Kutthaka (fl. 9th century CE), also known in inscriptions as Senevirad Kuttha, was a distinguished general in the Anuradhapura army, serving under the King Sena II of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. He is best known for leading a disputed military expedition against the Pandyan Kingdom in South India.
Next to nothing is available on KutthakaâÂÂs early life or his journey of becoming the Senevirad (Senapati) of the Anuradhapura Army.
Kutthaka served during the reigns of three kings as a senapati under Sena I (853), Sena II (853âÂÂ887) and Udaya I (889). Under Sena II, he was entrusted with the command of a large army to battle the hostile king Srimara Srivallabha of the Pandyan Kingdom.
The Cà «á¸·avaá¹Âsa records that Sena II dispatched general Kutthaka to invade the Pandyan kingdom in coordination with a northern offensive by the Pallava ruler Nriputungavarman, 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. 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. 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.
Senevirad Kuttha built a monastery named Sen Senevirad Pirivena near a village named Sulinnarugama according to the Tamarawewa pillar inscription.
Kutthaka is regarded as one of the most distinguished military commanders of the Anuradhapura period, noted especially for leading a disputed overseas expedition against the Pandya kingdom during the reign of King Sena II. His campaign resulted in the various as both of them claimed victory. Further inscriptions from the reign of King Udaya I indicate that Senevirad Kutthaka continued to serve as senapati under Sena IIâÂÂs immediate successor. His name appears for the last time in the Nidinegama pillar inscription dated to the third regnal year (c. 889 CE) of Udaya I, suggesting that he held high military office for at least 35 years. Taken together, the chronicle and inscriptional evidence attest to KutthakaâÂÂs long career and enduring legacy in strengthening the military and political authority of the Anuradhapura kingdom.