King Vijayarajasingha was a monarch who ruled the Kandyan Kingdom. He was the brother of King Narendrasingha’s first wife. His origin traces back to the powerful Vijayanagar dynasty of South India, specifically the city of Madurai. As an enlightened ruler, although he was a Hindu, he showed great zeal in protecting and fostering Buddhism.
Early Life and Accession to the Throne
Sri Vijayarajasingha was the brother of Queen Narendrasingha and was thereby connected to the royal family. He was descended from the Madurai branch of the powerful Vijayanagar dynasty in South India. After King Narendrasingha, he ascended the throne of the Kandyan Kingdom under the same name.
Reign and Religious Policies
King Vijayarajasingha is considered a significantly enlightened ruler. Although a Hindu, he gave full attention to the advancement of Buddhism, which was the national religion of the country. During his reign, he arranged for life-sized reclining, standing, and seated Buddha statues to be carved from stone in rock caves in various parts of the country.
However, during the early part of his reign, he was inclined to destroy churches and inflict various persecutions upon the Dutch and Portuguese. This situation continued until the era of Kirti Sri Rajasingha. When several catastrophic events occurred in the country, the King believed that such things were happening due to his actions. Only after this did the King’s actions cease.
Foreign Relations and Trade
The King had to engage in several battles with the Dutch, who were then controlling the coastal areas, primarily over trade matters.
Marital Relations with the Madurai Royal Family
After ascending the throne, the King wished to bring a wife from South India. For this purpose, he sent two envoys to the city of Madurai in 1739. Bangaru Tirumala’s family accepted the King’s proposal; they resided in the Vellei Kuruchchi Fort near Tirupachettiram in Shivananga Samin. Bangaru Tirumala’s relatives, the brothers Rama Krishnappa Nayak and Narenappa Nayak, met the King’s representatives in Ramnad. Narenappa Nayak had a daughter of marriageable age, and they consented to the King of Kandy’s request. The brothers, along with their family and relatives, came to Lanka for the daughter’s wedding and later settled in Kandy with their kinsmen.
In 1747, Sri Vijayarajasingha married another Madurai princess. Each bride brought a group of her relatives to Lanka.
Death and Succession
As King Vijayarajasingha had no children, he died immediately after naming his successor. He nominated his wife’s brother, that is, his elder brother-in-law, to become king. This individual had been residing in the royal palace since the day his sister married the king. Due to this specific arrangement, Narenappa Nayak’s son inherited the Kandyan throne as Kirti Sri Rajasingha.