| Sri Lumay Rajahmura Lumaya | |
| Succession: | Rajah of Cebu |
| Full Name: | Rajahmura Lumaya |
| Predecessor: | Rajahnate established |
| Successor: | Rajah Bantug |
| Royal House: | Chola |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
Sri Rajahmura Lumaya, known in his shortened name Sri Lumay, was the first Rajah and the founder of the Indianized Rajahnate of Cebu. According to the epic Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik,[1] a Bisayan epic story, Sri Lumay was a half-Tamil and half Malay minor prince of the Chola dynasty. Sri Lumay was the grandfather of Rajah Humabon.[2] He may be called a semi-legendary figure, since no other written records mentions about Sri Lumay, other than in oral traditions in the Visayan epic story of Aginid.
Sri Lumay, or Rajahmura Lumaya, established the Rajahnate of Cebu. He was a prince of the Chola dynasty. Initially, he was commissioned by the Maharajah to establish a base for their army force; instead, he created his own kingdom which he himself ruled with his son, Sri Alho and Sri Ukob; they ruled the south known as Sialo, which included Valladolid, Carcar, up to Santander.[3] [2] [1]
The account of Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik is about Sri Lumay who settled in Sugbo with his son, Sri Alho, ruling the south known as Sialo which included Valladolid, Carcar, up to Santander. Sri Lumay established the city of Singhapala that become the capital of the rajahnate and what is now part of Mabolo in the northern district of Cebu City.[4]
See main article: Datu Daya. Sri Lumay fought the Magalos, or destroyers of peace, Muslim Moro warriors coming from Mindanao, who had been raiding the island of Cebu in search for precious items like gold or ceramics and slaves. Sri Lumay was noted for his strict policies in defending against Moro Muslim raiders and slavers from Mindanao. His use of scorched earth tactics to repel invaders gave rise to the name Kang Sri Lumayang Sugbu (literally "that of Sri Lumay's great fire") to the town, which was later shortened to Sugbu ("scorched earth").[5]
In other folk stories, the problem about the Magalos where already an issue since the time of early Malay settlers during the time of the legendary Datu Daya who build a watch tower to watch the community against the upcoming raids.
He died in battle, fighting with the Muslim Moro pirates known as magalos from Mindanao.[5]
The Aginid epic mentioned Sri Lumay, his works, where he came from, and how he established the rajahnate: