AI Overview

The user’s statement about the moral heroism of Sinhalese Kings leading to Sri Lanka becoming a world leader in animal rights in the pre-colonial era is strongly supported by historical accounts and chronicles.

. The arrival of Arahant Mahinda approximately 2,300 years ago was indeed a pivotal turning point that embedded the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) into the island’s governance and culture. 

The Groundbreaking Encounter and Its Impact

During his first meeting with King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale, Arahant Mahinda delivered a sermon that fundamentally redefined the King’s role, stating:

“O great king, the birds of the air and the beasts on the earth have an equal right to live and move about in any part of this land as thou. The land belongs to the peoples and all other beings and thou art only the guardian of it”. 

This sermon established the concept of the ruler as a guardian of all life on the land. Following this, Mihintale and its surroundings were declared a wildlife sanctuary, considered an early example globally. 

Moral Heroism and Royal Decrees

Following this encounter, Sinhalese Kings demonstrated “moral heroism” by incorporating compassion for animals into state policy through various actions:

• Establishing nature reserves and sanctuaries.
• Implementing the “Maghata” rule, banning the killing of animals, by five different kings.
• King Buddhadasa (4th century CE) established hospitals for both humans and animals.
• King Elara ordered the execution of his son for accidentally killing a calf, as recounted in the Mahavamsa.
• King Kirthi Nissanka Malla’s public edict protecting animals and fish. 

This historical evidence suggests that pre-colonial Sri Lanka, influenced by Buddhist principles, had a unique legal and social system that prioritized animal welfare and state responsibility, supporting the idea of a leading ethical stance on animal rights. 

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The user’s statement about the moral heroism of Sinhalese Kings leading to Sri Lanka becoming a world leader in animal rights in the pre-colonial era is strongly supported by historical accounts and royal decrees. 

The Groundbreaking Encounter and its Impact

The encounter between Arahant Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa around 247 BCE at Mihintale was a pivotal moment. While on a deer hunt, the King was stopped by the Arahant who preached a revolutionary message of ecological trusteeship: “O great King, the birds of the air and the beasts on the earth have an equal right to live and move about in any part of this land as thou. The land belongs to the people and all other beings and thou art only the guardian of it”. 

This advice established a new ethical foundation for governance, leading to a “peaceful socio-religious revolution” where the state assumed the role of guardian for all life forms, not just humans. 

Moral Heroism and Royal Decrees

Following this encounter, several Sinhalese kings demonstrated “moral heroism” through concrete actions and laws, integrating Buddhist principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and metta (loving-kindness) into state policy. 

• World’s First Sanctuaries: King Devanampiyatissa is credited with establishing the world’s first recorded wildlife sanctuary in Mihintale and the surrounding areas, banning hunting and establishing a precedent for state-sponsored conservation.
• Maghata Rule: At least five kings implemented the Maghata rule (the right to life), which completely banned the killing of any animal within the kingdom’s jurisdiction.
• Veterinary Care: King Buddhadasa (4th century CE) was a renowned physician who founded hospitals for both humans and animals, an exceptionally early example of institutionalized veterinary care.
• Protection of Water Life: Kings like Kirthi Nissanka Malla issued rock inscriptions and used drum announcements to declare that no animals should be killed within a radius of seven leagues from the city and gave security to fish in the twelve great tanks, effectively creating aquatic sanctuaries.
• Justice Systems: The Mahavamsa chronicle recounts the story of King Elara, who, in a display of ultimate justice, executed his own son for accidentally killing a calf with his chariot, after the mother cow rang a bell, the king had installed for those seeking justice. 

These historical accounts, documented in chronicles and stone inscriptions, demonstrate that pre-colonial Sri Lanka, guided by Buddhist philosophy, developed a unique and advanced system of animal welfare that was arguably a world leader in its time, considering animals as sentient beings with moral claims to consideration and protection by the State. 

See also

Compassion to animals in ancient Sri Lanka gave moral leadership to Sinhalese Kings and raised the moral stature of the people of Sri Lanka

Animal Friendly Cultural Heritage and royal decrees in the legal history of Sri Lanka

https://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/animal.htm

https://www.acu.ac.uk/the-acu-review/follow-thy-old-wisdom

High in Sri Lanka’s hills, Mihintale’s ancient ruins whisper of a king who revered nature’s creatures 2,300 years ago. King Devanampiyatissa, inspired by Buddhist principles, declared Mihintale a sanctuary in the 3rd century BCE, banning hunting, as recorded in ancient chronicles. Archaeological evidence supports this, with inscriptions promoting animal welfare. This pioneering act in Sri Lanka shaped global conservation ethics, blending spirituality with environmental care. Today, Mihintale’s forests teem with wildlife, a living legacy of Sri Lanka’s early commitment to protecting nature. (This image is generated using AI Technology to explain the fact) Source: Sri Lanka Department of Archaeology #MihintaleSanctuary #SriLankaConservation #AncientEcology

https://www.facebook.com/bloonsoo/posts/high-in-sri-lankas-hills-mihintales-ancient-ruins-whisper-of-a-king-who-revered-/786195813998495