r.

flq,lsr
I{istorical Topography of Ancient
and Medieval Ceylon
Rv C. \Y. NICI{OI-,\S

Introduction

-l-l-lE pet'io,1 covern,l hl tlris ('oln.l)ilati,rrr ii frurrr llre r.irrli,,.t iirrr,,s

r t o thc elcl ,rf the r3th centurl', at u4rich time tlie ncrlier-ill Sinhalese
ir<ingdorn was
into ruin. The succession disputcs, l:eginnilg
-falling_
rvitli the cleath
of Parakk:rn'iabahu I in rrsrr au,-l entling rlirh th6
pillage and perser:ution d.ring thc reign of th,'la.t Jirrlinc:r. llacha
-tr)iranrmaitzrq_-r45), precederl tirc coilair.-c. 'fhr'
Sri
Javanese,

rrijir of Ligor, r.vhom the Cfibttctirsa calls Candabhanu, ancl ttre pinclvans ntacle invasions oI Cc1'lon in 1215, rz(tq, rz6} alcl rzSr. A qreat
i:anrine occurred about rz8'1 ancl n-as follor,vecl by tlie Paf clr-an conrluest:
zo vears.thereafter Ccylon fonnc-'cl part of the Ph,nclr.an l)rnpire"
{9r
'Ilhc ancient irrigation svstem hari alreaclv broken
clown, arirl Codiington has suggested that tlrc fa'rinc |robahly coincidecl u'itir tire firit
appearance of malaria rvhicir, for over six ancl a half centuries after.r'r,ards,
became the scourgc of the dry zcne. The north-u-estern,
,rorthern, north-castern an,1 rnaritintr-eastern parts of tlie islancl
passecl permanentllr out of Sinhalese irand; to thc Tamils.
The topographical material is arrangeci regionally and follon.; the
nrodern territorial scheme of rer-cnue districts except in the case of
'tlie lorver course oI the .1,[a./tarcili Gahga, lv]rich. betu'een ]Iahiyangana and the sea, constitr-rtes the boundary of si-r rlifferent tlistrjcts.
This arrangement rnakcs a full Index inclispensable, an':l one has been
provided.

flu, lr of tlrc t()p,)graplri,'rl rrat.rial in r lrc urrpubli.lrr- I ilrilrrni

has been inchided, but not that in ttre unpuirlisliecl
nredieval inscriptions of the .tth to the r3th centrrries.
Thc situations of irncient and mociern plar:e-" are clesci:ilrr:t1 in the
te-'it in sulhcient clctaiL to enable ther-rr to tc locatecL lvith accLrr:icv on
the one nile to an inclr toPograPLriczr.l shccts antl aplrrorim Ltt.lr- ori the
l,Iotor l{ap ol Cer,'lon.
In the Pali tvorks, the:lncient Si'halesc placc-rerr:s rver-e
translatecl into Ptili, sornetim:.; Iitcrall1., sonr::tirnes J-reclv anil r-ariantl]. to mect the rreeds oI tlLr: rtr-tre, an,l .5.11131irn:s peda.ntically. fhe
follor'r'i'g ex.nrples rnay l,e cluotccl:-Acchagila for Si'haicse
\/alasgala, Dorlivagga for Sinhalcse I)cnavalia", patta.p:rsirrla for

rnsc_r-rptrorrs

..'r75-A

JOUII,NAL, R,.A.S. (CEYLOI{)

akkhapabbata and Udumbarapabbata for Sin-halese Dumbul5,gala;

l[animekhala for Sinhalese Mi4ibe, Nadibhaldagarna for Sinhalese
Obicia, Ganga-si1ip111a for Sinhalese Garirpala, and JambukoLalena for
Sinhalese Dirnbuiulenil. Codrington has pointed out that the Pali
terminations -thali, -sobbha and -rukkha stand for Sinhalese -goda'

-vatta and -rake respectivelY.

Nloclern place-names are printed

in the text tn italics.

l'age r

Introduction

for

Sinhalese Siyambalagama ;
Hiraflffamalaya and Suvalnamalaya for Sinhalc-se Ranmalakanda,
Nalisobbha and Nalikeravatttiu {or Sinhalese Polvatta, DhflmarSinhalese Patpana, Tinfiniliagama

Contents

New Series, Vol. VI, Bpeci'al, Nuntber

'[-]haptcr I.
Chapter: IL
Chapter IIi.
(ihaptcr IV.

Ceylon

Batticaloa District

20

l'he Lolr,er X'Iahavili Gafga

36

'lrincomalee District

4-+

lladuila l)istrict

17

Chaptc'r V.
Chapter VI.
Cliapter VII.

Hambantot,a District

59

l{atara District

Ch:rpter: VIII.

Galle

Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Chapter- XI.
Chapter XII.

l'Iann:r,r District . .

71

Jaffna District

83

Vavuniya District

86

Puttalam District

88

Chapter XIII.

Kuruntigala District

92

Chapter XIV.

M5tah District

Chapter

Kandv and Nuvara llliya l)istricts

115

Kalutara and Colonbo Distr-icts

rrB

XV.

Chapter XVL

District

Chapter XVII. Kigalla

7o

/J

roB

and Ratnapura Districts

r22

Cliaptcr XVIII.

The City of Anuracihapura

Chapter XIX.

,r\nuraclhapura District

r52

fihapter XX.

The City o{ Pcilonnaruva . .

I71

t-lh:rpter XXi. PolonnaruyaDistrict . ..

Chapter XXII. Lrnidentified Places in Rti,jarattha
Chaptcr

XXIII.

,Cliapter XXIV.

r8r
.

r8E

Unidentifiecl Places in Ilohana

r9'+

Unlocated Places

r96

Index of Ancient Names

r99

fIIS'IORICAL TOPOGR,APHY OF ANCIENT AND MI'DIEVAL CEYLON

CHAPTER I
CEYLON

(A). Fosition, Physical

Features and Climate

The position of the Island of Ce14on (I-arika) in the Indian C)cean
lics betrveen thc paralleis of 5"55' arid 9'5r' north latitude ancl the
merirlians of 7g" q3' and Er'5.3' east longituclc. The Island is pear-shaped, z7r miles frorrr north to south ancl r4o miles from east to r'vest, and
its area is 2.5,3:z sqllare ntiles. The sou'rhcrnmost part of the peninsula
of the Indian mainltrncl is separated frorn Cevlon by tlie shallorv Garf
o_f trfannar anrl the shoals and sanclbanks of Adnm's Bridga, the
sea being only zo milcs lvicle at the narro.nvest point. The
se\'eralrce of Cevlon {rom the Indian continent took place in gcologicallv recent times : ancl some rrtcmorv of the inunclation of the forrner

interr-ening

lanil bridge (roughlr,', thc arra betivccn tlie tr'i'o 5-fathonr bathl,metrical contours to norttr and south of Jlanrav Islan,d) appears to be
prescrr-ecl in sonrc of the iegencls about cvcnts of r-cry early times.
The tiger supplantecl the Indian lion ir-r the Veclic age, for ttre Rigvccla
mentions the iion irut not the tiger: r,vhcn tirc tiger rnoved dorvn intc,
Soutlr India, the lancl connection u'ith Cleylon no longer existed.
Ttre coast of Cc1'1on, except on the south-rvest, is indented b1'
man-v- lagoons, most of u'hich are now quite shallou'. Numerous largc
anci small bays ancl roadsteacls served as anchorages Jor the sailing
vesstls of ancier-rt ancl medier.al timers. 'fhe soutli, south west and
\vest coasts are exposccl to the {ur5r of the south-rvest mon-soon (1,{a1"
to ()ctobcr) and the only sizeable and comparatively safc ports in this
area \\'ere Gallt ancl Colon,bo: but the evider-rce points to the area
betr.r,een Kalntavo. ancl Galle as having becn vcr-y spilrsely populatecl
prior to the roth century. {'Jn the north-eastern coa-st, the Bav of
Trincomalce , ancient Gokalna, is one of the largest ancl finest naturaL
l,arl,rours in the ri.orlcl. The main concentiation of shipp.ing in ancient
tinres rvas in the -slrr:ltcred ports ottbc l,'fanttor clistrict and the Jaffnn
peninsr.rla, {acinl': the siraliorv, norttr-r'rrestern seas.
'llre ertensir-e an,.1 ioftv montane zone of Cevion is its southcentral region. It r-iscs in trvo succcssivc peneplains from the lorvlancls.
t'hir-'h surr:ound it on all sides and ternrinates in the highe';t mountain,
Pidttr,,tttl{lgct.Ln, ttt 8,zgz feet. it is a cool and healthv region, r,vell
pror-icle.-i $,ith perennial rivers ancl streamsr',hicii clescenrl in u,atcrfalls
ancl rapitis: its natural vegetation is luxuriant ancl the scenery i5
exceeclirrgly beautiful. The average annual rainfall is 8o to rz5 inctie:r,
rising to r4o to zoo inches in the upper valley of lhe X[ahauri.li, Gaiga,
arounrl trlamboda and thc Knwckles, ancl falling away to 65 tc
too jnchers in the morlntaini of tt'o anJ the more easterly hilis"

rvhir:h form a drier sub-zon-e. By the end of tl're rst century

1i.c. the lower montane valley of the Makatcili Ganga valley
around Ka.ndn,, Tel,leniya and Ganc/>ola, the lcsser hills to north-west
of. Iladulla, and the northern and rvestcrn slopes of the Mfttal.ehills '"vere
popLrlaterl. The- routes of these _early settlers in the mountain valleys
at elcr':rtions of r,ooo to z,ooo feet are marked bv an ascending seri-es
of conternporary inscriptions at -the sites of the temples whiih they
foutiriecl. Above about z,5oo feet the montane zone was largell,
unpopulatecl till the r;th or roth century. The Lou'country, wnlch
surrcrrrnds the montane or Upcountry zone, is divided into two sharply
separatecl zones, the_ I-owcountry rvet zonc and the Lor,r,country dry
zonLi, tite one \iery different fronr the other in climate and vegetation.
f, ire l-.olr.country rvet zone extends over the western, south-

westLrrn and southern lowlands (the Cltilatu, Coiombo, Kalwtara, Ga/,\e,

X[dttr,"a, Ktlgalla and Ratnat'izra districts principally) and reccives
the rains of the south-rvest (I'[arr to October) monsoon as r,r'cl-l as of

the nortlr-east (November to April) monsoolt, the average annual

clepcsition bcing 85 to r25 incl-res, risinr- to t-1o to zoo inches in
the ltatttafura amcl l{alutara districts, parts of the Kilgalla and
Galir clistricts, and the lolr,er valley of tlrc l{tilatri Gaiga. The
rivcrs are perennial, broacl and deep, and cause annriai floods. There
is no nee,:l to store r,vater for irrigation because there is no lack of it in
anr.' season: occasional clroughts cause no appreciable

distress. The

is very dense ernd lusuriant, -and lvild grorvths have

to be kept in check to prevent them from invacling gardens
ancl cultit'atecl lancls. lhe lanc1 is flat near the coast ancl rises

\-egetation

graciiiallr', though frequently brol<en bv ranges of hills and rock outcrops. to the foothills of the montane zone. The Chilaw, Coi.ombo and
Iidgtlla cl,istricts l'ere populatecl in pre-Christialr times, as nllmerous
inscr-jptions attest, but the greater part of the T-orvcountry -"r'et zone
u,as in forest : it r'vas not, ancl is not, owing to its rnuch smaller extent
of flat larrl, as suitable an area a-s ther drv zone for the cultivation of
ricr'.

lire J-orrcountry clrl zotre, l'hich conipri,ses tire north-r,vestern,

northern, north-eastenr, north-central, eastern ancl south-eastem parts
of Cel'lon :rnd forms about 7o per cent of the total lanci area, is historicallv the most important region in L'eylon bccause it lvas the cr:adle
of tl,e Siniralcse civiiisation.

It

receir.cs the rains only of the north,

east monsoon, lvhile cluring tlie south-r,r'est rnonsoon it sutters arr

annual drought {ronr l,Iay to Septernbcr.n If the north-east monsoon

rains fai1, as thev sometimes do, severe distress can Jollow because its
agricultural economy is depentient upon normal rainfall in the rainy
season. Severe drought can alternatc rvith hearrv floods. The annual
rain{all avcrages 5tl to 7.5 inches, decreasing to 35 to 4i inches in t',vo

sub-zones, the Mannar distlict in the north-r,r,est and the

Hantbantcta district in the south-east. I)uring the annual drought
the temperature rises, the grass turns to stubble ancl the vegetation

arid

JOURNAL, R,.A.S. (CEYLON)

New Seri,es, Vol'

VI,

Specia'l Number

becom es parched, the smaller tanks shrink to muddy pools. the

stream s and watercourses run dry, and the larger rivers, except the
Mahau cili Gahga and the Iralaaa Ganga, are reduced to trickles or break
up into disconnected pools. Tlie land js not. uniformly flat; numeroirs roc k outcrops anil several ranges of hills exceeding r,ooo feet irl
height intersect-the level ground. Full advantage-u'as taken by thtr
anc"ient Sinhalese of the clifferences in contour to close gaps betr'veen
ridges a nd create large and snrall reservoirs, and to dam rivers at1-rigl-rer
levEls a nd divert their r.vaters along artificial canals to irrigate the rice
fields : irrigation engineering was one of the greatest skilis possesserl
by the ancient people and they constructed a vast and intricate system
oi interrelated-dams, canals'and tanks, often n-ri'rgling the waters of

rivers flowing in clifferent directions. At the beginning of the znd

century R.c.;-if not eariier, population had spread-over the entire clry

zone and the constnrction of tanks and canais hacl begun.

In the presently -famil areas o{ the north and ea-st, maly placenames have assum"ed Tamil forms in r,vhich the original Sinhalese
element is recognisable; but Codrington states that 'this is not the
case in the couintry behind Mannar: ttrere these names are purell,u
Tamil'. Throughoirt the Sinhalese districts of the north-r,ve-ctern and

north-central r6gions the great majority of the ancient Sinhalese

place-names hasbeen lost, and it has been suggested-that.thepresent
population is not des cended {rom the originai Sinhalese inhabitants.
Thiese were regions subject to invasion and conquest, and with the
downfall of the-Sinhal ese kingdom and the min of the irrigation system,
followed, soon afterwards, very probably, by the advent of malaria,
heavy migrations of population into the,hills and the wet z-one r'vould
have'tak6n place. Ir Rohana and Malaya,- many ancient ^pl.acenames have lurvive cl in original or modified form: in some of these
cases, the modern na me o{ a harniet or even a land is the survivor of an
ancient village name.

(B). Literary References, Mainly External

The Ceylon Chronicles begin the history of Ceyion in the lifetirne
tsuddha, that is, in ths 6th century e'c. according to Sinhaiese
chronology. Theystate that the Island r,vas then known as Lankadipa.
but it acquire<l the additional name lambapanni (Taprobane ol
the Greekslnd Romans) because the hands of the r'vearied Indo-Aryan
immigrants who first landed in Ceylon were coloured by the coppercolouied, earth u,hen they threw themseh'e-. down at their landingplace : and it acquired, also, a third name, Sihaladipa- (Salikc of
iltol"*y, Serenclivi and Serendi.b of the,Arabs), because the leader of
th e firsl immigrants and his followers rvere of the Sihala clan'
The earliest reference to ceylon in Inclian literature is in Kautilya's
Arthaiastya in which it is referred to as Parasamudra, 'the land beyond
the ocean (the forerunner of Palaesimoundu and simondou of some

oi the

"

HISTOTI,IL'AL TOPOGRAPHY OF ANCIIJN'I' AND MEDII1VAL CI1YLON

In Greek literature of the 4th and 3rd centuries

B.c., accounts appeared in the r'vritings of Onesicritus. the chief pilot
of Alexander the Great, Megasthenes, the Greek anrbassador to the
Indian court of Chandragupta, and Eratosthenes, the first of the
geographers, about what they had heard concerning Taprobane-

of the Greek rvriters).

