The Man Who Killed an Elephant with His Elbow

Bandara, who killed an elephant with his elbow

There is no doubt that you have heard countless stories about martial arts in different countries of the world and the fighters who mastered those skills. In addition, they even create wonderful films based on those stories. With that, they were able to tell the world about the fighting exploits of the ancient fighters of their country.

For that, in our country.... every corner of history is covered with stories of great fighters. They are not just stories. Mostly written evidence. But if you take them and make a film about them, it ends up leaving that great fighter as a beggar.....

Let's get to the story then. There must be no one who has not heard of Konappu Bandara. His father is Weerasundara Bandara. He was a Kandyan chieftain who was killed for conspiring against the Rajasinghes of Sitawaka. This Weerasundara Bandara's best friend was Ganepola Ilangai Rala. At that time, he was a famous Angam Hattan teacher in Kanda and Kandyan. Because of this friendship, Weerasundara Bandara entrusted his son Konappu to Ilangai Rala to make him a skilled fighter. This Hattan school, or Ilangam Pola was in Haguranketha. So in a short time, Konappu earned a name by showing his skills in this Ilangam. Ganepola Ilangai Rala also had a son. He was exactly the same age as Konappu. This son's name was Abeykoon Bandara Thilake. Some said that Bandara Thilake was a Russian for Angam Hattan. Konappu and Thilake both learned the martial arts very well.

At that time, Konappu kills Bandara's father. That's all. Soldiers search the entire city to kill Konappu. A boy of Konappu's age from the Ilangam Maduwa in Haguranketha disguises himself as Konappu and sends him to Colombo Fort, seeking refuge in the Ilangai Rala.

Konappu has to work in Colombo Fort as a loyalist. Later, there is a fight in Colombo Fort, and Konappu is sent to Goa as a prisoner. Since the man is skilled, he fights with a thug named Gajabahu,who is there, and kills him. Because of this, Konappu Bandara is praised by the Visure of Goa.

Time passes quickly. Konappu returns to Sri Lanka and becomes king under the name of Wimaladharmasuriya. While he is ruling the country, Seehabahu, the son of Gajabahu, who was killed in Govedi, comes to the city of Kande and challenges King Wimaladharmasuriya to avenge the death of his father. The king does not accept the challenge. However, one person comes to Vasala and accepts Seehabahu's challenge. It is none other than the king's Haguranketha Ilangampola battle companion, Bandara Thilake. However, there is no evidence in history that the battle took place. However, the king meets his battle companion through that incident. Bandara Thilake rejects the king's request to accept the position of teacher of the royal Ilangama. Therefore, Seehabahu, who came to challenge, accepts the Ilangama of Vasala and stays in Sri Lanka. The second Rajasinghe king is also Seehabahu's disciple.

Later, the king gives Bandara Thilake a position of authority. Now the name of Nugemula is known as Abeykoon Bandara Thilake Adhikaram.

Meanwhile, King Wimaladharmasuriya wanted to cultivate the Kehelella paddy field. In return for a vow made to the Temple of the Tooth. This paddy field was located on one side of the Hunnasgiri mountain, bordering the Mahaweli River. The king built a palace on the Hunnasgiri mountain, stayed there, and cultivated the paddy field. The king entrusted the protection of this cultivated field to his very close friend Bandara Thilake Adhikaram. Adhikaram also took over the work from the top. Now the work is going well. The crop has yielded milk. When the chief of the Alla Panalale Adhikaram was a little distracted, an elephant ran into the paddy field and destroyed the entire field. However, the Madugalle Saluwadanna, who was angry with the chief, complained to the king about this in the morning. The king immediately brought Bandara Thilake to the palace. Bandara Thilake had nothing to do but admit his mistake. After all, duty is higher than a servant. So Bandara Thilake knows that the king's order is death. But Thilake made a request to the king. That was to postpone his punishment for a day. Since he had been a friend since childhood, the king gave Thilake a day..

Thilelake immediately searched the Hunnasgiriya hills and found the elephant that had destroyed the royal field. Bandara Thilake, who was angry about the misfortune that had befallen him, once jumped on the elephant's head and hit it with a severe elbow across the ear. The elephant did not meet an Angam champion. The elephant fell dead on the spot. Bandara Thilake, who had killed the elephant, went to see the king. The king, who had come to receive punishment from Kaliya when he was asked, asked Thilake where he had gone to Takahani. Thilake replied to the king that he had gone to kill the elephant that had destroyed the paddy fields. When asked how he had killed it, he said that he had stabbed it with a jagutti. The king could not believe this either. The king immediately went to the paddy field where the elephant had fallen dead to see this incident. The story is true. The sage is dead in the paddy field. Blood is coming from his ear. Even though he was a good hunter, this was a matter of surprise for the king. He also felt proud of his fighting partner's ability. King Wimaladharmasuriya announced that from today on, this place would be named the place where the elephant fell, and that both the hills and the mud in that area would be given as gifts, and that he would also give Bandara Thilake the title of Seneviratne of the country.

We find this story in a book of accounts. Since I am asking for witnesses, I will write the details below as they were in the book of accounts.

"During the time when King Wimaladharma was living in the city of Galle, that king cultivated the Kehelella field and handed it over to Bandara Thilake for protection. The king was guarding the field at night by order of the king. While Madugala was