Did Mahanama Read Tamil Literature?
Next to the Vijaya legend, the war between Duttugemunu and Elara is the most (in) famous and controversial of the chronicle. Mahanama has been criticized, perhaps rightly for downplaying the deaths of non-Buddhist soldiers. Yet a close look at his depiction of King Elara would demonstrate not simply an admiration for the Tamil monarch, but that the chronicler was quite familiar with the Tamil literature considering the Cholas, and their reputation for honor. Mahanama described Elara as upright and honorable. Indrapala himself, in citing Mahanama’s description of the practice of honoring the Elara monument built by Dutugemunu has written, “Would the author of the Mahavamsa have gone out of his way to say this if he had considered Elara as an alien intruder whom the people were happy to see dead?” Yet it seems that even Indrapala has overlooked the tale of Elara’s bell, which any denizen of his realm could sound if an injustice had occurred. One story included in the part is of the cow w