These accounts, since they were not based upon personal knowledge,
\l,ere, as is to be expected, partly fabulous; but in this respect they
rvere not unique, because fanciful notions about the Island and its
people persisted up to the znd centur.v, even after Greek and Roman
rnerchants and rnariners had {ong been trading in its ports. One-

sicritus, the earliest European writer, lvould have gathered his infornation about Ceylon from the sea-faring men in the Indus delta,
and it is evident that the Island of Tambapalni had a repute among

ttre people of that region which it could not have acquired unless sea
communication between the Indus delta and Ceylon had been established well before the time of Onesicritus' journey down the Indus
(e.c. :25). To this sea-route can be traced, upon other grounds
as well, the beginning of the Indo-Aryan colonisation of Ceylon, these
firs^t immigrants being natives of North-western India. Knowledge
of Ceylon in the Mauryan Empire oI the Ganges Valley in North-eastern India existed, as Megasthenes' accouirt sholvr, in the reign of
Chandragupta (circa R.c. 3zr-2g7) : communication by sea between
the two countries had definiteh'been established, aciording to the
iristorical er"iclence, bv the time of Asoka (circa n.c. 274-)!7), the
point _of departure from and arrival at the mouth of the Ganges being
Td,malitti, modern Td,mluk. In the inscriptions of Asoka rbference is
made to Tanirraparni (Ceylon), along with the South Indian kingdoms
o{ Choda (COla), Ptlndya ancl Keralaputra (Kerala), as lying outside
the limits of the Mauryan Empire. It is fairly certain ttiat other
streams of Indo-Aryan immigration into Ceylon from North-eastern
India followed those which came earlier from North-western India.
These sea-routes to Cevlon from the deltas of the Indus and the
(ianges doubtless huggecl the coast of the Ind.ian peninsula, and the
first Indo-Aryan adventurers who reached Ceylon, both from the
rvestern and the eastern sides of India, must necessarily have made
earlier acquaintance rvith the South Indian kingdoms.- Indeed. it is
highly probable that the Indo-Aryan sailors leained of Cevlon from
the native sailors rvhorn they rnet in South Indian ports, because it is
incredible that theSouth Indianscouldhave failed to discover theirlarge,
island-neighbour before the sailors of the Indus delta did so. The
Paldyans were closest to Ceylon, and, in ah probability, hacl established
trading^ contacts with and trading stationi in Ceylon from the early
1.'ears- of their existence as a kingdom. Whether the people, or at leasl
the dominant section of them. in these kingdoms a1 tfiis period and
earlier were Dravidians, as thev were for celtain in the znd century
n,c. and afterwards, is now in dispute In the legendary beginnings
of Sinhalese civilisation related in the early chapters-of the'Maid,aarhsa,
the kingdom of Patdu (which name is consislently used for pdldya

J()I_rIt,\,\t,, lt..\.S. LtIJLYI,ON) Nezr Scriics, ItoI. TI, Speciol

Ntotr,lttr

lrollr irr tlrc ).Iultt.t-tttitsrT.:rnd tb.eCu|a.uaitsa)issaid to have been in exi.t.,,.." i:I, thc 6th centrlry B.rl., and the leader and chiefs of the first I ndoj\rvan arrivals in Ccy'1on arc said to have sent envoys to the Pandyan
liirr rn,1 uhtail,'r1 rvivcs, craftsmen ancl material assistance from tl-rat
1irrf,lr'rn. thc Prr,lu king is not specifically called a l)amila, nor is it
su{Rested that tl rt'notmal inference that }re was a I)amila shoulcl not
bciirarvn in this particular instance. Concperors of CeS.lon from Soutlr
Inclia, designatecl I)anlilas in the Malmaathsa, are mentionedin tlrt lirst
fer.v clecadi:s of the zncl century n.c., at u'irich period one or more of tl-)e

Dravidian l<ingcloms w-as suffrciently power {ul to cmbark on con(irlests

o\-erseas. It r.vill probably never bc resolved satislactorilv ri-lrr" the
South Indians did not resist thc North lndian colonisation ol Crr.lon,
or:, if thev did, hor,v tha.t resistance wai o\refcome: bv the ,1th ccritury

c",

if not earlier, the Indo-Aryan

spealiing pcople had lounrled a

in Ceylon.
The inhabitants of this nelv Inclo-Aryan, islancl kingdorn, u-hom
\\'c ma\/ ntxv call the Sinhalcse, retained their cultural contacts r,i,ith
Northern Inclia, particularly North-eastern India, and these contacts
1;rofoundly influencecl their early civilisation. But they coulcl e:,pect
no n:aterial aid in u.ar, nor, perhaps, even remote political support fronr
the clistant lands of their origin. 'fhe possible and potential tlrr-eats
to their securitrr and inclependence subsisted in their Dravidian neighbours in Panclva, C.ola anci l(eraia., ancl their reiations rvith these
l<ingdonrs and the enernies of these kingcloms on the mainland became,
accordingly, the principal factor in tireir foreign policy throughout
their subsequent historl'.
'fhe u'r-itings of Onesicritus, Megasthenes and Eratost.henc" have
not sun.ived in original, but therc are quotations from their torks in
tlie later geograpirical clescriptions of Strabo elncl Pliny in particuiar.
.t\ll, as did even Ptolemy five centuries later, greatly exaggerated the
sizc of Ce\{on ancl rnade it extend rvestu.ard close to the African coast.
All agree that it was an islancl o1T tire southernmost part of Inclia"
nerv ancl stable liingciorn

Onesicritr.rs sa1's there tvere other islancls bettveen Taprobane and I nclia,
ancl X,Iegasthenes that the inten'ening sca was full of shallor,r's not nrore
than 6 paces in dcpth but some channels were so deep that the anchors
rlicl not touch bottom. Both Onesicritu-s ancl X'Iegasthenes sat' that
thc vessels used for this trol'age'nl'ere of about 35tonsand hadpron's at

cach end

to avoid turning about in narrow channels. One-sir:ritr-rs

gives zo davs as the cluration of the vovagc from the Indian mainiancl
ancl adds the information tlrot around the shores of Taprobane \\.ere
cetuccous ar-rimais r'vhich are amphibious and in appearance like oren,
horses ancl otlrer land anirnals: he says also that the elephant-s of
Ce5,'lon rvere larger and more bellicose than those ol India, r'vhich is the
i:raci opposite of tlir.. truth, the Ceylon species being smaller aitcl ruore
docile and greatly prized abroad for this tractable cluality. Dratosthenes says the voyage to Taprobanc from. the most southern ports of
lndia occr-rpicd 7 day,r: hc confirms the trade in elephants and adris that

F{IST{JRICAI, TOPOGII,APHY OF ANCIFJNT AND }II'DIE\-AL CEYI,ON

the Isl:rncl hacl no cities but villages to ttre number of 7oo. l'It:gasltienel says further that Taprobane was clividecl by 2 1i1'g1 :rntL"the
inhabitants rvere callecl Palacogoni and that it protlu,retl morc goltl and
pearls of a greater-size than Inclia: the marinirs uf raprobane macle
no observations of the stars, the Great Rear not being risiblc to them,
but took birds out to sea and rcleasccl thenr and follo'wed their flighi
to lanri . the season lor navigation \,vas linrited to for_rr rnonths dncl
the sailors particularlv avoicled the roo days u'hicli succeccled the

sulnmer solstice.

In the rst ccntury e.c. a Greek named Hippalos rnacic thc ereat
rliscover''oI tlre u:t.oI lirc nrorr.oon rvirr,l. to'.ail ,lir.].i i,:o," tn"
lnouth of tlie Recl Sea across the h-rdian ocean to Inclia, but Greco$on-ra1 shipping dicl not begin to make full use of this knor,vleclge till
the_ follor,ving century. Ihdn thc coast ivise \royagej n,erc abanjo'ecl
and regular, dircct sailings to South India and cc1'lon became the rule.
Pre'ioi-rs1y, the products of ceylon u'cre available to \\restern merch;rnts in the ports of South lndia, but now tlier"- l-ere securcd bv clirect
track:, ancl the better knorvledge gainecl about ilre lslantl bt, these
incre:rsingly frecprent visits to ceylon is embo,rierl in thc u'riiines of
Stralro (circa-n.c. 3o--{.c. zr), Plin;r t}re Elder (z:- Zl), the auihor
of tlrc Peripl-us (circa 6o), and,. in- particular, I,tolentt.
(circa r5o).
Strabo says that irrorr', tortoise-shell and otlrer articre; irrre brought
in large quantities fronr'l'aprobanc to the Indian markets. piinv saLys
that raprobane was 7 da-vs sail from tlic Ganges. He ciescribe--s horv

i.

thc reign of Augustus cacsar a freeclman of Anni*s plocamus, r,r,hile

coastins ofT Arabia, rvas carriecl bv thc u'inds for 15 tlal,s ancl macie land

at Hippru:i.or Hippr-rros, .r port ,r,[ Taprc.,bane, where lic

t,u,ipitonty
",", at palaesierntertairrccl for: six rnonths by the king u'liose capital n,as
rnundus, a city of 2oo,ooo inbahitants, situated ncar a harbour ',r,hich
facerJ south. 1'he liing particularly aclmircd the Rornans rvhcn he fountl
that tileir dcnarii, though staniped r,vith thc heacls of clif ierent emperors,

\,cr(' irJI of r', lrral uciglrt: and bein.l ,le.irotr< ,,r c<t,Lbli<lri';- trade
relations w'ith tirc liomans, hc sent for-rr Sinhak.se arnhassarflrr, the
cliief of n'h'nr rvas trlachias (s_. Ituritta, a clistrict chieftain), to accompanl' tlie freednran back to Rornc. 'rhe account said to have bcerr
qir-eir in rlome b1' these ambzrssaclors about tireir natir.c lancl ancl
its
;reopJc_is_narratecl at sone length, but it is r-ery et.iclent that much ol
it is fabulous and verrr probabll''earfi
the result of ririsapprehensirn br.- the

trto*.ns and thc -siniralese of

other's l"rrg,,J.j". iir" ii,,trui"r"
en\:oys arc reportecl to have saicl that in the interior t,f tlrt, Islant'L there
u-as a l:rl<e callecl l{eeisba, s75 miles in"circuit, rvith islanrls suitablc
for.pastr-rrage: 'from this la1ie thcre issuecl tlvo rir-ers, one of nhich,
callecl Palaesirnundus, flou's into the harbour: near the citv o{ the sarne
narne by three channels, the narrorvest of u'hich is 5 stadia rvitle, ilre
largest 15, r,r'hile tlie thircl, called Cydara, has a c,iiiection northwarcl
tor.vards Inclia. Thev further said that the nearest point in Inclia is a
prornontory callecl coliacum, four days sail from the Island, and that
rridu'a-v betrveen them iies the island of the sun ; also that those seas

r0 JOUIT'NAL,

I1,.A.S.

(tIEYLON)

New Seri'es, Vol.

VI, Special Number

HISTOR,IOAI, TOPOGII,APHY O].- ANCIFjNT AND MEDIEVAI, CEYLON

II

are of a vivid, green colour, and that a great number oJ trees grow at
the bottom, so that the rudders of ships frecluently break their crests
off'. Among the products of the Island were said to be a marble
which resembled tortoise-shell (mica), pearls and precious stones:
elephants and tigers r.vere hunted there. The Periltltts sa]'s that the
name Taprobane had been replaced by Palaesimundu.

Talaitnannar and Nagadiba. It is very unlikely that the long northeast coast is represented by the short gap on the map between Nagadiba and the mouth of tlie Rir.er Ganges and that this lengthy stretch
of inirabited coast had onlv one feature of intcrest, the Spatana llaven.
If the River Ganges is tlne Mahaacili Gahsa, it is extraordinary that no
port is marked at its triouth and the great harbour of Trincotnalee had

Ptolemy's account of Ce.vlon is quite exceptional. He calls it

'the Island-of Taprobane wilich was formerly called Simoundou and
now Salike' (Sihaladipa) and he says that ' the inirabitants are
commonly called Salai' (Sihala). Ptolemy wrotehis Geographv in the
middle of the znd century. He exaggerates the size of Cel lon to 14
times its actual area, but gives its general shape and outline rvith {air
accuracy. His longitudes, reckoned eastward, are about 7'less than
they should be and his Equator is about z3o miles north of its actual
position. Codrington has identified North Cape u'ith Talaiwt'annur,

of

Talakory or Aakote rvith Mantai (ancient Niahetittha),

.Anourogrammon with Anuradhapura, the River Ganges rvith the
Mahaailli Gahy,a, the Malaia Mountains with the central mountain
region (Malava), and Maagrammon, the metropolis, rvith either
Mahi,1rapg21 a or Mahaga.ntote: he adds that the name River
Azanos is derived from Azania, the east coast oJ A{rica, towards
which the coast of Taprobane was believed to extend. Other obvious
identifications are Nagadiba rvith Nagadipa or Nakadiva (tlie Jafna

peninsula) and Rhogandanoi with the inhabitants of Rohana

(Ruhrina). Codrington's identification of Talakory or Aakote with
Mahatittha (in medieval Sinhalese, Mahaputu, Mahavut'u, Nlahavoti,
Mahavutota, in Tamil, Matottam) is untenable' Modouttou approximates much more closely to the old Sinhalese name, and it is very
unlikely that a mistake rvas made in respect of the principal port"
Talakoiy or Aakote mtist, therefore, be Mannd,r itself or a port on
Mannai Island. Since Nagadiba undoubtedly stands for a coastal
towninthe Jaffna peninsula (Sukaratittha or Hirratota, modern {a2tts ;
or .Jambukbla, nrodern Sambilturai; or, improbablSr, Point Pedro),
the entire coast-iine from North Cape through Modouttou to Nagadiba
represents the north-west coast of Ceylon ancl not the north-east
coast as Ptolemy shows it. This necessitates an important reorientation of Ptolemy's map.
The River Phasis is tine Maluatta Oya. Anoubingara, like Pati
Bay, was a place between Mantai and Point Pedro'. the same
name occltrs on the west Cbast and the duplication is evidently
an error. The termination suggests a name ending in -nakara: the
place was situated on the coast of lhe Jffia peninsula. Pati Bay
may stand for the lafna lagoon. If Codrington's identification of
themonth of the River Ganges wjth the Bay of T'rincowalee is correct,
then Ptolemy's map assigns only r| degrees of latitude to the r3o
nriles o{ .oait-litte between Nagadiba (probably Ka1'ts ot Sanr'bilturai) andTrincotnalee,while it assigns 4 degrees to the 8o miles betrveen

no narne. Codrington dralvs attention to the noticeable exception

Trincomal'ee among the find-spots of ancient coins, but this is
not a weighty argurnent against the antiquity of Trincomalee because
linds of coins of Ptolemy's time and earlier have been rare. In the
Chronicles the port ol Trincomalee is called Gokarlnatittha or Go4agimaka: it is mentioned as a landing place in the 5th century e.c.,
though this account is probably legendary, and again in the 3rd
century, andthe author of the Mahavathsa believed in its antiquityas
a port at the time he compiled his work. The identity of the mouth
of the {tiver Ganges with the Bay of Trincotnalee rests wholly upon the
identificaticn of that river rvith the Malaau(ili Ganga. Ganges does not

necessarily signify the largest river in the country : Ganga, from which
is derived, neans any large river and there were several gaitgas in
Ceylon. Ptolemy's River Ganges is the shortest of his five rivers and he
gives its source as a range of hills in the iowcountry: the sea-faring

it

men from whom Ptolemy collected his data could not have been
misinforined b), their Sinhalese informants about the great length of
the Mahat.tcili Ganga ancl its origin in the central mountain region
(Malaia). Iiurther dor,vn the east coast on Ptolenry's map is the port
Bokana, ivtrich name approximates ciosely to Gokalna: its situation
is near tlre nrouth of a river which rises, as the Mahaucili Ganga does,.
in the ccntral mountains. On all the grounds

statectr above,

the correct-

River (ianges with the Mahauiik Carlgo

becomes very doubtful: the probabiiities are that the River Barakes
represents tJae Mahavtili Ga'it.ga and Rokana the port ol Trimconoalee
(Gokal4a). .llhe Iliver Ganges is probabll' the El'elthanl Pass lagoon
ness of thc identification of the

or tlre N[ullait'tutr, lagoon. Spatana Haven is a corruptjon ol a name

ending in-palana (port) and probably represents Point Ped,ro. Oxeia
Headland ('Sharp Point' ) and the Haven of Rizala may, conjecturally"
be ptrt r,lorvn as a point north of Motl,laitr,ttu and the Mullaiti'r:w
lagoon. l)r,rkorrri mry lrar,c l,ecn ltcar tlrc nrorrth of tlre Ndy Aru.

'I'he Great Coast ancl tlie Haven of the Sr,1n mav correspond to Kohhildy
lagoon. Abaratha a.ppears to have treen a name ending in -rata
(district) : a place named Al;agamiya is mentioned in a pre-Christian
inscriptiorr ne:tr Kat,ccauF,li, The Hanren of l'lardos r'vas a sholt distance
to the soutir. L,]a.pe Ketaion ('Whale Cape') was a point rvhere a
change of course had to be nrade and seems to frt Sangam.awkanda,
the niost easterly point in Ceylon. The Chronicles of the early historical period (3rd e.c. to 3rd 4..c.) contain noreferences tothe Kalottara,
Gall,e and Mtitaro clistricts : nor are there any Bra,hmi iriscriptions or
early ruins in these districts. It can therefore be assumed that this

sotrtll-western area lvas not then populatecl.

Its limits would have

12

JOUIiNAL, Il,"-\.S. /CEY'I

ON)

Neu; ,1eries, Vol..

