It is an undeniable fact, however, that
Sinhalese kings brought Tamil soldiers from South India, some of whom them began to play
the role of king-makers. There was also an influential community of Tamil traders in the
Sinhalese kingdom. In addition, inscriptions of the ninth century speak of Tamil
settlements in the northern part of the Island.
During the rule of the Cholas in the eleventh
century, the Tamils living in the Island were able to consolidate their positions in the
militia and the administration of the Sinhalese kings. It may be assumed that more Tamils
settled in the northern region during this period.
In 1215 AD, Magha of Kalinga conquered the
Sinhalese kingdom with its capital in Polonnaruwa with the help of Dravidian soldiers.
This invasion weakened the Sinhalese power to such an extent that any semblance of
political unity in the Island disappeared.
Some maintain that events following the above
invasion contributed to the development of the kingdom of Jaffna.
The fact that the Tamil invaders from South
India ruled over the entire region of Nagadipa is significant. One assumes that there was
support for them among the people of the Peninsula. Swami Gnana Prakasar's opinion that
the people of Nagadipa or Jaffna who were "never fully reconciled to the new belief
[Buddhism] which came to be firmly established under Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC) and
who had constant communication with the Tamils of the mainland... nurtured a spirit of
revolt and were only too ready to stretch out a helping hand to any adventurer who would
attempt to curb the sovereign power of the Sinhalese" may offer a clue to the success
of some South Indian invasions.
After Magha, the Javakas led by Chandrabhanu
came to power with the help of Tamil soldiers from South India and ruled over most of the
territory that were previously under Magha. Chandrabhanu became almost a vassal of the
Pandyas and was overthrown by themwhen he refused to send tribute.
As far as Jaffna was concerned, the legendary
story of a Chola princess called Marutapuravalli marrying the king of Katiramalai is
remembered in the later chronicles. One does not hear any more of Katiramalai, a fact
which may point to a change of capitals.
In this period, migration from South India to
Jaffna and the mainland of the North called Vanni seems to have been taking place.
Pachilaippalli, an arid tract with sandy passes, became a central spot facilitating
perhaps migrations to Vanni.
A new type of pottery classed as Grooved Rim
Ware appears on the scene. Two Chola inscriptions belonging to the eleventh century,
recording the imprisonment of the Sri Lankan King and the grant to a Nallur temple
respectively, have been found in the Peninsula"
As far as religion was concerned, a brand of
syncretism combining Buddhist beliefs and practices with Tamil Saivism and folk religion
took place. Aiyanar was syncretised with Buddha.
In coure of time Buddhism was, on the wane.
It was perhaps at this juncture that Saiva Siddhanta became the official religion of the
Jaffna ruling class.
The eleventh to the fourteenth centuries
witnessed a flurry of foreign and local trade. Many coins and Chinese ware of this period,
a Tamil inscription of Parakramabahu I found at Nainativu and the observations of the Arab
traveler Inn Battuta (14th century AD) about Jaffna corroborate this state of affairs.
By the end of the 13th century and
not later than 1325 AD, the Tamil Kingdom of the North had "come on to the historical
scene".
This Tamil Saiva Kingdom, based partly on agrarian
and partly on mercantile structure, had as its nucleus Uttaradesa, namely the northern
division of Rajarata covering the areas of the northern part of the country.
The Kings of the Kingdom of Jaffna are known by the
name of Arya Chakravartis. According to some, the descendants of Arya Chakravarti, a
chieftain from the Pandya kingdom who became ruler of the northern part of the Island
towards the end of the thirteenth century, came to be known as Arya Chakravartis.
According to others, Jayabahu,who ruled the North while Magha ruled from Polonnaruwa, was
probably the founder of the Arya rulers of the North. These rulers were originally a
branch of the Ganga dynasty from Kalinga who had immigrated to Rameshvaram, South India,
and had intermingled with the Brahmins of the area. It was to highlight their connection
with the highest caste that they called themselves Aryas. Another school holds that
Singhai Aryan, also known as Kulankaic Chakravarti, was the founder of the line of Arya
Chakravartis. He was none other than Magha, alias Kalinga Magha, alias Kalinga Vijayabahu,
who conquered Polonnaruwa in 1215.
The centre of power of the Northern Kingdom was the
Jaffna Peninsula and hence it was known by the name of the Kingdom of Jaffna. Ibn Battuta,
the Arab traveler who visited the capital in 1344 AD states that the Tamil King's power
extended up to Puttalam and that he was in control of the pearl fishery.
In the middle of the fourteenth century, the army of
the Tamil King had penetrated as far south as Gampola and had driven the reigning
Sinhalese King from his capital.
