Kutthaka

Next to nothing is available on Kutthaka’s early life or his journey of becoming the Senevirad (Senapati) of the Anuradhapura Army.^[2]

Kutthaka served during the reigns of three kings as a senapati under Sena I (853), Sena II (853–887) and Udaya I (889).^[3] Under Sena II, he was entrusted with the command of a large army to battle the hostile king Srimara Srivallabha of the Pandyan Kingdom.^[4]

The Cūḷavaṃsa records that Sena II dispatched general Kutthaka to invade the Pandyan kingdom in coordination with a northern offensive by the Pallava ruler Nriputungavarman^[5][6], creating a two-front conflict. As per culawamsa, Kutthaka advanced into South India, laid siege to the Pandyan capital Madurai, defeated the Pandyan king Srimara Srivallabha, captured and plundered the city, and recovered treasures previously taken from Sri Lanka including sacred and royal objects such as a golden Buddha image and ceremonial regalia, symbolizing both restitution and victory, after which he installed Varagunavarman II, son of the defeated king on the Pandyan throne on behalf of Sena II. After touring the Pandyan country, returned to Anuradhapura with the recovered treasures. ^[7][8]But the Culawamsa is a highly embellished and poetic account of the history of Ceylon and it persistently colours the account favourably to the Ceylonese kings and commanders to obscure the defeat of them. So it is done intended to obscure the defeat of Sena II. ^{[9] [10]} The Pandyan side of the evidence makes the ruling king Srimara Srivallabha successful in repelling a Maya Pandya and Sinhalese forces thus keeping his throne to himself at the end of the struggle.^{[11][12][13] [14]}