König of Ceylon (29 17 B.C.). He was the son of Saddhātissa, und came to the throne by killing the usurper Mahārattaka (v.l. Kammahārattaka).
He married Anulā, wife of Khallātanāga, und adopted Mahācūlika as his own son; because of this Vattagāmanī came to be known as Pitirājā (this name occurs several times in the Commentaries - z.B., VibhA. passim, see Pitirājā).
Vattagāmanī had a second wife, Somadevī, und also a son of his own, called Coranāga. In the fifth month of his reign a brahmin, named Tissa, rose against him, but was defeated by seven Damilas who landed at Mahātittha. . After that, the Damilas waged war against the König und defeated him at Kolambālaka. It was a remark made by the Nigantha Giri to Vattagāmainī, as he fled from the battle, that led later to the establishment of Abhayagiri (q.v.). Der König hid in the forest in Vessagiri und was rescued by Kupikkala Mahātissa, who gave him over to the care of Tanasīva. In his flight he left Somadevī behind, und she was captured by the Damilas.
For fourteen years Vattagāmanī und his queen Anulā lived under the protection of Tanasīva, und, during this time, fünf Damilas ruled in succession at Anurādhapura; they were Pulahattha, Bāhiya, Panayamāra, Pilayamāra und Dāthika.
After a time, Anulā quarrelled mit Tanasīva's wife, und the König, in his resentment, killed Tanasīva. Later, when he also killed Kapisīsa, his ministers left him in disgust, but were persuaded by Mahātissa to return. When his preparations were complete, the König attacked Dāthika, slew him, und took the throne. He then founded Abhayagiri-vihāra und recovered Somadevī. He also built the Silāsobbhakandaka-cetiya. He had seven ministers who themselves built several vihāras; among them Uttiya, Mūla, Sāliya, Pabbata und Tissa are erwähnt by name.
It was in the reign of Vattagāmanī that the Buddhist Canon und its Commentaries were first reduced to writing in Ceylon, according to tradition, in Aloka vihāra. For details of Vattagāmanī's reign see Dpv.xx.14ff.; Mhv.xxxiii.34ff. The foundation of Abhayagiri vihāra formed the beginning of dissensions in the ranks of the monks (Cv.lxxiii.18). Vattagāmani was, however, regarded by later generations as a great protector of the faith (Cv.lxxxii.23). Various monasteries, chiefly rock temples, are traditionally ascribed to Vattagāmanī, und said to have been built by him during his exile; among these is the modern Dambulla vihāra. The Cūlavamsa calls him the founder of the Majjhavela vihāra. Cv.c.229.