Son of Khallātanāga and Anulādevi.
Vattagāmani adopted him (thereby earning the title of Pitirājā) and took him with him when forced to flee from the Damilas (Mhv.xxxiii.35, 45; Dpv.xx.22f, 31).
Mahācūla succeeded Vattagāmani as king of Ceylon and ruled for fourteen years (17-3 B.C.). He worked in a rice field, disguised as a labourer, and with the wages so earned gave alms to Mahāsumma. For three years he laboured in a sugar mill near Sonnagiri and built the vihāras known as Mandavāpi, Abhayagallaka, Vankāvattakagalla, Dīghabāhugallaka, and Jālagāma. He was succeeded by Coranāga (Mhv.xxxiv.1ff). Mahācūla had two sons, Tissa (poisoned by the notorious Anulā) and Kutakannatissa. Mhv.xxxiv.15, 28.