VI,

S4x:cia,l lyTtrtber

HISToRICALTOPOGR,APHY()FANCIENTAND}I]IDIEYALCEYLON13

been approxinratelr,' I{alutara at oue cxtremity ancl Tartgallr., at the

other and-they appear to_be_r_epresented on Ptolemy's map by the gap
betlvecn Noribartha ancl Ocjolia. The re-orientation of the rnap,
based on thc iclentification of Modouttou and Nagadiba, rnakes a line
joining Noubartha ancl Nagacliba -*ligh11r,to u'est of a true north-sotrth
line. Noubartha (lihe Abaratha.) appear:-r to har-c been a nain.e cnciing
in -raia ancl its position \\ias in tire vicinitl. of P;.tnaiuya or Kdlutara_
C)dolia rvaq rrrobaltl\7 near the motth ctf tlrc I/alaae Ganga, the iiirrer
A:ranos being that rivcr : the ancient monaster\,' near thc' rnorrtlr of
tlrc l'tlai'i Ca,il,,r rta.l calie, l, accc,r,ling to a 2n,l ,.t.rrlrrr v inrr r i,'Liorr irr
sllu, tioclapavata, and to it u'ere assignecl the customs duties of the port
-'lhe
of the samc name: ()rlol.;a rnav 1te a. corruPtiou oi Gor1aira',.ilta.
Orncon Headlancl ('llcaclianci oi Ilircl:r') m:r1' corri:sponil to [.Intnltan1o',,;r. yctittt. 1)algana is clescribecl as 'sacrc(l to the },loon' :Ltrd is a
rnisrenr'lering of sotre r-iuch nam: as Cenir'laganra or Sandagan_rl.

at I'Iahaganra' 'l-he
refers to the Ndgamah:r,thflpa, the largest tlirlpa
'l'arakhoi
sllggests thc clan
district.
Sennoi inhabitecf the Mu,Llaitr,tu
narne Tarasa (P. Taracchar) and their abocle r,vas the northern part of
I-yittcornalee clistrict. Diorrlouloi may be a corruption of Digamadulia
tn-Batticaloa-district'
1I']. Dighlryurnar.rdala) ,the prescnt Ga,l_Oya\raney
'in" g,;ltt;r.anoi occupierd the ancient I{ii1an'iya kingdom. 'lhe Nageiroi
lvere a people in ttre Mah:r,gama area: Nlgas are rnentioned in tlre
vicinity oi Uittatapatrbata (Situlpal;'ua) intire rst centur)-. The (latiba
rrountiins rvero probably the l"rills of Kwtcutta Korala. Ptolemy

coast. ll'o retrirn to tlrc nortli-u'cst coast, Capr (laliba i5 1'611',i probably Kutiiramal.ai po1\t ancl Galiboi the inhabitants of tltat lr;calit1,.
lfargana is certainh' tlre tou'n cif ]'I:rgana nientionecl in tst antl znc'l
centurv inscril;tions and'uvas at the morrth of tlie )16:I*,tgrtiu. Ant,.
Togana in all probability i-" icleniical u,ith tl-rt' polt of Lrlul'tll, lr':tr the
mouth of the liala Oya. Cape Anarismoundou rvas probably Iial.fii!i),a point and it scems to emboc.ly the name Simouirr'lorr by t'irich,
according to Ptolemrr, Taprobane rvas formerlv calleci. fire ltir,cr Soana
i-s tlre (lon:l-nadi, the ancient narne for the Kulti. 0_t,n. anii thc Soanoi
the inhabitants of the Gona district, the lou,er collrse of tirr river.

by the Ax'mites but ihere was a rervival o{ Roman comurcrce r','ith

the East in the reisn of Constantine : and it is recorcled that in

for tlrr' 1-.ort rear nlaht'ighr,.: 11.r:t.sent

7-issantalturoma.) c.a.lled Salil.^harasobbli:r anrl its ir.'catiun w.:s lrrobrLhly
bet',veen fiunda'la anc\ Pctlattt,.f,ar.tu.. 1'he Cape of l)ionysios'.,',,,, ,,rr"
of the points, Oi:cmda or Potona or Patanongala, <tn ihc srirrth-c;rst
Korkobara probablv stands

Sindokanda may have been in the neighbourhoocl of Puttttla.rn:irrd tl-re

Har.'en of.Priapis near Chilazu. Anoubingara also occurs as a placename in the north. Prasodes Bay may be the Ra_rr oI I eeontho anrl the

Headland oI Zeus the promontory of Colorn.bo. Ptolerrry irlaces

Nlaagranrmon to south-east of Anuradhapura aiitl south-t tst of
Nagadiba. He locates Nagacliba to east of Anur:iclhir.pura rr,-llen it is
actually north. 'I'he corrected position of nfaagmrninon u-oulil be to
rrorthward of Anur5dhapura. Its identilication u,ith lfahttgutrlt,ju or
Ilaliiyangana cannot be sustair-red. l{ahagar-ito a was thrn krown
as Kahagamatoia (P. Kacchakatittha) . The l)i,fat,aril,s.1 si.tlt]s l.hat
Upatissanagara, the capital before Anurtr,clhapura. situatcrl ro L,f r2
miles to north of the latter, \yas ?r prosperous anci large nrarket-torrrn.
A localitv to north-eastu'ard of Anurddhapura was cirllcd Lit*rapnra
in epigraphs of the rst and zncl centuries. tr,laagrarnmon probiibly
represents Upatissanagara r,vhich may be s.\r1io1\/rlotls also wittr
t)tarapura. Adeisamon \,vas on a prolongation northr.vai:cl oi tlie line
Anourogrammon-X{aagramlnon and in the vicinity ol liai,ur1iya or {r.r'(,rr
further north-east. ()ulispada should be in tlie region of lJu.ltu,la anrl
Podouke in the lor:alitr- Kald,a iiy a- I{ ur uni gala. Nakaclouba probahly

undoubtecl-ly got some Sinhalcse place-names and thcir positions-nearly

right ancL he aihieved a tolcrable likeness to the actual shape o{ Cer'lor.
I{]s Greel< names incl*de somc translitcratio's o{ Sin}ralese names.

Some names are distortecl :rnd others, probably, irnaginary. His

orientation was {aulty Zrnd his iclea of the sjze of ceylon seriously
lvrong. Nerrerthcless, the information which he gives .shows that in
the Zncl century Western marincrs ancl traclers hacl acclriirecl a
remarkably good kno$'lcdge of the topography of Ccylon

By thc 4th century the Indian sea-borne trade rvas rnonopolisecl

the year 36r an embassy from Serenrfivi (Ceylon) was rcceived.by thr:
Emperor" Julian. In 1he r,r'ork, Pseudo-Kallisthcnes, <if the 5ttr

*"'rfnty, there is an account by a Theban scholar of what he hacl learned

about ihe Island of Taprobane, inhairitecl by the people called tlre
]takrobioi ('the iongJivccl'). 'lhe Theban was tolcl that in the
rreighborrrhoocl of 'lafir'obanc there wcre a thoLLsand oth, r islands irr
the'Erythraen Sea lying close to each other and one grorlP of them,
known" as the }Ianiolai,.- possessed the magnet stone which attractecl
ships bolted lvith iron nails: Taprobane had {rve, large navigahle
rlvers.
Chinese merchant ships had begun to I'isit Ceylon from pre-Chri;tian timcs. Embassies from the Sinhalese king to the chinese liinperor
visitecl China in the rst ancl znd centuries. The great travellcr, the
Chincsermottk, Fa-Hsien, came toCeylon, reaching it aftera \royageof
14 da)'s fronr'I'amhili at the nlouth of tiie Ganges, in the-year 4rr anrl
stayeil here trvo years. He calls Ceylon ' the Lancl of the Lion' anel
gives its size as 5o yojanas from. east to west and 30 yoj-?l.f froru north
io soutl. arrd ire sajs that there were nearly roo sma.ll isl:rnds off ttre
Ce1'lon coast, distant fronr elrch other 2 to 40 miles, all subject to tile
rniin Islancl, and ttrat thcy produceQ chiefly pearls anrl Precious
stones. llhere was one island, about 3 niles s(luare, rh(rre the
Nlani irea<ls (fine pearls trsecl for rosaries) r'vere {orincl. I'-a-Ilsien
says tire climate was vcrv agreeable, there bcing no clistinction
beiween summer and rvinter, and cultivation u'as carrieci on. without
regard to seasons. I-Itl gir-es a clescription of the !:ity o{
Anur:rdhapura, of tlrc'great procession of the l'ooth ltelic, antl
of tlre crem:rtiort ceremon,\r of it tnttctr reYered nronk o{ tltc \tihinfula

14

JOLTR,NAL, R,.A.S.

(OIIYLOI{)

Neu Series; Vot. Vt, Special Number

monastery. ]Ie-observed many Sabaen (South Arabian) merchants

in Cevlon. Fa-Hsien sailed from Ceylon in a large merchant vessel
on r'vhich there were over ?oo soltls : the ship sailed eastward with a
fair wind for trvo day,s, then a storm raged foi 13 days and nights and
they arrived alongside of an isiand rn'here they stoppecl the"leaks in
the ship ancl again proceeded on their r,vay, finally reaching .fava
after 9o or more days of sailing. Serneral Sihhalese embassiesis'well
as parties of Sinhalese Buddhist rnonks and nuns went to China in the
5th century.
Sources oJ external information about Ceylon for the 4th and 5th
centurics,- barring the account of Fa-Hsien, are very scanty. By

the

second-

quarter of the 6th century, Ceylon

of sea trade betrveen the West and the Far

ha<1

become the entrepot

Chinese and ot^her

East.

Far-Eastern ships sa-iled into its harbo,urs carryir.rg their cargoes of

silks, rvhile from the West came the vesssels of the pe;sians and Axumites. In the ports of Ceylol these merchants from East anci West,
as rvell as the nrerchants of India, met and exchanged their goods and
purchased the products of Ceylon. The 'Christian Topogiaphv' of
Cosmas Indicopleustes is a r,vork of this priod and Ceylon ii aiscrlUea
rn various passages in it as follorvs :-'Taprobane is a large oceanic
island lying in the Indian sea. Among the lndians it goes brithe name
of Sielediba, but the Pagans call it Taprobane, rvheiein is forind the
stone, hyacintl'r. Around it tlrere is a great number of small jslancls,
all of them having fresh r,vater ancl coconut trees. They nearly altr
have deep rvater close up to thenr. The great island, as-the naiirret
a-llege., has a length of 3oo gaudia (ed,z,wta) and a breadth of as manythat is, of 9oo miles. There are two kings in the Istrand who are at
feud rvith each other. The one possesses the hyacinth, and the other
the rest of the Isla'd u'herein are the port and the emporium of tracre.
the emporiunr is,one rnuch resorted to by the people in those parts.
The Island has also a chu.rch of Persian ChristianJ r,vho have settt"d
there,.and a presbyter who is appointed from Persia, and a deacon ancl
a completc ecclesiastical ritual. The natives and their kings are,
however. heathens in religion. In this Island they have rnany tJmples,
and in one situated on an erninence is a single hyacinth as big bs a
large pine-cone, the colour of fire, and flashing from a dislance,
especially.r,vhen the sunbcams plav arounci it-a matchless siglrt.
As its position is central, the Island is a great resort of ships from all
parts of India, and from Persia ancl Ethiopia, and in like-manner it
ilespatches nanv of its own to foreign p.orts. And from the inner
countries, I rnean China and dther marts in that direction, it receives
silks, aloes, clove-rvood, sandalwood and their other products, ancl
these it again passes onto th_e- outer ports, tr rnean to Nlale (Malabar).
where pepper grows, and to Kalliana (near Bombay), where copper is
produced and sesame wood and materials for dress; for it is also

3 g,reat mart of trade ; and to Sindu (Sindh, the lor,ver valley of the
Indus) also, where musk or castor is got, as well as androstachus,
and to Persia and the Homerite countr1., arrd to Adule (in the Red Sea).

IIISTORICAL TOPOGR,APHY OF ANCIENT AND MEDI]IVAL CEYLON liI

Receiving in return the traffrc of these marts, and transmitting it to

the inneiports, the Island exports to each of these at the same time
her own products . . . Out in the Ocean at the distance of five

davs anh niglrts lrotn the mairrland lies Sielediba, that is,
Taprobane ..-. Sielediba being thus in a central position with
reference to the Indies, and possessing tlie hyacinth, teceit'es rvares

from all trading marts, and again distributes them over the world,
and thus becomes a great emporium . . . The kings of various parts
of Inclia possess elephants. But the king of Sielecliba obtains -by
purchase both the elephants and horses wliich he possesses. The
price he pavs for the elephants depends upon the number of cubits
they teaclt in height. For the height is measured from the ground in
'cubits, and the piice is reckoned at so many pieces of monelr for each
cubit, say 5o or a roo pieces, or even more. FIis horses again are imported from Persia, and the traders from whom he bults them he exempts
from the payment of custom-house dues '. Procopius_ confirrns the
statement of Cosmus that the Abvssinian sailors of Aduiis, novg the
rnain market for trade exciranges between the East and the Byzantine
Empire, r,vere to be seen in fhe Ceylon ports. Arab sea-faring hacl
neaily disappeared in the 6th century, but about the middle of the_7th
century had secured domination over the ocean routes to the West
and all that trade r,vas in their hands. The Chinese retained control
of the seaborne trafhc to the Far East. 'fhe Sinhalese and Chinese
exchanged embassies in the 7th and Bth centuries. A Chinese text
recounti the visit to Ceylon in the years /r8 and 7rg oI a princely and
learned Indian monk'named Vajrabodhi: from Anriradirapura he
travelled into Ruhula and thence lo Adam's PeaA, rvhich is described
as a wild region. Chinese sclurces describe the voyages of the Po-sse
(? Persian Z-oroastrians) to Ceylon and Malaya and say ttrat _they sailed
in large ships. The visits o{ European ships and sailors to Indian and
Celrloii ports had ceased in the 5th century and a thousancl years rvere
to pass belore thelt 1g-sn1.red Eastern waters.
References to Ceylon from the 9th to the r3t1-r centuries are
numerous in the South Indian inscriptions of this period : they occur
chi'efly in connection rvith the invasions ancl conquests- of Ceylon b-y
the P5,ndltans and Colas. In the 9th centurlz pirates from the Grrl{
ofi the coasts of Ceylon as rve1l as rvidelv over
oI Cutch iaided shipping
the Indian Ocean. X{uharnmadan merchants had establishecl a trading station in Colotnbo at least as early as the ye3r 949: they had
begun to trade with China in the Bth century. From gg3 to toTo
Ceylon was a province of the Cola Empire: the powerful C6|a navy
helped in the conquest of Ceylon and the Maldive Islands and in the
ext-ension of Cola power to Malaya and Java. The Sinhalese kingdom
regained some degree of prosperity and power in the rztl:r century, but
th-e r3th century was a very disturbed period, wracked by civil rn'ar,
invasion and pillage, and towards its close Ceylon became a feudatory
of the PS,ndyan Empire. In 1283, Bhuvanekab5hu I sent an embassy
to the Sultan of trgypt with an offer to trade in cinnamon, precious

l6 JOI'R\,\L,

fi,.A.S.

(CII)ILON)

A,et.o

Series, VoI. I.f . Slteciat, Number

stoncs anrl_elephants. A u,ell-l<no\vn travcller rvho

r.isitecl Ceylon about
1293 \ras J{a_rco Polo.

T,lrc ;,ri11,'i1;al ports oI Cer Jon, c\ccl )t Gokar.rna (-l

t,ittcontoiee),
\\'erc tl'Io:"'|Ir 1rl. n.fihr'rr arrrl norrrr-rrc.tlrrr
coasts. rrv fnr trrc most.
irnpor-tant being \r aha,t ittha ('r't anta,
Au

r;;; i"ii*;i"ii'
).
rrrarl anri r.i:arrk fi.trcri"- iri rt," .t,"tio* .;;. ;i",lli.-',ll*io,,.
"rr".i.,.a
)l',ll
]l'l'
l'ls c,';tif rras lrlso f lrr- nrosl r.'llrcral,lt, l,ur.t ol thr. Sinlralt.:c i,ingiorrr
liecarr:'' it la, t', 1 r lrc ('orrmln.l, r ..'ra.i ,,iiorrrrl Inrria
fr-onr r,r lricrr t rre
P;Ir.rr.l)rns
tt,'*"'l
flnl,a;1q., I ,rJ,o,r tl,nir inra,i,)ns o[ ('t,r.lorr.
r lr('>c lrr\ 3ilo.s c.rrrpel[e,l a p{,rnral)enL
clrango, lor gccgra'lri,.al
rcii>or:. irr rlrt' sitr' t,f the capiru[ ,I trro si;i,ri;."
"triili''i.o,,,
polonrrarrrr
Arrrr|i,llrllrrrr-a, to
a in ro7o.
(C). Temitorial
Rolraraclesa

l'Iala'acl.sa

or

Divisions

or I{orrara-ma}ila]1. (Sinh. Ruhunu-cla'ar-iva) a'ct

r{a1a.1-a-mandala (,Sin\r- }Ialamanciu-iul-*r,.iJ

principalities rvhich :lre mcntioned ironr the earliest historical trr,.
times.

