Kuveni (Yakshini Queen of Lanka)

spirit · Sri Lanka · South Asia

Kuveni (also known as Kuvanna or Sesapati) was a Yakshini (demoness) queen ruling in Lanka when Prince Vijaya arrived from India. According to the Mahavamsa, the ancient Pali chronicle of Sri Lanka, she was a shape-shifting demoness who could assume the form of a beautiful sixteen-year-old maiden. She initially imprisoned Vijaya's men through magical means, but when Vijaya overpowered her, she swore loyalty and helped him conquer the Yakkha city of Sirisavatthu. She bore him two children, Jivahatta and Disala. After establishing the Sinhala kingdom, Vijaya repudiated her saying 'men fear super

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