Patabendige, Colomba Maha Patabendige, Edirivira (also Ediriweera meaning 'foremost hero') Jayasuriya Liyana Patabendige, Edirivira Jayasekera (Jayesekara / Jayasekara / Jayesekera) Kurundu Patabendige, Edirivira Patabendige, Edirivira Wijesuriya Patabendige (This family claims descent from Vice Regent Kurukula Nattu Devarir who arrived for the Mukkara Hatana. A descendant of his, 'Ilangai Radala' was honoured with the name Ediriweera for his valour in the battle against the Dutch at Kottegoda. Don Philip, his grandson, was honoured with the name Wijesuriya when he was appointed a Mudali under Maha Mudali Tamel who held authority from Deduru Oya to Kataragama) , Ediriwickremasuriya Patabendige, Gikiyana Patabendige, Gintota Sarukkala Patabendige, Gunasekera Árachchi Patabendige, Hettiyá Patabendige, Ingiri Maha Patabendige, Jayasekera Patabendige, Jasenthu Patabendige, Jayawardhana Sembukutti Patabendige, Jayawickrema Patabendige, Jayaveera (Jayaweera) Liyana Patabendige, Jayawarna Patabendige, Hatagala Patabendige, Kahakachchi Patabendige, Kalingapura Patabendige, Kalutara Patabendige, Kanchipura Patabendige, Kariya Karavana Maha Patabendige, Kariyawasam Patabendige, Kodippili Patabendige, Kosma Patabendige, Kotte Patabendige, Kumara Patabendige, Kurana Patabendige, Kurukulasuriya Patabendige, Kalutantri Patabendige, Mututantri Patabendige, Maha Patabendige, Loku Patabendige, Lamabadu Varnakulasuriya Patabendige, Manamperi Maha Patabendiralalage, Maha Marakkala Patabendige, Modera Patabendige, Maha Natha Patabendige, Malamí (meaning Maha Navi - Great Captain) Patabendige, Mathangavíra Patabendige, Moratu Patabendige, Nilavíra Patabendige, Nagasuriya Kumara Patabendige, Panchashíla Patabendige (Panchaseela- the Five precepts of the Theravada world is founded on the pre-Buddhist 'Kuru Dharma' practiced by the Kauravas of the ancient Kuru kingdom. See Kuru Dharma Jataka) , Patabendi Maddumage / Madduma Patabendige (Madduma is from 'Majjima' which was a name used by Sri Lankan kings - Paranavithana 1970 pg LXXVIII inscription 406. The name Majjima -raja is found on their inscriptions and Majjima on 2000 year old Sri Lankan coins - Illustration A5 Bopearachchi 1999 pg 52) , Patabendi Maha Vidanage, Penkutti Patabendige, Podi Marakkala Patabendige, Rajapaksa Patabendige, Ran Patabendige (meaning 'gold'. See also Weeravarna Nilaweera ranpatabendige below), Rana (meaning 'war'), Patabendige, Ranaveera (meaning 'War hero') Patabendige, Ranavira (meaning 'War hero') Patabendige, Rasamanukula Kurukula Adithya Colomba Mahapatabendi Maha Vidanage, Renda Patabendige, Ratnaveera Patabendige, Ratnavira (Ratnaweera) Patabendige, Samarakoon (meaning 'King of war') Patabendige, Samaraweera (meaning 'War Hero') Patabendige, Sinhapura Patabendige, Suriya Patabendige, Vijayapura Patabendige, Vijesekera (Wijesekera / Wijesekara ) Patabendige, Wijesuriya Patabendi Muhandiramge, Warunakulasuriya Patabendige, Warnasuriya Patabendige, Warnaweera Patabendige,Weeraratne (Weeraratna) Jayasuriya Arachchi Patabendige, Weerawarna Patabendige, Weerawarna Nilaweera Ran Patabendige (this family along with Wijeweera Gunaratne Mahavidana Muhandiramge family still lead the annual Vishnu pagent of Dondra and claims it was so appointed during the reign of king Nissankamalla) ,Vira Konda Patabendige, Vitarana Patabendige, Weerakoon Patabendige, Weerasuriya Patabendige, Wickremasuriya (Wiickramasuriya) Patabendige, Wickrema Kodippili Patabendige, Wijayanayaka Patabendige, Wijeweera Patabendige, Yapane Patabendige
Try Karava Family names for meanings of names not found here.
An old etching of King Rajasinghe and his court.
Note the similarity of the royal symbols carried by the courtiers with those on the flag above. Of particular interest are the two pearl umbrellas, the sun and moon symbols, alavattam ceremonial sun shades and the white (conch) shield.
A 9th century statue from Sri Lanka showing the royal forehead plate.
A Sri Lankan jeweller's work sketch from the 18th century for a jewelled golden forehead plate.
The relevant extract from King Sahasamalla’s (AD. 1200 -1202 ) inscription. (EZ II.pgs 222 – 224 ) (Click image to enlarge)
Two inscribed swords of Karava kings from the Colombo Museum. The owners of these swords gifted them to the Colombo museum in the mid 20th century. The descriptive plaque with the translation of the inscriptions installed at the time of gifting disappeared soon after. The swords are still on display but without a translation plaque and as such viewers are kept unaware of their Karava connection.
Whilst the swords of Karava kings languish in the Colombo museum without a descriptive plaque, it is extremely interesting to also note that a sword presented to Nugawela Rate Mahattaya by the British in 1932 has been purchased by the Colombo Museum on 21st June 1977 and is exhibited with the names of the original owner and the son who sold it. This sword is displayed very prominently along with the royal regalia of the last king who was deposed in 1815. The purchase appears to be one of the final acts of British Radala Sirima Bandaranayike’s government. The display of this modern sword misleads the public into believing that such Kandyans could wear swords during the time of Kandyan kings. They could not. Even the highest Adigars could only wear a short knife as part of their ceremonial dress.
Above and below; Ancient Sri Lankan murals of celestial rulers with their Forehead plates (Nalal-pata) and crowns above the forehead plates. Click for larger above, below
Maha Patabendige Dona Catherina, sole heiress of Sri Lanka. Illustration from A Description of Ceylon by Philip Baldaeus 1672 ( Click for larger image). H. C. P. Bell the British period Commissioner of Archaeology declared the 7 acre site where she lived and lies buried. But in recent times this has been reduced to half an acre and the archaeological department has allowed private individuals to encroach even further.
Above: the Hanguranketha palace of king Senerath and queen Dona Catherina. This palace has since been destroyed without a trace. The four wooden pillars of the British period built Godamune Ambalama (illustrated below) are said to be from this palace.
A Patangatim’s wife’s tombstone dated November 1691 from St. Thomas Church, Jinthupitiya, Sri Lanka. (Click for larger image)
It bears several Karava insignia: Pearl umbrella, Palm tree, caparisoned Elephant and Fish symbol