Rolrarra r:o'rprised ail ttre area to the ea:;t of trrc r.tah'uaii

i;irso
logctlr, r rr illr lorvcr 1-'za alid tlr,' llattrr,attr,.rn. .rl,jr,,rra
atul
crit,
rIi>tlrct., aittl it. caPital \\as tt Nlrlrur:rrnra fpr,.s,.rrt l.ir,so,,,u,jl0,r,,i,,o,,

uhilr. ]lr,lrr a r.rten,led ov(.r 1lr(,

'it'.
r.e,jion on,t
"n,li. ino,,ntairr
)thjarattha is not mcntion.,i'ililttrot
i' the crrronicie
.:iti,ly t,ut it was-iiiJ".iUirr,'thename
eartiest principatitr.,
ll]1,,:::il'
tlrc retllll ,,1 llre ruler.s at Anrrr.;irllrlprrra rrntil u.,.' ,,,,',rli,"l,
r)*tt1'raga'*ani

fo'thills.

Alrhar;a unitecl the *,hore isi:rncl

irt"

or-r"

irirrg;;

rvas di'idet1 into foLrr divisio's nanec,l after ilrcr

-Ii5jara{{ha
cardinal
r'lirections anrl the rnost irnportant o{ these clivislor,
.uu.
I)akhhif aclesa or r)akr<rrinapassa
in
inscriptio".i,'t-r'
lnJtunpasa
the end of thc 6th ocnturJ'.ii bt'"e,re tLr.
lxincipariii.-;i-ii;\-"o.oraju
ancl this ccntinueci to l-,c ihe
l.rractice till ihe rzth century. Towarcls
the encl of the rzth cent'ry, R'ajaralfha,r,ot .r*g.i'i" pii,ttnir"itn"

jlil'l', Pilrilirata: ir irserjliri'ns.

pitririraJarla-

Fi,""'i;rri, ';"i

l)al;lilrir.r;r,lt-a arr,i llaiala \\t,rr- 1r1,1jg3rnatetl tr-r"i.forrn llurrr_raltlrit

([lnri r.rjarr). :,o-crlit'rl l,ecaus,. it *,i. rl,e alril";;'"i';i,;'iinr:;
(equivalent to }tahavit, or l,Iahapa, f lfatra&1,aa"i,
t"g"ti*.";;;ii;
Rohar.a u'hose name_r.'raire, r ' u*rharg.rl, tir.1, 'iorrrri.t--ii,,ii.ara
(1-ri.irirhrla-ra jrt a ur Trrnrnjar r ).
'rhe bounclarv betrveen R[jarattha
arcl Iloirana rvas tl.re ],Inltat;iili
Ga,itg,r, tlrt' largest
in
c0iton.'
,'rt
.ilii...nt ti'-res noir"i,n"rr^r
-ri'er

fltle([

l'\

Pl'tncei u lt,r r\r.rC indc],entl,.rrt

or :cmi_in(]eperrrlnlt of tlr"
uprising. .rru"lly
tlic'rc: so dicl tlre organisation of resistance to fielrt or expel".igi-""i"a
o.so,,tn
Indian in'ader. 'fhe lines of comm.nication'irom Raj.i.itr,"'t"
Rohana
long ancl over cliffrc.rt terrain, and thereforc
:
even thc''ere
'urneral-,le
Colas, rir.rrins their conclrest in the rtth centur\,,
made ,ro
serious attcmpt to occupv and administcr Rohana arthoLrgh
therl<ing

at Aruradliap'ra. Revolti

ar-rc1

HISN'{

}ITICAL'1'OPOGR,APHY Otr .\NClT'Nl'AND }TEDIEVAL CEYLON

1?,

puniti'e e-xpeditions. Economicallr,, Itohana rvas a much

territorl' than lra,jaratlha. It iracl ,.o i,:.igntio,i .,:orL,,
approaching the_magnitude of those in rtajaratthu, ol,a'in"-iu-urr-r,
of it' capital, llahagdrrra, bear no conrparisoir r"ith ti-ror" or a".*.ir,uczrriicrl out

less pr'spcrous

l)ura or Polonnarur.a.

}{alaya, the mot'rtain principalit,v*, r,r.as ruled from the 6th

ccrtur'to the rrth century li'a juiiior princc stylecl the rlalafarala.

r-:rtcr. it.lost iTportance a'cf its adminiitratot

thc roval family. l'he mountain fastnesses

.i"r irot . ,t.;iu",

"r
=ur-,.iu"ril to
from justice-. _e."".-i."tfy:,
lii.V^
procluced little agriculturallv but it *..as a source oi prccio'ris
.rtu""r.
L-p
about
the
century
trre
terms
Ttrr
lor
.
the
iareest
-to
1crrit,,r-ial dii isions ui're de:a, l.r.*ri (S.
'sed
l)a:a), anrl i.,.rofr..tu iS. At,,;:
,:lT
(S. rarr) is 2frssnl in'tt,a .tr'ii,tt,Irl" ),rinl,.*r,
):it:]:,.-ll:
iil,1,'lcommentaries.
rt
o.cLus r' the l)ali
Thc inscriptions of the eaily
centnries of the cliristian era rcfer to clistrict chieitains .trri.a ,.i,y-i
or ratika : one of them ad'rinisterecl a sub-divisio" .n.l"J'o'i."rr"il.u
'.r"."'1i
(l;a.rriv.r. in inscriptions;. Otlrlr srrb-rlivisions
l.norrln
".""
ttt tnscription'), brja (l,ijg or. bljal<e in inscriprions)
arr,L atarrli.
f,1t'Vt
I lrr- tnternors of tlre large>l territorial ,liyisions l.cre prirrces
or rnirri-_
Je1s.. l'he title parumaka sig-niliecl thc aristocra.y n&t belorvrov,alti,
i,rri ir did not neccssarilv .onfcr 1r'rri torial jrrri., liitionol tlr,.'parrrmakas wer,'hoiir<as of cerl ain ricalities. Th;;;;;i;";,r"rrrrlrer,'.",;r,.
the lillage headman.
, Tr the medieval p"eriod (Btri to rzth centriries) 'provi'ces ' u.erc
clear-]y distineuishecl from ' districts ' : in contempoiarv inscriptions
thc prcivinciai administrators are strrled pasladti anci the ciisirrct
chiefs trlat-ladu. But there \\'as no uniforrnitv (u4rich is tir" case e.."n
at prtrsent) in the clesignations of the rnajor territorial dir,,isions. The
pro'inces'nvcre callecl passa or clcsa or paclesa or janapada or
manJala (S. maduhr). Rattha lr.as a clistr:ict u'itnin a p.o.,irr.L
irr,the case of thc principality e{ Rajar-atti-ra (S. Itajarata). The.e
"*..p,
r.vere
other anomalies : Roha'a, ,\r'[alar.a and R:rjai-atthi ]racl ri.ithi' tirer*
divisio's also l<norvn as.dcsa, pas.sa,
ancl rattira.
':rrclala,'janapada
An altcrnativc {or thc.dis,trict designation
ratthi ,..u.,
(S. ;go
"uggo rr"r-ioct,
or r-aka). Manclala, r'hich signifiecl a pro'inc" in tl-r" *",i]J"ui
\\'as u)(:jd,occa^sionally in the carly periocl in a rnuclr more restrictccl
scnsr. The olcier names of the sub,di'isions (ka'i1,2, rajiya, etc.)
n'ent olrt of use ancl rvere replaccci b]'liu"lir:a anC bim.'
clefcatecl rcbels ancl abscondcrs

(D).

afforclecl

Roads

lloads wcre necessar]: at all times for trre passage of b'llocli-drarvn

\regu,rs and carts rvhich u'ere the vehicles in corrr.'mon use in ceylon
fion.:..the beginnings of historr'. Horse-clrau,n chariots n,".e
",r;pl,lved
to :r iinritcd extent in ll-ar, though thcr- probahh- ain.a-r.s to.-.,a
i,urt

18 JOUII,NAL, If,.A.S. (C)EYLON) Ne'u 'Series, Vol. VI, Spacial

Nuntlte'r

of the king's equipage. Elephants were cloubtless used to dralr'.open

carts carriing ipeciatty l'reavy loacls. Detined roads, ri'ith suitable
graclients ancl bridges oI aclecpate _strelgth at river crossings, were
iequired by a1l theie types of \rehicles for the pttrposes of traffi.c ancl
trarle, ancl werc in existence in Ceylon ah,r'ays. Remains of ancient
roacls, some paved, and of ancient stone briclges still exist.- \Vooden
briclges rvere-more common than those ol stone, but, as-is to.be expect-

ect, ill have perished. The constrr.rction of one particrrlar bridge across
tlrc KaIu Oya at a point northu'ard ol Giribuua by Parakkamabehu's
gencral, Senapati Deva, is described as follorvs:- 'he (the Seliapati)
it tL" instruition of the king, threw a long, r'ery fine and r-ery solid
briclge across the rivcr of th.e Kalavapi, passable bv files- of elcphants,
hors6s ancl chariots, held together with iron bands and nails, made

of beams of timber, and zo cubits (ro feet) broad'" Car-rsgvays of

lstone $rere also constructed. The Pali chronicles differentiate between
main highways or trnnkroads (rnahlmagga), roads (magga ormaggan.r*aggi), streets in towns (vithi) and footpatirs (ekapadikaniagga or
anjasii' The Sinbalese inscriptions, like*'ise, distinguish -lretrveen
roitls (maliga or mtinga) and streets (ve1'a)' Resthouses (atnbalam of
modern timi:s) u'ere provicled at inter'als on tire roads so ttrat trarrellers could shelter or rest. Nissanka \{alla (rr87-rrq6) states in an
inscription: 'in the course of inspecting the three kingdoms-(Pihiti,
}tiya an<i Ruhulei) in various ways, he (the l{ing) fixecl the.clistalcc
of i gavuva anil calling it a NiSsankagavuva, he caused inscribed
milesiones to be set ,p '. Several of these g5,vuta or NiS6:rnkagavll\/a
pillars har,'e been discovered along ancient roads, ancl Codringtou
iras statecl his opinion tlLat the earlier Sinhalese gavu\ra rvas abo't

zI

iriiles.

'fhe Chronicles and Cotnnrentaries refer specificallv to a Iei'v of

the main liight'arrs:- (i) from Jambukola (near Kankesanttt'rai) to
Anura,dirapuia ; (ii) from l'Iahntittha ()'Ianttr'i) to Anuradhapura :
this was an irnportant commercial route as rvell as the path of the
invacler acl'ancing from the scaport upon the capital; (iii) from
Anuridlrapura via the I(acchai<atittJra Jo':d (Maltagantota), \{ahi1'ari-

]{rsroRtcAl,ToPO(+RAPHY oF

ANCTUNT AND I'tnDLIrvAL CrrrllloN

19,

rvhich ran through the nortir and south gates of the citarlel. 'rhe bunds
of tJic iargertanl;sancl of the rnajorcanals r,r,or,rrcl have madcex<;eilent

l.rigirrvays, as. tlrer

lt" .t rlii. da]. (".c. I(alit,rit,a w rrloiirla,,,,"
fi-attl"tln.v tank, Para.l<rarna.amrrdra,'lis.cat,iit,a
al Arrrrr.idhalrrrra,
7 issa,iiua at Tissamsh[it'anm, Alalt ara ca'.a7, y od a,,a,n, ni,i:riii,,at

tila, AiLgant.cidilla-iila ancl se't.ral .trrc-rs). Tie buncls ni tl," .r*oil.,

tanks worilcl have {rrnrcci thc nrain-footpJths, as they still clo in the clr1,
zone. 'rhe ancient Sinhalesc, rvhose'sl<ill in irrigation engineering
attai'crl tle highest degree of proliciencv, r,vould rJaclily haile
<toor.l It,,u to 1p;111" the hcsl rr<e oI ilrc contorrrs irr r:oa,
""a.r"_
l construr:tiorr
and horv to safeguarcl their roacls against erosion by the n.tiu" oiii.ui"r.

It

nright be added here that the liaru-sal-br,intu.ta l'hich

.,rs

across countrv for manlr miles in Bintrinna patti.t. ancl Velsssa Ditisicn
and was lhought to be a b'ilt-up highri'av, is not the rvork of rrian b*t

a nalrrral t[t kc.

]]IBLiOGITAPH\:
ceylon Tournal of Science. Sectio' G, I. rbj

ancl page rz9.

Culavarirsa, Parts I and

; II.

prates

7z and

73,

II. trans. by \\r. Geiger. Colombo. rg53.

f)ipavariisa, text arrd trans. by H. Olclenburg. I_ondon, rg7q.
Epigraphia Zcylanica, IL 25,38, 95, zrq: III. 327.
Giles,

H. A. Trar.els of Fa-Hsien. Lonclon,

1953.

Hourani, (i. !'. Arab Seafaring in the Incrian ocean. princeto', rg5r"
l'Iah[varirser, trans. by W. Geiger. Colombo, rc75o.
Nlccrjndlc, J. \v. Ancient I'dia as clescribccl in classical Literature_
London, r9or.
Mccrincile,
1927.

Nell, A.

J. w. A'cient India

as clescribed by' ptolcmr,,. caic*tta"

lheGai Oya Valley),9yojanas; (v) fromAnuradhaputato Uruvel5' (at

tlre rnoutir ol the Kap' Oy*), S vojanas ; (vi) the East coast bighroad,
r\.lriclr pas-cri tlrrough Clragama \.\uk'ltttattr); and (r ii) tlrc pilgrim
roacl from Rnjarattiia to ,lrtktis PcaA which r,vas greatl-y imrrroved
in the reign of Viiayabahu I. I-here rvere many other highroads
joining centres of population and tracle, especiallv the ports, uakaras
In the
lforts or tracling-stations) and niyamatanas (market-tor:r'ns)'
ior"r-rr, street-li.nes rvere laicl clorvn : Fa-Hsien (4rr-'1r3) say-s that in

l-iterary Itegister. Third Series, E7, r14, r7g.

flni'ersity of Ceylon Rer.ie*., VII, No. z, t4z: yIItr,
No. -i. 116: TX, No, r, "2o; Bulletin, Ceylon i*-*ruptri."f
Socictt', Vols. 4 ancl 5, Nos. 4 a",l r, ,13.
Sastri, K. -{. Nil:rkanta. A History of Soutli I'dia. Oxford, rg55.
Senerziratr.ie,
Rranch of the Royal
_John l,I. _J9_11,1i of the Ceylon
Asiatir: Society, XXIV,
No. {rE, 7i.' '
Sharnasastn', R. Kautilva's Artha(astra. Mysore, rgz3.
Tennent. Sir l. Ii. Ce1'lon. Vol. I.
warmingtor,_1i. H. 'lhe com'rerce betrveen the Roman Empire anc,l

Anuradhapura
.Ihe
main highrvay ir-i the capital city $.as the Marigul-ntaha-ve1,2

wreeler, sir Mortimer. Rome beyoncl the Inrpcrial Frontiers. London,

gana an d B uttala to l,Iahaganl a (T i s s am ah d,r d,m.a), j oining the capitals of

Itnjarattha and Roha.na : lrom l[ihintalcta ]/Iah&{anto{aon-this route
rvai g yojanas; (iv) fronr X{ahagama to Dighavdpi ('ear Irakkdn't'am itt

'rnain streets and side streets rvere ler.ei and u'el1-kept'.

Ce5.'lon

Nicholas, C. \tr'.

