Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
Mahinda (Thera)
Saint / religious leader
Anuradhapura Kingdom
active c. 250 BCE
Ashoka's son who took Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Their world
Move along the chart to see their age in any year, who ruled and what happened; click anything to open it.
The map shows Anuradhapura Kingdom around their lifetime and where the events of their lifetime took place.
Hover a dot for the event; click it to open the full map in that year.
Rulers of the time
Pandukabhaya
King, Anuradhapura Kingdom · c. 437–367 BCE
Chandragupta Maurya
Emperor, Mauryan Empire · c. 321–297 BCE
Bimbisara
King, Haryanka Dynasty · c. 544–492 BCE
Ajatashatru
King, Haryanka Dynasty · c. 492–460 BCE
Udayin
King, Haryanka Dynasty · c. 460–444 BCE
Shishunaga
King, Shishunaga Dynasty · c. 413–395 BCE
Kalashoka
King, Shishunaga Dynasty · c. 395–367 BCE
Mahapadma Nanda
King, Nanda Dynasty · c. 345–329 BCE
Dhana Nanda
King, Nanda Dynasty · c. 329–321 BCE
Events in their lifetime
| c. 268 BCE | Ashoka's accession |
| c. 261 BCE | Kalinga War Kalinga was annexed and Ashoka renounced war for Dhamma. |
| c. 257 BCE | Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts inscribed |
| c. 250 BCE | Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra |
| c. 249 BCE | Ashoka visits Lumbini Lumbini's taxes were reduced to one-eighth. |
| c. 247 BCE | Mahinda brings Buddhism to Sri Lanka |
| c. 232 BCE | Death of Ashoka |
Contemporaries
Sorted by how long their lives overlapped. The bar shows when, within Mahinda (Thera)’s life.
Sanghamitta
Saint / religious leader · active c. 240 BCE
Brought a sapling of the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka
Overlap: 50 years
Megasthenes
Traveller / envoy · active c. 300 BCE
Greek envoy to Pataliputra who wrote the Indica
Overlap: 10 years
🕸 Connections 18 links
Explore connections full screen ↗Everything on YugMap linked to this page — and why. Hover a dot in the graph, or pick from the list.
🗂 Era 1
- Ancient IndiaPart of this era
🏛 Kingdoms & empires 1
- Anuradhapura KingdomLived under it
👑 Rulers 5
- Bindusara Mauryan Empire · 297–273 BCERuled in their lifetime
- Ashoka Mauryan Empire · 268–232 BCERuled in their lifetime
- Devanampiya Tissa Anuradhapura Kingdom · 247–207 BCERuled in their lifetime
- Dasharatha Mauryan Empire · 232–224 BCERuled in their lifetime
- Samprati Mauryan Empire · 224–215 BCERuled in their lifetime
👤 People 2
- Sanghamitta active c. 240 BCESame field, same time (50 years)
- Megasthenes active c. 300 BCELived at the same time (10 years)
⚔ Events 6
- Kalinga War c. 261 BCEHappened in their lifetime
- Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts inscribed c. 257 BCEHappened in their lifetime
- Mahinda brings Buddhism to Sri Lanka c. 247 BCEHappened in their lifetime
- Ashoka's accession c. 268 BCEHappened in their lifetime
- Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra c. 250 BCEHappened in their lifetime
- Ashoka visits Lumbini c. 249 BCEHappened in their lifetime
🔧 Technology 1
- Brahmi: Ashoka's inscriptions 3rd century BCEMade or discovered in this time
📄 Research 2
- The Image of the Barbarian in Early India Romila Thapar · 1971Research on this topic
- Cults and shrines in early historical Mathura (c. 200 BC–AD 200) Upinder Singh · 2004Research on this topic
📚 Recommended reading
Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
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