Son of Silāmegha (Aggabodhi VI) (Cv.xlviii.42, 76). Aggabodhi made him a general (senāpati) and gave over the government to him. However, when Aggabodhi VI died and Aggabodhi VII came to the throne, Mahinda went to Mahātittha. Later, on the death of Aggabodhi VII, Mahinda quelled all disturbances and put the queen in chains because she conspired to kill him. His cousin Dappula rose against him, but was defeated after much fighting. Mahinda then married the queen of Aggabodhi VI and became king as Mahinda II, when a son was born to him. Dappula again rose in revolt, but Mahinda made a treaty with him and gave him part of Rohaṇa with the Gāḷhagaṅgā as boundary.

Among Mahinda’s benefactions was the erection of the Dāmavihāra-pariveṇa and the Sannīratittha-vihāra in Pulatthipura, also the costly Ratanapāsāda, containing a golden image of the Buddha. To the Silāmegha nunnery Mahinda gave a silver Bodhisatta statue. He had the Abhidhamma recited by the monks of Hemasāli-vihāra, and built many shrines and helped those who were poor or in trouble. To the lame he gave bulls and to the Damiḷā, horses. He strengthened the weir of the Kālavāpi. He reigned for twenty years (772-92 A.C.) and was succeeded by his son Udaya I. (Cv.xlviii.83 ff).