India.

r956

Cambridec, r9z8

}{lSTOR,ICAL I'OPOGR,APHY OF ANCIENT AND ITI'DI]JVAL CEYL{)N 2I

\rihara:- Dahuliya,

: tlrree or {or.rr
in the vicinity.3
- l'he cawe inscriptions at the ancient monastery al Boaattagalo.,
about 3 miles north-rvest of l{unulna, are ol coirsiilcrable intcrest in
that thcy record donations maclc to thc Sarigha bv the dcscendanrs,
probabll' contemporaneous with Dtitthagdmarli Abhava. (s.c. r{_rr{,37), of the_once indepelclent ro1'al rl1'na;t'y oI Kataragalra rv}ricir rn'as
clispossessed by Gothabhaya of Rotiarla. -lhe in_cc-ription_. of iil-iis
rlynasty, '"vhiclr are associateC with those at Kottadint,nlt,ela, a fcxv
rniles to the west, carry the distinctive enrblem of a fish aud they eive
tl're names of live-generations of royal pu.oonages :;- (i) Ganrini.'iii)
his to sons, one of rvhom $ras Itaja'uti; (iii) hi-s granrLsons, I)ainari,ia
;rnc1 p_rince Alaya ; (iv) his great-granclchildren, the pririces Ilaha,tiia
antl TiSa,andlJrcprirrce;sAnrrradi-: rnrl (r 1l1i;:great-{rr.at-glan(l(larr<hter, princess sar-era. I.ater inscriptions at ll-ot'attagnla irulicate trrat
the monastery was in a flourishing conclition up to the Tth ccntury.{
A tor'vnsh\r named Uti, possibly connected with iiaja tlti oI tlLe
r{alaragan't'a dvnasty, is mentioned in an inscription of the znrl ccntrrrv
p,.c. at Kongala, arocky hill about milcs north of l{i,m,r,tna,:vltr,-;e
4
tltere are scveral inscribecl caves. lnscriptions of thc ith cenrnr.l,
at this same site mention the placos citagalaya ancl ]Iavulavila : the
latter narne.is repcaterl ln a 1th cent.r-r' in*ciiption at Aku,rwke:ugala,
about zo miles further north.5
- Kiripokunahela, aboui z miles soiith ol Flanlbara{astaliiaa, vtas
also a_ pre-Christian cave nronaster\r. ;\ 5th century inscription here
records the construction of the rock-cut steps by a iesiclent'of KunaGabidatatiri, and Hamanavira

br:eachecl tanks now exist

CHAPI'ER

II

THE I]ATTICAI,OA DISTR.ICT

(A). Plnama Patttt

Pr\ntttim Pattu is thc southenulost cli\'ision of the atllrlinistrative
.djstrict of Bntticaloa. and thc greater palrt of it is under forest. 'l'he onll'
pcrerrniel rivel is the l{tnnltultkan Oya r'r,hich is thc bounclarl,' lrctr,vc'en
tl,n Lotti,'ulon an,l Ha'r:bat'1"[,1 rlist ri, ts. Tlte att"it'ttt irr iqrtion
worlis werc oI no great clinrensions but tlre region hei<1 rtuitt:;r iarge
polrulati{)lI l){"'atlic Il'erc are ntatrv rr-mlins of Brrddlrisl 111(';l;r-it-; ii )'
iorrire oI tlrcnr rlatirig from the ?ncl centurv B.c;. I'Iassir.e rock-grorips,
man\r o\/er 25o {eet in height, and extensive outcropr; of rock ri:e lrcrnt
the tivel ground every {eui miles, some trorn the seashorc ltself, ancl lhe
ancient sinhalese macle use of tl-rese commar-rding and Picturestlue
sites, as they dicl s1:311r1v11g1s, to construct their car''e lnonasterics a'11'1
thfrpas. The coast-line is inclentecl by sevcral salt- lagoons, bilt ihc:
only natt'.ral lrarbour is:Irugatn, Bay; As in the adjacent l:i1rr arca,
a trotabl" feature is the absencc of inscriptiorrs anr-l ol arclrit,'ctural
ancl sculptural rcmains of the meclievai periocl (..;t1i to r.jth _ccnturies):
this sugfests some considerable ilepopulation_ of the region bcloR: tiris
periocl, probably orving to ciisease, as stated in an carlv Porirrguese
map.1

Tlre extensive ruins, consistilg of numerous

ca'n'cs,

al

lJninbara-

gastalaaa, nearly 4 milcs west of Ohantla, are.naned Nakapa"'iltir.

in

fre-Christian cave inscription there' -This, in a1i prtilr:Lbilit]', is the

l{agapabbata VihS,ra founded by Gothabliava, ruler of liohana' r'ery
early in ttre znd centur\/ B'c.2
Next in knor'vn clate of Ioundation arc the ruils at Krtratt,llkel'a,
about a nrilc north of the r4th mile on the lloll,ut:il-x[onerd,gah roac1.
This is a lofty hill rvith the remains of a thrrpa ancl otlrer builtlings irt
its {oot ancl iaves at the higher levels. An inscription nf t1.rt: rst
century in sitw states that Habutagala Vihara (thc :rncient n_atnr of tlie
'I'isil }Ia,haraja (Iiali:L'''na
rnonasiery) was {oundecl by Kakavalra
Tissa or Kaval'fissa, ruler or llo}rana in tliczr-rd rlnart.rr oi ill,r:nt,l
century e.c.). The narne Habutagala nlal- be synotrymous rvith
Hambugallalia Vihara of the' X[ah,iuafisa, tl]e 1>lacc r"rlrt:rc titc tliera
'fissa persuaded thc otTencled Ministers r,rf \iattil[iSmani Ablra.ya tcr
b'ecomer reconciled rvith their king. Other insr:riptions, alsci uf the
lst century, gir,'e the names of threc tanlis gi:antecl to l{al'rritaqala

r. 'Br6,hmi Inscriptions in the Y5,la lla.st J{eserv-c', Sir I'tr'ul Pieris Li':licitation Volume, 58ff.
2. Ibid., 6o-62 ; C.J.S- (G) II, I t5, t76"

rivata.6

. Jng village Kaniyutagama is mentionecl in a pre-Christian

inscription-at viltaregala, a remotc gror.rp of mins abott g ilires
'of Okanda.T

ca.r.e

urest

. Other pre-Christian Bucidhist monasteries bearing contempora"ry

inscriptions occur at:- (i) Yel,teragalkanda, about to miles rvest of

Qhattda; (ii) l{udintltigala, z milei north-u'csr o[ ()l;atrda, l \,(.r\.

picturesque and domina"ting rock , (iir) Kiralana, 4 nlles north-','est. tif
Oltartrl,a. . (iv) Ir{rlagiriva, a lofty rock, 3 miics south of the roilr mile on
th<: PottuuiL-Monerd.eala roacl ; (v) Rofiakwlatn, j mrles botn pottua'il,
u'lrere the inscription is by a leader of borvmen ; (vi) 7'isu,cit,tla-hnyna,
north of Ilriltr.aa,; (vn) Naaal--Iy-htlatt, rvhere thcre is a solita.ry
ca"r'c carrying an inscription bv the son uf a pr:ince rvho rvas a rna:iter

3'

M- 33.7r; U.C.R. VII, No. 4, :38.

.- -. {. .C.,f:|. (G) II,99 (footnote z), roo, rr:1, rr-5. r75, r?6; Sir I'au} pieris
I'elicitation
Volume, 6;-6E.

5. Sir Paul Pieris Felicitation

6. Ibid., 62.
T. Ibid., 64.

Volume, 6j.

Vol. lrl' Special Number

,IITISTOII,ICAL 1.OP0G}I,APIIY O}- ANCIENT AND },TEDIE\TAL CEYLON 23

of elephant-trainers ; (r'iii) IJwdtttuua, about .5 miles frorn Vadagama;

ana ?lx) Lenama, aborit tr mile,s r,vest of ohat'tda. There is little doubt
ttrat slzstematic exploration lr.ill rerreal more ancient sites in this area.8
Pdnatna-a,:ita l/ihr\ra,b:' Fanam,a tank and about z miles from the.
viilage, rvas also foundecl in'pre Christian times, as.a cave- inscription
attests. Later inscr-iptions of the 5th to 7th centuries at this site give

(iii)Hujikadaand (iv) Bira( . )gayara. In thesan.rcdistrictof Kalayanakan4ika, the same king built the Kalanda Vihd,ra : in a later passage,
Mahd,sena (275-3or) is credited with the building of Kalanda Vihara
,at Brahmanagama in Rohala, destroSring a Brahmanical tenrple there
.and erccting his vihS.ra on its site. Again, Aggabodhi YII (772-777)
is said to have built Kalanda Vihdra. The ruins of I(alancia Vihar:a
have not yet been identified.ll

22 .IOUII,NAL,

R,.A.S.

(CE]:LON)

Neu

aneri'es,

its ancient name as Panar.a-rajamaha-vahara, situated in the subdivision named Vajana. Also rnentionecl are the places:- (i) Ltdagama: (ii) l,unugamana, cloubtless associated rvith one of the salt
lagoons in the vicinitv and (iii) Veniiana.e
Lt'Line'tnalai (so-called because anoldsurveyline runs by it)'
a smali, rock-y irill about z miles west o[ Ilottahwl'a'riz, there are
inscriptions by thrce early kings, Bh:r,tikabhaya (e.5:' zz-t.c. 7),
Mahadethikarnahanaga (7-lq) anrl Kanittlia Tissa (rt17-r86). The

site is namecl Sipavati Vihara in all the inscriptions, a name unknown

from the Chronicles, br.rt perhaps identicai rvith the later Sigam of the
Sigiri Gralfiti. In thc inscription of I(anittha Tissa the grantor. was
th"e ttatiya (district administrator) who administered the dir,'ision
name.f i{irvahaka, r,vhich is identical with Huvaca-kallili5 mentionecl
lVlah4ua?h,sa as a clistrict in Roha4a in the rst centurt . If
Huvaca-kaqniki' was a sub-division of the area afterlvards known
as l{uvarat-tha {present Oz,a), then Huvarattha extended..in the rst
centurv nr'i.t aC the sea near Pottuuil. In Fluvdca-kannika, Maha-

in the

dattiikamahnnaga built the cirlanagapabbata or cirland,galer:ra.-\''ihar.rwhlch was considered to be an icleal place for meditation : it has not
been icientilied. The other place-names u'hich occur in the 'Line'mala'i inscriptions are :- (i) Dakapunal<a ; (ii) Maha Girigamaka, where
there r'vas air irrigation canal ; (iii) Nakarnulava, the seat of the Ratiya
of Huvahako ; ii"; Daraka<la tink in Daiamaraya; (v) Coraviva
tanli and (r'i) ttre tract of tielcls named X'{ala.r0
Kalayana-karlnili5 u'as eL sub-division of Rohala at the' beginling
of the rsi centtLry and r,vas an area extending approximately from
Pottui:il tt- Panaita. ln this district Mahadathikarnahanaga (Z-r'l)
lrr-rilt t{anina.gapablrata Vihdra. At the rlins norv knolvn as Ratrattela.
or Sast,,a.t,elu] .iot" to the -'ca and not far frorr the mouth oI lhe Ndaal'
r41', u,here tirere are the remains of a colossal thirpa. there is.an inscripti.on of tiris king in tvhicli he records his beneiactionto the vihara at ttre
site rvhich is named Boh.ogiri Nakapavata Vihara : this, doubtless, i'
the Malinngapabbata VihS.rq of the Chronicle Piaces named in the
inscription is assignecl to the Vihara are :- (i) Velamuka or Elam'ka,
a narne rvtiictr suggests a place on tire coast ; (ii) Llrakamaka ;
No.

8. [)arkrr. 432 ; t].C.R. \IIII, No z,rtT; C.J.S- (G) II, zoo; t/'C'ft' VII'
,+, 246.

9. C.-I.S. (G) II, rr3, rr4.

ro. rU. 3+, 9o;6o,66; M.1'.Q7, zt; E.H.B' rzo; U'C'R. VIII, No.2, r27:
IX, No. r,4: : Sig. Graff., I, APP. C.

Mahad5thikamahandga also burit the Pisarladipika

narne

fits tlre large, isolated rock norn'

Oyo.

The name suggests a situation near the

Vih5ra.

.lhe

lVtlagiriya, sor-th of
I.akwgala. To honour the Mahdthera of Pasatadipika\riliara, I)appula
(circa 65o), tlie ruler of Roharla, built for hinr the Rohala or Ruhulu
Vih5,ra. In tr,vo inscriptions of the r4th century at the site noi.v callecl
X[agwl-rnaha-uikara (about 7 miles west of Pottlr,til), inscribecl by
'command of a Queen namecl Vihdramahadevi, r,vho u'as the chief
,consort of two brother kings named Perakumba (:'Paral<karna)
who vanquished the C6]as and ruled over Rohala, ttre site is named
Rinu-maha-vera and is said to have been founded b"v king D5,senkrli (Dhatusena). Notlvithstanding the discrepancv betrveen the
Chronicles ancl the inscription as to the name of the forincler, the
identity of Roha4a Vihara is established.lz
MahadS,thikamahanaga (Z--rq) built tlie Samuddha or Samudda
Vihara on the banks of the Kubukanda nadi, the present [{tanobukhan
caTled

sea.13

An inscription of Kanittha Tissa (167-186) at Nelwm,pat Pohwna,

about 5 miies north ol Kutnana, gives the ancient nanr.e of the site
as Gosagala Mahavihara and grants to it shares in lvater-revenues at
Mahanakaral<a, presumably Anuradhapura.la

On the boundary betu'een Panam,a Pattw an<1, the Badctlla district

and close to the north bank of ttre Htida Oya is a picturesque ruinecl
site known as l{a-malwva where there are several inscriptions dating
from the rst centur-y r;.c. to the ,1th century A.c. In these inscriptions
the site is named Giritisapavata-mahavihara. 'fwo of the inscriptions
are dated in the reign of Sirjmekavana Aba Maharaja (Sirimeghavanna,

3or-328). A territorial division named l\ila1zu1rs1at. (in .,r,hich the

modern name Velassa might be contained) is mentioned : this division
apparently ertended over this area and in it rvas the viliage X'fahagama.
Other place-names mentioned are :-- (i) Vilagama ; (ii) \rahiraha and
(iii) Balasataka. One inscription names lhe l,Iinister Labakarlaka Aba,
a member of the Lanrbakanna clan.
1r. NI. 3q. 89 i 37. 4r :

note

r.

48.

7o; X,1.7'.637, 19, 685 ; U.C.l?. \''II, No.

; Rnj. 57 ; Li.Z.IY, :L6r.

12.

M. 3l.gr :

r3.

M.

I.+.

Sir Panl Pieris lieiicitation Volume, f:q; A.S.C.A.R. 1934, r8.

45. 54;

31. go; M.T.

Puj.

z,g

6o6.

.1,2,13,

2+ ;r(lL-tt\AL"

R.A.S.

(C'EYLON)

New fleries, VoI.

VI,

Fpeci.al Ntttn,ber

-\t

rlre .rins at Ca"lahitiod.at: , al-.out z rniles southu,arrl of l.altweala

4tl-r centrrries. The'lsite
narr'ir:ii. A1'apar.ata arncl the placei ,\r,aclai<a a.ntl llamavi],a are

tanl;, tlir'rc are inscriDtions oi'the rst, 3rd ancl

is

nleri'tt i,riler'1.

,1ht,'lr.hetuqalc is a ruired _sitc about a'rile from the last_nameci

lvitlr t\\o inscriirtions of tlie:1th centui..r;. 'll.rc ancient name of tire
-qite

is gir-er as 1(arapavata l'Iaha'il-rara, ancl the places (lar:rclara and.

lfalrrlai'ilrt (rvhiclr also occur-r ttl l{ongalt.r) are nrentionccl.

'l-lit r'ir-recl site no'nl' l<norvn as l/eherohe,ta, abort 6 nriles soutrreast i'f Ltltu,gala, is nanted n"lacala \/el-rera in a Tth ccnturv inscription
iu, siitr. lire inscription is bv a liing nanrec'L Vahal<a Vlaharaja, a'ruler
not i'urtioned in thc chronicles, ancl he declares tliat he'built the
Cctil-;'. at this spot.1;

(B). The Gal Oya Valley

I'l,c eol Oya I,rallet,, or, lnorestrictly, the Arca of Authoritv of the
_ ()"'',t.
llrt:elo.hnzent lJoo.rd, occr.Lpies, for the greater part, the a'cient
anrl lnportant territoriai division calied -Dighar,-dpi-maldala or
Cal

Digir;i.,'api-rattha in thc Ptili Clrronicles ancl Conrmentirics arul Digecr l)igiimaqlrilla in Sinhalese iiterature ancl iriscriptioni.ro
withrr tiris_nrajor cli'ision rvcre sub-divisions stylcd nrandala, janavu
{dana-;ir-a, Ir. janapada), r,aga (synonymous witir vaka, p. vagga) and
l<r:lir a. srr that it bore the stiltus of a province anrl not thai of the
n-ra4ctruhl.

norrral rattha or clistrict.li It e-xtendecl oi'er both banks of tlie Gailra

Garigri i(,al-hoy, prcsent Gal O1,a\ and the area to north of the river
rvas c:rllc.d, jn a roth centurf inscription, Metera-Digdnrandulla.r8
.long tank') goes
_ . l.1rq name Dighava,pi (lvliich means litcrallv
back in legencl and liistorv to the earliest recorcleil tinres. It is stited
in tlrc JfrrftrTuaitsa trtat the lluddha on his third visit to ceylon, after
spencling the cla1' at the foot of Sunranakiita (Adam,'s pcait\, 'set
{orth for l)ighzr.r,:r1ti. and therc the }'[aster -seatcd ]rirnself r,viih the

brothrrhooci, at the place rvliere the Cetiya (aftenvarcls) stoocl. anrl

g_avr: llim,celi up to rucclitation to consecratc the spot'. The olcler

Clrror.ri.:1e, tlr e L)iiJ:tavcr,hso, lras no reference to tlre visil to Sunanakfrl a

it

tltat the liuclclha u'cnt to Dighavapi fronr thc .;ite of thc lait:r
I{alr:;Lri iKdnn,it'a) th',rpa, travcllirig thr'ough the air, ancl that I at
111, 1'."r , oItlrcl):glrlralir ('r-tiva.llrcBu,l,llri ulr,,uaslrrll ulcompa.sion t,r llrc \\orlr[.,lestr.tr,]*,1 lrutrr tlr,.air rl,l:rgain cnlr,re,l rrlron
mvsii'ral rrieditation'.11r Bt this association r,ith the Budclha, as
savs

r .5.

r ir.

P:.Z.IY, r,13;
11.

t. 78

: 21.

.SdiRz, 3r5.
2 : 33. 9'. 7 I. r to, r So : 7.5. t, to ; Pu,j.

.9).j. ir
r l.
{r.Ll./i. iX, \c.. r, :o, .lr.
rr9.
I

IJ.Z.I\-.7-i
.ll. t. 7i ;o ; D. :. .1E-t,o.
-11.

48. r3z ;

(as corrected

z. ;

Raj. 3j ; -1. .C. A. R

at E.Z. \., i3q).

}IISTO}iICAL

TO POGRAPHY OF

i\N(]IIINII] ANI] f{}IDIi'\-AL

CE

rL(]\

1he Budclhist.s belicr.ec,l, Dighavtrpi bccame one of the 16 most

placers of the Buclclhists of Cevlon.

J5

s..Lcrecl

The traclitions recorclcd iir the cevlon c'hrcnicies abont tht I:rd,Arvan anccstors of the Sini'rlcsc, *'lro camc from Northenr llrr.lia lurcl
'colorrisecl the Island, l,rrqtscrve the tranres r-rf some of the le1t1er-s ri.[o
founclecl ttrc llrst serttlcments, u'liich rve;:e namerl aftcr thl,m. ()ne
of these leaders or i:hieJtajns \vas the rroble l)igirJ"r'rL: ;rncl
Dr" Paranar,itana has macle an importa.nt observati-on- ,-.,n ihe
connection betu'r:en I)ighayu and Diglravnpi. He says, .tlre r.orrn
Digd,, as r,vell as Diga (in Digrimarluila anci Dignmandulu), prt,.up;-..rses
arl original l)ighayu, ancl 1he place - knou,n as - Dlghir-api
was possibly the same as the settlerrent named after tr)r-g[rirr.i,
referrecl to in chapter 9, verse ro ol the f,[alruztathsa. In thc i,-l.,,itification of Dighavapi, it is, therefore, not necessary to look tor a long
tanli'.t0 Tlie const.rction of a tank named DT[havapi is
recordcd, and the rriedier.al Sinhalese nante for th" r"gurtt 'o*.lrerc:
di,.1 not
inclucle the elernent-vapi (tank, S. -vd,r'a). It is quite" possii_,le, of
cotirse, that one of the tar.rks rvas called Dighavdpi after the district,
and it might rvellhave beenthe first tank tohive be'enconstructer,lthcre,
but tire reservoir itself was not of snch dimel;ions or importan,.e to
receive specific mentio_n. Parker atternptecl to iclentii.y tlie breached
tank nor.v knor,vn as Malmkatotli,vat:ci.ua oi Kandiatthattti,
about (r nriles
'Brohier
sonth-west of uhana, rvith tire long tank, Dighavapi.
clescribes
it as follows:--'the resen'oir rvas-formetl i[ tne-foot]rills of t]re r,-r,a
mcluntains by raising t"vo short, low embanknrents across tire liollrrvs
in a central stretch of high ground. J*dgecl from the contorlr map it
was perl raps 6 miles irr. length. anrl possibly not much ;norc-i f rLrlvr l iirrg
less, than one mile in width on the 'average . . . Its reprrt"il clisl
tributory channels rvhich led to the fielcls appeir to have bie' spreacl,
over tlie Rattica.loa district, almost up to the coast, for ,1o milc; or
more. . . The size and shape of Mahaliandiya \\terva, hor,vever, 1-et renrai.
a rnatter o{ controversy, althotrgh the moclern topograpliicai
iraps
reduce the margin of error '.21 Later history suyt trbtiiing itbour a*y
'bighar.,tpi:
enlar5;ement or restoratio.n o[ an originai ian]i nanrecl
indeed, there is complete silence in the L-hronicles .bout a tani of trrat
naure although references are numcrous to the place ancl the tiistrict
with the same uamc.

The identity ol a tank rvith a 1o'g buncl namecl nighar.airi nr:rv

but there is no historical doulrt that this region l.as,
?z centuries ago, one of the most inrpcrtant {oocl
Prorlucingl-areas in
the principality of Rohana (Ruhuna). l1ie r:rrstern frontier of tl.re
Tamil conqueror, Elara, in the first half of thc ::'ci century r:i.{ .. \\,as
the X,taha.t,iili Gariga: along it, from llaLil arigar.ra to r1r* se:i,
--rvcrll

be cuestioned,

-ro. \ole r ro E.Z. Y, r j 1.

21. Parkcr, 'Ancie't Ce1.l.n', 396; I3rohier, . _\ncic,trt Trrig:rti.u
',

an Ceylrrn

1II,

q.2., 4q.

\\,<trlis

New Series, VoL. Vl, Sptec&tl Nttmber

.T{ISTORICAL TOPOGRAPIIY OF ANCIENT AND }IEDIEVAL CEYI,ON 27

Kakavalna'liss:r maintained garrisons at a nurnber of fords to guard

against jnvasion of his orvn territory of Rohana. The Chronicle states
that Kakavanna Tissa stationed his second son, the prince Tissa, at
f)ighar,Spi -,vith troops and chariots 'in order to guard the open
country '.22 'l'his statement is difficult to understand. Since the riverline

may be synon)'Ims for Kandara or I-akandara,2i' but the site has not
vet been discovered. It is not improbable that more than one ancient
iite hidden in tire jungle u'as submerged lvhen the present Cal, Aya
reservoir r'vas constructed. On ascending the throne in e.c. r37 king
Saddhatissa (previously the prince Tissa) built tb-e Dighavapi Cetiya
rvith the Vihdra. o{ that name : the Cetiya was coverecl rvith
together
'network
flon'ers of gold The
set with gems
a
-call and decorated rvith
it Dighanakha or I)iganaka.:6 There is,
Sinhalese Chronicles
strangely, no further reference in the Clrronicles to any renovation or

26

JOLTRNAL, R,.A.S.

(CEYLON;

r,vas defenclcd, an attack down the east coast, through Dighavapi, could
not be clelivered unless the river defences were first breached. Furthermore, the Dighavapi district \ ras too remote to supply timely reinforcements to threatened troops on the river, and, it rvas far distant from
the direct line of urarch from any point of break-through on the river
to I{akavaln a Tissa's capital, Mahagima (Tis sancahtt ramrl ). Therefore,
the forces cornrnanded by prince 'fissa in the Dighavapi district could

but a limited role in any general sclieme for the defence

of Rohana against Elara. We knorv. howerzer, from epigraphical
sotlrces, tliat up to this tinre no king had estabiished his authority over
the whole oI Ceylon: there'uvere rulers, stvled raja in tireir inscriptions,
independent of each otl'rer, in various regions in the Island, and
in Rohana itseif there l:as the recently .suppressed Kataragama
dynastSr which held sway over tlie south-east of Cevlon and part of
the Baiticaloa district.2s It ma\z rvell be that it was to protect
Rohana against these internal, irotentia-l enernies, and not against,
E15ra, that the prince Tissa was stationed at Dighavapi.
harre plaJ.,ecl

In r.c. 16r. rvhen Elara had been or.erthrorvn and the rvhole of
Ceylon united, for the first time, uncler the sole rule of cne Sinhalese
moirarch, King Dutthagdmani Abha1..a (Dutugd.mulu). the sarne prince
Tissa (the nerv king's vounqer brother and heir to the throne) was again

appointed to reside at l)ighavS,pi 'to direc[ thc rvork of harvest' :

anrl there he rernainecl for z3 .years until the last 1zsa1 of his brother's
reign.2l 'fhe importance of the l)ighavEpi district, it may be conjectured from tiris subse<1uent statement, lay not so much in its military
significance as in its value as one of the principal sources of food
supply at that time. 'lhe vice-ro1'alty of the yrrince Tissa in this
region as well a,s over the greater part of Eastern Ceylon is still
remembererl in local trarlition whicli ascribes to Tissa Kumaraya,
many o{ the ruins i'vhir:h still survive. 'I'he C}rronicles record that
rvhile prince Tissa resided at DighavSpi his trvo sons built each
a Vjhara, in that regiorl. 'Ihe eldest son, Lafljatissa, built the
beautiful Kumbhila or Girikumbhila Vih5,ra, rvhich has been identifiecl by recently discovered inscriptions itt. s'itu. as the ruins near
Bakhirilla. The younger son,'Thulathana, built the Kandara Vih5,ra,

also calied Alakandara and L5kandara. The

Pali

Comnrentaries

mention viharas named Lokandara, Lokantara and Lokuttara which.

22. II. 23. t6 :, zq. ':..

23. O./.S. (G) IL 99, roo, t75, t76; Sir Paui Pieris Felicitation \roiume;

65-62.

embelislment of this celebrated vihira. Mention is rratle of a visit

by Kittisirirajasiha in the micldle of the rSth century to the |iakha
C"etiya, but whethel this rvas identical rvith ancient DighavApi-(Dighis not certain: the ruinedmonument at V\raiaSi, near
arralilra) Cetjr"'a
'lr'as
locally known as I,ialth'a-tekera prior to its rcIraltkatnant,,
occupation by the Sangha abott t92.4, since r,vhich time it iras beerr
popularly, and probably correctl;', knor,r'n as Dighavapi Cetiya.
At Rlijagata or Rrissahtla, the large rocky hill on the eastern.side
oI Diuu,l'atia fanl<, there are many dripJedged caves, the former abode
of eremite monks, and abolrt zo of these caves bear inscriptions in the
script of the znd and rst centuries e.c. Five of these epigraph: record

the donation of some of the caves to the Sarigha bv trn'o sons of Saddhd,tissa (who is styled Devanapiya l'Iaharaja Garna4i TiSa) and their
wives: one son is styled }faha Aya (great prince) signifying ihat he
was the eldest son, and the names of his rvives arc given as -Budadata
,and YahaSini, w'hile-the other son is called Ti6a Aya (prince TiSa.) and
his wife is named Samika.z7 Maha Ava a{terwards became king as
Lafljatissa (n.c. rr9-rro) but a prince nairned Tissa rvho was a. son
of Saddhatissa is not rnentioned in the ClLronicles. In one of the
inscriptions the name of tlie hill may be read doubtfully as Dhanati6apavata: Gothd,birava, ruler of Rohana, the grandfather of. Sacldhaiissa, is said to have founded a r.ihara nantecl Danapabbata.zg

The Kufljaraliinaka Vihara, also cal1ec1 Kandaraliinaka, built

rvas probably in Dighavapi clistrict: and thr:

by king Lanjatissa,

P-icina{haraka VihartL, which existed in the rst century, lr'a;, 1f not in

DighavS,pi district, iust otrtsideit to the west or north-r,r'est.ee ln these
early days the distance from Dighavapi-to }fahagama ('l-issamakdrdma) was reckonecl as 9 t,ojanas (7o to 8c rniles) : the ancient rorite

is not

specified.:ro

There are other: knorvn ancient sites in tht Gal Oya Valiey rvhere
tliere are inscriptions ivhich date these,.ruins back to the znC or rst

25. D. 2o.8, ro ; r'11. 3.3. 14, t5; E.1I.B. 66, 83, rz3.
:26. XI.33. to, tt; Pttj. tS; Ila.i. 14.
2j. A.S.C.A.R. 1935, para 39; U.C.R. \iII, -\o. ,1, 24.1.

28. Dhu.3r.
zg. M.33.27 : 8.M.33. z6;
30. E.H.B.3o.

E H.I3. (t6.

28 ..IO.IRNAI-. II.A.S. (C,F,'.LON) Ne,

centurl' e.c. on a hili about

geries, Vci.

a. rnile north-east

VI, Specirl

Number.

HI.!T()RICAL TOPOGIIAPI{]] OI'ANCIENI AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON 29

of Da,tan.a there is

a
grcup_of 7 caves u'ith inscriptions: one ca\/e was clonate{
Uy tti" r.,,iie
of a ilricftain, anr-rther. bv er- viilace heaclma'. o" trr". liiir,"irriir*o-

(ii) Soruyur, on the south (right) bank of the Ga1-hoy (Cal Oya) ;
(iii) Mahaviigana,, in Saratvd.ga sub-division;
(ir') Gular.d.lla ;
(r') Mivangamu, rn'hich rnay bc iclentical with X,[u,van.gam,uz'A,.

L'ttLrirr lirer-e rs an rrnus'al epigraph u,hich rearls, ,the gro'e

of the
morrk l(ubira-', rvrrric at
therc is a cave i"sc.fiiio,, i"nicn
_Aniy,irai
statcs that ttre car,-c r,ras_tlonated by 'the qroup of tou"r".iri"":.
Ar
5,rnt'.ttttatt"tiair./a. jrrst inlan,l ol tlre
.53 3 4 rnilep,lst, ir-un"".ri"n*i,.
ortcr-op of rock. nrountcrl hr. rock_crit-s"tef* ancl croivrrecl fru
. ir."""ir"a
thr p:, .\ cavc irr-cril.,tiorr" lnr l trvo rc,ck inscriptlonr-of-1,ri_l :i,ri.rir,,
datc occur at,1,I ttl l,i h ui ant- tn ol ai, near p alatnwniti.zl

(vi) Malatta (not tlie same as lISlavatthu).

hr'rda. abo'e the

of vailinugala,

therc is

.r

*i"ii
'iilagebv, arnongst'oiliers,
inscr-ibed caves r-lonateci
"-ri*il, i"."5r"t
th. r.;i;rii"?*
ion :t rJllage. lrea, lnran rrn,l a h"ou.elrol 1"," tn",i;f i.;;"ft;:'"r; ,,

_ Inscriptions of the earlr'centuries .r.c. occ'r at a ferv other sites,

al.o nr.nastic. orr th" rocr< at I et,tr t',trdaua, near T6!ia,ta, tlrere
i*
a '"r'orn_inscription of tire :ncl ce'tury
of th"'7tti ceni.rr1r.r.
-:rJi+il*
At Pohunudrfta, 6 miles trom. Ukm,a,"'r-,,13.inscriptions
"r.oih",
of' ln"

centurl. occur, and one of thern isby a district chieftain (ratit'a) i'orr..rr.ing the cutting_ of the rock-cut steps, ,rnrr" oi tfr"- g;".; in!""".ilrt
narne of the r-ihara. At Iiowl.araitnuan tanl there a?e ,."tl"rJr"n*
which m:ry or may not harle lormecl a singre nronastery i"
timc-. .\ pr,'-Clrr-i*rirn irr:er.iprion i, rhc
"".i."t
"l'ld;J;pi;;;fr,."^f".i'i,.
datr: arc tu'o in-scriptions of the earlv centurics
.i.cl iis..iU",i-;;,
bcrLrldcr in thc r4rper r.aches of trre tin[, una on" .r il,"-rr'o-.
ili, in*"

ancient

of the mrnastery as Ahali-araba-vihara, .

,ot

recorrlecl'arae
in the Chronicles., \-c,t lar.auay is an inscribea "rto"e p;lia..
tir,. content< ol rr lriclr u ill bc ,lcscribed later.

At the exteusi'e anciett rnonastery on Rujagala or Rassahera

(aince'dy mentionecl in conncctio'

tire cavc inicriptions in"r"
the sons of Saclclhritissa) therc aro 'r,ith
"r,
arso three rock insciiptiorri-tf tn.
r.isrr oI Nalrindrr ll (777-;'17 1 * lricl, lrar. becn e,lited iir l.-r,ieraoirio
Zt'l:rrica.sjr \lalrirr,l;L il *ai r.lrr, lcirrg rvrro. a[ter srrb l"i,,g;f,:li;; i;
Ilclraira, clecrecd the C,rilia C^iga ltiut Oy)i in pluce it in"" U-it^ttt;

cailp;a, as thc future tro-*.clrr1'b-et,ilcen Rrrjiiattira and Roirara" it

three epigraplis_ record gratts of land to tiittara-veher;r_, the gtrr"
centl-rr\r name of the site, s.ituated in the sub-division of Liu-ja*ar-u
(
_,i.,,rrr-,larrar ir;r), bv tir .'\pav rj.r-ii:u inail,n,i. lni] -.i". 'll'ir,.
ft1la'arirsa),:r4 :L ruler of Rorrana, (ii) Srn, i hifrr ciignitary of rrunur-ra,
anc tiii) l-irali1liura, the aclministrator of thc Lam-jan"tir ur*.---T1..
lairrls gr.*ted to thc vih:rra rvcre situatecl in tlie viirages of :(i) Ka1alvali, in Larn-janar-u sub-clistrict (the arca arouncl
Diztulrlna, probably extcnding to Ukana)';

3i. -l ..S.(-'.1.1t.. r953, ::8: r9-54, 36;

::. -.1..S.C.,,{.J?., r9-54,3(r, No. r3.
JJ. f:.2., I\'. ru,,. I ;u.
3,+. Cul.

48. r32 : ;+q. ro-r3.

C..I..S. (G)

II, rr9.

3 miles south of Amparai:

l'{a,lavatthu-rnaldala or l,Iah.atu-mandala or },Ialvatu-kuliya

the local sub-district arouncl the village of l,Ialar.atthu, modern
XIoit'trtt.ai., betr,veen Amlparai and Satmntantwrai : this village rvas
grantecl in the middle of tlie Tth century to Ariyakari Vihara, a
r'vas

in Rohana.35
'lhe pil1ar inscription at Koltilaua{tatan has been edited by
Dr. Paranavitana3o and is of great ilrterest 'for the light it tirrows on:

nona-ster-v

the social and economic conditions u'hich prevailecl in Ceylon cluring the
gth and roth centuries'. lt is dated in the roth year (934) ol king
Dappula IV. In substance it is an edict regulating certain aspects of
the :rclrrrinistration of the village of Aragam (prescnt Kond,aaattat,an),
sitrratecl in Mctera Digii"manclulla (Dig:imandulla to north of the Cal
Oya), fne re\renues of r.vhich lr,cre enjoyecl at the time by the Dald6navaka named llakus of Sangva (a place-name) ri'ho later became
the King's Commander-in-Chief (Seneviraclun, P. Senapati). The
-richer landlords of this time, particularhr if they .,vcre absentee landlorcls, t.ere pernritted to farm their revenues to lessees or re\/enuefarnrers x,iro dealt clirect r,vitli the tenants and collected the landlord's
dues oir a commission basis. This system of iease rvas called pdtta,
a n-oLcl of Tamil origin, and is still practised in South lndia but had
'gone orlt of usc in Ceylon in the r6th centurr,r.
The Dighar-api clistrict attained historical importance {or tlie last
time cluring the reign of Parakkamabahu I (rr53-rrfi6). It n'as
a. centie of fierce resistance to that monarch's attempt to extcnd his
:urthoritl' over thc principality of Ro1-rana. Be{ore his accessiori to the
throne, Parakkanr:rbahu tracl lvagecl a long ancl bitter, but cr.entuail-v
succes,cful, rvar rvith i\'{[,nabharana, the ruler of ltohala, but ail t]le
fighiing took placc along the Ma/.tatrili Ga,n,ga a'ncl in tbe Polonnaru\ia
area : rvhen I'Ianabharana finaliv sLr flercd clefeat ancl gavc up ttrc struggle,
Parakl<anrabShu did not exploit his success by pursuing hirl into
On his death becl, Mtr,nabharaqa is said to have commanded
the pr-inces of his family to sr-rbmit themseh.es to Parakkamab5hu, but
this injunction rx,'as not heedecl" 'I]re Tootli and Bou,1 Relics,

Rohala.

to sovereignity over the u'hole of Ceylon, rvere in

Ilan[bharar]a's possession aird, on ]ris deat]i, passecl to ]iis mother.

indispensable

Queen Sugal5. When Parakkama-bahu celcbrated his consecration at

Polonnarur.a as the successor of Gajabahu, ruler of Rdjarattha, the,r

3.5. Cu|.

75. 5

45.

60; Sig. Graff., I, App. C.

J,). ll.Z., \,.ri+-r+r.

l]0 JOURNAL, If,.A.S. (CEYLON) New

Series, Vot.

ItI,

Spteci.a,t

Number

ccrenonv was perf_orlned without the Relics. At the beginning of his

to subjugate Rohara in orcler to o6tair"t lorcible

firmly behind
Queen Sygala in resisting aggreision. Parakkamabahu's troops,
commandecl brr the Lankadhikerin Kitti enterecl Dighav5pi clistrict
from .Er5lrtrh." .(Eraailr, E miles northward of RattiTa,l,oa), captured
a_fortified position at Givulaba (possiblv Diawluna) a'd aclvan'cecl to
Uddhagdma (Uhatta) where they entrenchecl themselves ancl stavecl
tltree months. nral<ing Iorays orr pockets of
in the vicinlt-v.
'csistarrce
The next objective rvas Hiliobu,-a weil-fortified
piace, protected by
trenches and thorn fences : this r,vas captured, is weli as another
strong point at Kirindagama, and the invading forces then occupiecl
ancl encamped at Dighave,pi (V\raiadi). At ihis juncture all tirese
troops rvere diverted to the Monerugttla area to reinforce other
columns in a converging attack on Etiioote where eueen Sugala hacl
taken
her position with the Relics: the attacl< Jucceeded"and the
Itelics 'p
rvere captured, but the Q*een escapecl. lhe soldiers of Rohala
now assembled in large ancl threatening sirength in the Bu,ttala clistrict,
reifJn he proceeded

possession of the Relics, and the peoplc of Rohana stood

open_resistance ancl underground activities r,vere intensifiecl er.erywhere,

Parakkamabdhu's forces found themselves uncler attack froin flank

and rear, and his generals nret in conference to cliscuss the menacing
rnilitary situation. lhey summed up the enemy's tactics in the
follorving rvords:-' Our fbes l<nor,v theii orvn country. When \ve come
near them they clisperse on every side, penetrate again into tire territorv that we have brought into our power, in order to conquer it, and
vex_the people'. They decided, therefore, that for tl-re iuture they
lvould post a strong garrison rvith capable ofRcers in every area r,vhicL
tirey subdued to hold and consoliclate tbeir gains ancl"prevent the
cnemy from re-entering or re-occupying it. -serious rebellion lvas
report_ed to have broken out again inlhc Dighavapi district and it rvas
agreed that, in tire first instance, a concerted attack should be launchecl
upon this region to bring it under complete submission before the scope
of the -military operations rn'as furtlier extenciecl. Accor<lingly, tire
Lankadhikarins Kitti, Rhuta ancl Nlaiju, starting from Valiv-dsaragdma, a rneeting-p1ace of many roads otitsicle ar-rd 1o r,vestr,vard of the
Dighavd,pi distrlct, marched eistrvard ancl, after fighting at Savanaviyala, a stronghold rvith twelve gates, they turnecl-nortliward up the
coast,-captured (iomavagama and Chaggama (Scih(tm,atn) and arrived
at-I3alapasa4a (betu-een Sukamant, and Xlataattai). Here they built
a formidable fortification ancl garrisonecl it i,vith a strong cletaihment
uncler the conrmand of the Lankdpura I{itti. The main bodv norv
broke up into columns, al1 rnarching in a rvestcrly ilirection (the
reverse direction to that in rvhich tliey hacl entered the Dighavapi

district), and proceeded to subclue the Dighavapi district from encl

to encj. The different columns fought a number of successful actions
at various places, particularly Mdiavatthul<a (I[alaattal), Vadhagamakapasana (perhaps Vad,inagala), \{ulutta, Senaguttagama
(Senga ntuuo,

bctrveen Laltwgala aw1, Pottu.uil), Bolagd,ma, Vanaragdma

HIS'T'ORICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF ANCII]NT AND }TEDIEVAI, OtrYLON :]I

and Galambatthikag5,ma , having completed ttre subjugation of

Dighar.api clistrict, all the columns from the dillerent sectors continued
their lvesterly advance ancl convergecl on Hintalavanagataa (.tro or 5o
miles westrvard of Dighavapi). Hintalavanagalna was stormed, but
thc defenders, resorting to their usuai tactics, created once again a
diversion in the rear of ParakkamabShu's forces by attempting to
retake the DighavS,pi district : the garrison left betrind at Balaplsirna, reinforced bv a column from the main body rvhich made a forced.
march to its aid, foiled this attempt to renew the conflict. No further
fighting took place in Dighar'5pi district, but resistance continued in
lower {Jaa, Hambantota and Matara districts and ended only lvith the
capture of Queen Sugala. The enforced peace was again disturbecl
hve or six years later by another great uprising in Rohana of which
the Chronicles give no details: this, too, was suppressed by
inilitary action ancl thereafter Rohana submitted to the rule of
ParakkamabS,hu I.'r7

(C). Central and North

Batticaloa
Near Rfrgatn T-anh are some ruins bearing an inscription of the
year 3o7 in the reign of Sirimeghavanna rvhich states that Fiyakalutata Vahira, the ancient name of the Vihara on the site, r'vas founded

bv Yatalaka Tisa Maharaja (Yatthalaya Tissa) who ruied over Rohana

about flve centuries earlier. Other place-names occurring in tire
inscription are:-(i) Badalaka; (ii) Banavitiya and (iii) Culuna.3s
Kusalanahanda, z rmiles north of the 85th mile on the BadwllaBatticaloa road, is a large, rocky hill with several inscribed caves and
other ancient remains. One pre-Christian inscription is by the prince
Gamili TiSa who was the son of Raja Abaya and the grandson of
Uparaja Naga (Uparaja Mahanaga, brother

of

l)evanarhpiya Tissa

and first ruler of Itohala) : if ltaja Abaya is Gothibhaya of the

Chronicles, as is probable, then Yatth5laya Tissa and Gothabhaya
*,ere brothers. The place Cahanilaya i.s mentioned in another cave
inscription of the same period. Four miles to west is another group of
inscribecl cavqs at Kalud,wpotana-mqlai rvhere one inscription is datecl
in the reign of an unnamed ruiet who rvas the son of prince
Abaya, probably identical r'r,ith Raja Abaya of the Kwsalii,nakanda
inscription.3e

'fhe artificial, dripJeclged cat'e at HennanEgala, about 6 miles

north-west of the 67th mile on tlne Badwlla-Batticaloa road, is probably
the largest cave in Ceylon. It bears a long inscription which contains
the fish syr-rrbol of the Kataragarna dynasty of early rulers who
exercised authority over a part of Rohaqa in the 3rd and early znd
37. Cul. 74.89-rrr, r69-180 : 75. r-r3 : 76. r-6.
38. A.I .C.24; U.C.R. \rII, No.4,238.
30. U.C./1. VII, r\-o. 4, 24o.

3J

.lOUli,,\AL, R.-\.ti.

((tft\ll,()N) \'eu Se.ries, VoI. VI. ,gpeciel X.,t,ntter

'l'lrr.

f' ,llorr irrg pla,'t.-rarrr .i {)..rrr irr tlre irrs,.ript i.,rr . {i). Ka3;rl-anlC+.? ;_ (ii) Giritiiagzrina; (iiil Kar.ajiniti3agania; (iv)
Vilaqanra :trr,l {r ) \lalrrgarrr t.
Tlre im'rense rock, Nu,.,nrugrila, 6 rn.iles so'th,east of thc trTth
mile on tbc Bad.u,lla- rlatticaloa roar-I, is
bv an ancient, .to'nc'ro*nteclin a' easv qraliie't,
pa\:+ roadual' rvhich clirnbs to the sumrnit
:aaking the best use ,f the conto'rs. on tlre s'mnrit \\as a cave
monastcrv forinrlecl br,, I<ing Sacklhritissa rvhose inscription is on thc
rlain cavi.lo
At J{ol<avata in Iiol<avata-j a'raPacla or Kokk[,da.av\-a, ]Ialruse.a
(275-3ot) fonndecl ar. grcat
ancl built a tank. Kokhti.sals is a
'ih,r,ra
verlz.conspicuous ancl lofty hill
about z rniles west of the 5bth mrle on
the Badwll,a.I)atticaloa road, but no rcmains of a large ;;;ri"ty
are l<nou,n in this loclrlitr'.a1
Bintiir,nLa Palttt, ancl that part of. Erauur p;tttr,t, jmntecliarelr: to
ngfh*.arc! of .lluqam-kulanr ate-hilly regions *-ith r.ro g't'at strt.tihes

cenl rrrici B.( .

,of

flat land suitable {or

HISTOR,ICAL TOPOGR,APIIY OT'ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON 33

Pre-Christian rrrins
.exist at:_ (i) Kal,aetldtaaana_halil,{,u, abott
5^ miles -lvest-south-west of Vdhan'aii ; (it)'Kaui{agiio--'oi !*oU
Quoin, about ro miles north-west of pwnanii
tlre 44th mile on the Batticaloa-Trincouoalee road..'
""d Giij' /{rtiraaJi, at

(D). The Ancient Districts of Kotthivala and Ko{{hasdra+;

Kotthivaia district is also called Kottivata, Kontivata, ancl

Kotagama

to lravr. correspondcd io
Bintaiia Diuisioi ii niuirriil');itr;rt
and" ttre ad;acent region lo north_east on both sidcs oI the
I'[adwru Oya. In it w-ere :-

(i)

(ii)

cultivation, and these areis mrist aiu.ays

have bec-n for tlic greater part uncler forest ancl sparsely i'habiterl.
They have not vet heen fuljv explorecl for ancient rulns.
Pre-clrristian ruins cxist at :-(i) veherazara, z)1 mile-c .orth of
the ._67th rnile o' thc Badwtta-Bitticaloa roacl; -(ii) OnLwtrgaLa,
7 nriles north of tlie last-narned ancl (iii) Ni.vandau'aiueara, -1 ririles
north-r,vest of the 77th mile on tine Badulla-Raiticaloa ro"ad.

-1o. Parkei

4-i.5, 446.

:1t. 37. 42, 17

; :\L7'.

635

12. J'[. 74 gt.

.,

puj. zl.

+3. II. 37. qo, qr ; ),1.7.6E5. 3:.

-++. A.S.C.A.l?., r935, 1o.

o[ Kaniltha Tissa (rb7_rgb) at Nrt u'gilo, Jout

is namea'fiyagaiat a
Ahalipavata Vihera and is probably ta."iiJj *itf,
Piyangaila of the Chronicle.- The inscription gives

tlre follorving otirer. place_names:_lrz) Aliaiavivi. in

Vadamanaka; (b) Aganaka tanli;- (, ;'Totag;mak'afank
and canal and (d) Upalavilarz. ' '
(iii) Kotthagama or Ko-tanagara. An inscription of the roth
century aB lound at polonnaruva mentions certain places
in the province of Girivadunna_danaviSz" ounl.f,-*u,
a considerable area.extending to east arid rvest of the
Makaudli Gahga. There rveib two districts within this
pro.vince, that to west of the river being }laharat
while the district to east of the river is ,i"t
Maharat, is identical with }tahara{,tira of---'tn"
".*.a:
Chronicles ancl it extended westward from the iiver to
the border of Kdtavdpi (Kald,ativa), so that- it, .r"u
included ga_rls oj prese^nt 'Hurulw palata, forrniinirrn
and Ma,tale I{orth.{e In Maharat and the distri.t aJioi"_
ing it on the east were the two villages I,f.n"i"iiy"

Erahulu-disnbhaga of the rzth centur),. correspondecl roughly

, modern
to
EyrTau.y Pattu.a2
\'{ahisela (275-3or) <le,tro1'ecl thc Brahmanical tcrnpies at
^
Gol<anr.ra
(Trinconmlee), Kalanda (see under Chapter II (Aj ), ancl
Eral<a'illa. all on the eastern coast or. Iiohana, aniL founcled
'iliaras
on thcir site,s. 'llre nanre ]lrakavilla nray lrs retained in rnr,rclern
Et'tnil. tz rnilt,s soutlr oI L]allicalt,,t .r.r
,,\n inscription of \rasablia ((t7-r,) at I{,untacolai, t mtle so*thwest of tlre gznd milc on the Bad,ulla Batticaloa roacl, mentions the
Iljnister u'ho go'erned the eastern coast (pajinakara) anil the iranles

!+i.

Khandal<avitthika, also cared Manclaracittaka, Kailaviti

and Go.diga,rryuq 3 yojanas or rz'gav tro to So mif"dj
from Kacchakatittha ' (Mahagantroia): 'thii i"".'.tt
birthplace of the warrior' Strran"imii#6;
"
Piyangalla or piyangalu Vilrara. In an inscription of the
tj miles south o,f_pz ntinai, the site

mile on the tsad.wlla BatticaLoa roacl, are namccl Da1ia1,al111i131ia

Vihara in a' isncription cf I'Iahd,clathil<a-mahu,naga iu, silir: an
irrigation canal u'as granted to the rrihara.rr

area appcars

rcign

parl,1.1-

'o{ the helds clonatecl to the vi}rdra at the site.

l'hc ruins at Ilaheraud,antalai, abovt 3 niile.; north-rve-;t of the ligth

jn llohana. lts

the, north-west projecrion ot

45' This sectio' was,orig_inally heacred '-r'he ancient Kotthasd,ra district,

and in the.tc-tt Korlr'r.ive.ra, Kurta'v5La, Kontivaia, Kotaga.na'ana-N.iiL,u."r,
were equated as variant namei for one alrd the sam"e aistrici.--Fi-o6sro,
Paranavitana, who rcad t^c typescript, *as t.inJ e'ouglr to ,nggesi
io _" ing"nt
reasons.{or iderrtifying Korthi-ira with modern kottryu.,
and I had no hcsitation
in altering my views accord'ingly. rne section rris been re-rvritten
on the basis of
Prolessor Paranavitana,s ideitification of f"ltfr..ara.
46. M. 23. rg-zz. ; M.T. 4qg, z3; E.M. 23, ,27 ; Thu. t3o ; Raj. 3r.
47. M. 3o. zg; M.7:. y7, 23 | E.M.30, 65 ; Thu. 176.
48. E.Z.IV, 38, 44, 53.
49. M. 72. 163, rgg.

575-B

94 : JO1TRNAL. Ii.A.S. (CEYLON)

VI,

f;Treiita! kttmher"

TIISTORICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF ANCIENT AND II"IIDIE\TAL CEYLON 35

*if.l" adjacent, the former in l'Iaharat and

and Kotganr., both

Sinhalese Chronicles.53 On historical and other grounds, Dr.

Paranavitana identifies the place Kotthasara with modern l{ottiyur
and Kotthasara district r,vith, approximately,
Koil,iyc1r ijittw.
'rodern
trn l{otthasara district \vere:(i) Antaravitthika, a village granted to ascetic monks: near
it rvas a great, swampy r,vilderness where the invader,

the lattii i"

Nerc Series, Vot.

tlistrict' Maharakil a i'

^.ii"ining
i'f the Chronicle' correctly
llaha'rukkha
""ao"Ut"atr,Coclrington with modern Mdlake on the
identifieci tiy
west banli "of the iiver' I{otganr is identical 'iti-r
Kotthagima, described as a rich village dedicated to the
of the forts
goiti]i riee at Anuradhapura:
-by Kotanagara, oneAphg1ta,
i:
Dutthagamali
on ttre river reduced
and
Kotgane
Maharak:iya
it.
Since
for
narne
another
wereacliacentvillagesbutinclifferentterritorialdistrict-c,
'
it is evident that ime natural barrier separatecl thern:
this barrier was tlte Mal'taacili Guhga' \'Iaharakiva
(moclern Marake) being on the lvest or left bank' ancl
i{otgam (moclern Kotigunttela) on the opposite east or
riglrt bank5o;
{ir
Der"atissaeama, granted' by NISnar atnma (b8+-716) to
\" /I -,t,"'
trtufan.tt"p'adik" dwilling built by- him for .the
Dhammaruci sect. (A vihara-named Mahanettapa'dika
in Pulatthinagara (Polonnaruva) is mentioned inV-the
at
reign of SenI t: in the inscription o{- I(assapa
js.relerr.etl to :
Abla5'agiri' the avasa named Mahanet-pa
is mentionecl in the reign of
and lla'hanettapasada
Vij ayabahu IV. Mahinettapadika, Mahanet-pa" Mahaneitlpubbata and Mahd'nettapasada all refer to one
.
and the";;;e religious establisiiment at Polonnaruva)'b1
About rrr3, Vikkamabahu, ruler of Rijga-tfha' deJeated by the
invarler Virad&a near Mannar, reached Polonnaruva in flight'
his valuables, and'betook himseif in haste to Kotthasara"
""U."i"a t"ith the intention of leaving the Island if he was forced to do
oiito"ifu
into a great'
.", fr"i ft" .".ieeded in inveigling t-he invacling-troops
them' D-uring the
.*"*pv t'ilderness and there"colipletely.routed
Il' Kotthasara
f'"i,iiitl"t betrvcen Parakkamabehi I and Gajabahu.
d.istrict figured prorninently. When Polonnaruva lell to J'aral(l(alna;;;;; ffi;;, 6u1"uart" '-fled at once and betook himseif in haste
to Kotthaseia', aeain, obviousJy, to escape by slrip if he r'vas further
Kantatrry his body. *as. removecl
;;;#i.--ivh*-du1"Ua6o died at
ll'as
ty fti. l'Iinisters to Kotthasd'ra and M6ndbharana ofofRohana
Rdjarattha"
possession
take
and
irivited to come there wiih his army
fn tfte reign of Parakkamabahu I (1153-1186) foreign' . mercenary
;il;; stat"ioned in Kotthasdra district staged an unsuccessfulandinsurrecser,'eral
tion. Tamil invad..r'iu"r" in occupation of Kotthas6,ra
II
Parakkamabd'hu
of
reign
in
ihe
ports
the
other districts around
the
in
l{otusara
or
,"lrl.r2 Kolthasa,ra is calied Kotasara
rT

riio

rt ; 49. 16 i 25- t3 ; E.)[. z'3. z7 '

5r. M. 48. z: 5c.74: E8' 47 ; E'Z' r' 56'
52. M.6r.4z:70.3o5; 7t.6: 74'14: E3't5'
-5o.

M . 72.

Viradeva, r,vas trapped and slain: there are several

largc -rvarrtps in tlre angle betrveen rlrc Xlaltauriti Gaiqa

and tlre V ir ugal Aruia :

(ii) lannaru, probably ciose to the river: in it was a

monasteryss;

(iii)
{iv)

Uddhavdpi, northr,vard of Tannarurd,

to rvest of 'fannaru ancl possibly outside

I{otthasara district5T;
I{ohornbagama, a fortified place;B;
VSlukapatta,

(")
(vi) Anrbagdma59;
{vii) Tannitittha, a forc'l.60

53.
J+.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
oo.

; Thu. 176; Puj. qz.

6o. ott: 6r. 4o : 70. 32:.
!1. 7o. 3r3-3tg i jz. 175.
I'1. 72. t74.
J,1. 7o. 3r8.
N.S. z3

.11.

trl.7o.3zo.

M.
ItI.

7o. 3zt.
7o. 3zz.

I{ISTOIiICAL TOPOGR,APHY OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON

("i)
CHAPTER III

Antardsobbha, also called Aturaba and Aturoba: there

was a vihdra called Antarasobbha, and later Agga_
bodlri V (718 724) buitt the Dcva yihAra ""in
Ailtarasobbha;

THE M,dHAVALI GANGA BETWEEN MAI{IYANGANA

AND THE SEA
Ttre Mah'au;ili Ganga emerges from the hi1ls into the lowlands'

turns north about 7 milEs above'Mahiyangana ancl flows nort6-northcolrrse is the river's flood;;;-ti;1il .,ea at iyincotnalee. This iower
a year and deposits a
once
least
at
,.,i"i"-,- it ovcrflor,vs its banl<s
The Vilas ot
cultivatetl'
is
tobacco
toa^y
*t,i.n
,'t
siit
-or
i;;;;
yalrfrrrl(:

Nilagiri o{ Nilagallaka-rattha u,hich was on the west

Uclaya I (7g7 got) built
Nilagalla Vihara and constructed a .irrut ,vlrlcn ne
grantecl to the Vihdra. Nilagiri or Nilagalla district
rvas the placc of assembly for altacks on diitricts to the
south of it. and i{ erterrded over tlrc hillv uortion of
Laggala PallF.siya pattu,. Codrington's opirrion is that
Nilagallaka district corresponded-to present Ud,isbattu
in Prl,ta D.utnhara. In Nilagiri or Nilagallaka 'diitrict

(left) bank of the river.

overflorv.

r,vere

(xii)

;&;;iit;;i-;;d.; "",1it
'l
6r ih.i" even approximately. hey are:(i) Ambatitthaka, also callecl Ambatota and Ambatuva' theit
next fortress tlown the river from Mahiyanga4a:
was protected by

river and must

miles clownstream from

a moat leading from the

havd been sitiiatecl

a few

MahiYanganae;

(ii)

Khemarama, also knorvn as Khemavapi' Satbekotta and

(iii)

Taianigama, present Talangauowtta, about

of l{ahivanganaa:

(i")

Dona or Denagamas;

SatbSkottait

(v)

r.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Sarogdmatittha, iclentifiecl by,Codrington as Vilgancwua'

a#ut 15 miies north of

the village VdtiYama4ciaPa6

IL z5. 7-zo i 72. r-7oo.

M. 25. 7,8 ; N.S. z6 ; Raj. 37 ;Thu'

Mahiyanga4a; close
;

146'

D.2c.. 25; M.25. ro ; N.'S' z6; Raj' 37 : Thu' 146'

M- 72.

M.

25.

4.

rt; N.S. z6 ; Rai.

M.72.2,32.

37

; Thu" 146'

by

was

the villages Sayakhettaka and Rattibedumal2;

Nalisobbha, also calied Nalikeravatthu, Nalil<anaeara

and Polvatta, ancl identilied by Codrington u., ,ood".r,
PoLaatta, about z5 miles north bf ltahiyingana. Aggu_
bodhi II (6o4-614) built Neralu tank 'andparakkalna_

pa\u l- (rr53-rr86) restorecl Nalikeramaliathamba tank,

both identical lr'ith p6lx,6tr1or:t
.

(xiii)

Anantarabhatdakat+;

(xir,')

Kanatalar.'ana15

(xv)

Dighabliayagallaka: Mahaciili Mahatissa (e.c. zz_6r) built

the Vihard,s l)igliabahugallaka and A bhiy agiitat<"ar o ;
\-akl<hasukara, identified by Codrington as yal,,huyp,
about 9 miles south of Mahagantotari;

5 miles north

(r'ii) Pr-rnagamaq;
(viii) H5lakola, also called Mahak6lae;
(i") Sanirukkha, present Hiinobarauat\;
(*) Maharukkha, identified_ by Coclrington as present Mdrah|
(see under Chapter II (O;;rt.
(ri) Nilagama_ Nlahd,rukkha (aboi.c) was close outside

onwards,
"l
wi,icl, rherc arc severaL ft-orn
;i;r.i'r"r...,
-d;;;;;ions
in the floocl-p1ain rvhich are re-filled rvith each
;;"

The forcls ancl forts along this lorvcr c<.rurse of tire GarigS or Maha
C^ngi, o.-ri,Lhavalul<a t'angi (-Wltat'ali Gttisa)'"J'l:l\yl-.]]:-P:tt$:
"b",tu",'n Rliarattha antl Rohana, rcccive detatlerl mcntlon ln
znd century
"ar,
Jii,"iJi""-.i.iift b"tifrugd,mani's u,at rvith D15ra i' the.
rvhicl preceded
;:;. ;;;;g"in clurinf thE ci'if i,var in 6re rzth centurlr
and lorts and the
;h; ;;;;*rior. ot t'arit<kamabairu I.1 These forcls
lvitir them are not clescribed in the chronicles in any
"r"".r.tt".iated
is rot possible, therefore' to iocalise several

37

{svi)
7.
8.
().
ro.
rr.
12.
13.

)1.25. tt
M. 72.8.

M.25. tt

M. 7.. 9.
M. 72. rt.

48. 4 ; N.S.

z6; Raj.

37 ; Thu. 44 i

E.H.8.66.

N.S. z6 ; Raj. ZZ ; Thu. 146.

M. 49. 3r To. ro, rr, tq, t6,2o,83; N.S. z6; Raj. 37.
M. 25. rt 22. t4i 79.33; E.kI.25. z6; N.S.z6; puj. z8; Raj.371.

Thu. t46.

14.
15.
16.
17.

M.72.

16.

M.

72. rg.
M. 25. tz 34.8,9

hI.7z. zr.

i N.S. z6; Raj.37; Thu. 146.

JOIIIiNAL,

(xvii)
(-rviii)

11,.A.S.

(CIIYLON)

Neur 'Sei'Ies' l'oL'

VI' Special

xtttttlte'r

hospita|S :
Vih6,ravejjasdla: the name suggests a monastic
identihc'l
Kaccha-tittha or l(acclrakatitrlra or Kasatota"
I(acclrctitllrir
by (rer$cr t'iti'*ptes"nt .-l4al,tapatttol''t' in tlrc
rt'ign
5ili

is jirst mcnlioned in l)an'.lul<abhaya'*

century u.c.: it \'vas I vojanas (7o t9 3i lttt":J--i:'"itl
al -uttttT'tt(I'
MikiniatA. In a rst centurv inscrrptron
Anta-ragaigtwa
uncler
ii is called Kahagamakatota isee buil! triacchar'alir
L"m*) , D;;p;i; ir .1sr5-x3r)
\\las
vihara for i# parirsukirlius.- Tungarn-Ka{upi1i1'a
Kasatotallr
of
sicle
Anuraclhapura
the
on
Asmandaiapit i1 a i: gir c-rr. -q' .on: o[ 1lr''
/rix\
A\salnan(lala.
,1'ar/\r/
n";tat1iq5 6f sat'a?Rriia Vihita an'I if it i' tlte satrt''
reaches oJ tht:
"fa
o:; Arrurrl"rl.1"*1" 1f-l" fottf r'vas in- the iolver
;

Irri)
\'--'-l

tirc,dein Kutt'tgatn'telu: (see utl'lcr

ca11ed Vasitthagaina' I airS'r'etta' VethaVethaka23

and
;
ntlvara

ixxiii) Cullandga2a;
ixxiv) Burudatthalizr';
this is iclentical u'ith Nikai'ili antl
/xxwl Nisundivaluk5:
iiflJ, ifif.u rnenlioned in tst ccnttrry in'criptiot]:.''t
.llolahiti)tEutlatala and Duucgala rcspecttr cll ' l\lJ-':I n('
villi occurs also irr a roth celltury lnscrlptlull'
atttl
of
rtver
the
cast
bc
place
situation of llre
'iroul'l
but there is a modern Nihagolld't'a
south of tlirti,ilagata'
3 miles north of MaYakE26;
Hdlavahanaka, also called Bliettagama:7;

M. ro. s8 |
20. M. 72. z7;

r9.

2t.

23.6 25. rz : ,19. So

"
Dh'u. 27, 1E'

29,3oSee ChaPter Il (D)'

M. 25. 13; N.S. z6 ; Rqi'

XlI"

72.

72' 25;

N'S' z6 ; Raj' 36' j7 ;'lhu' to7'

2rll ;I'lt'u' t16'

23.
z+. M.72. 31.
25. ItI. 72. 36.
26. xI. 72. 37 i C-A.I[' ]7, 2o5; E'Z' II' z5'
27. XI .25.t3;E.X'L.25. z8'

Gaminigam:

(xx-xi) fitthagema:ru'
(.rxxii) Iiunrbagama, also callecl Kumbiiabafa ancl Kappal<anuBara't't'

(xxriii) lhl5g:ftna, iclentifiecl by Coclrington as Mulasarmwaa-aiiuct

in the V[issonrut,a area : Saddhatissa built Malaclen_
iya tankrl;

Golab[,ha: Golabagamr_r and Golobagama occur in meclier.al inscriptionsri;

Nanciigama, also called Ctrindagama : the l,Iahnvarirsa

royi that Subtia (6o-tt7) built iancliga*^t^ Viiiai^ .t

the rnouth of the river, but the TikA, locates it near

Iiaccakatitth a (M a/,tagat+tota)36 ;
(xxxr.i) Heclillaklialdagama rvas west of tl-re river ancl opposite
it was the ford named Billagama : there is a Biligant
O-t,a

just south of Hiintbaravas,-

(xxxr-ii) I(hanugama" or Khafuka3s ;

(xx-xviii) I)ipe1a'rri'
(xxxix) llayrlrap:rsarla, a stronghold near one of l.he lesser
l<nou,n {orcls{o

(-tl) \/aliitittlia,
2

ri.

)9.
-lct.

3r.
32.

n8. M.7'2.25.

nanre:]o

Elnra's fortress commander here was named G,imani,

the inference being that a Sinhalese prince in this instance
\.\'as on the side of lllara31 ;

(xxrr,)

(xxii) Vahittha, also

(xxvi)

tanli of this

iri tlte rlelt;t

Salillhara,lava Cairerl' a maior lribrrtlrrr or olle

I t (lJ)"

ANCII.]NT AND MET)II'VAL O]IYLON :]9

(xxx) Giinrani, also callerl Gdmaligama ancl

(-rxrir')

cJsl
branches'oI the rir cr : it uas hritlecrl eltd on lts
grove2l;
Sakkuncla
tlie
u'as
bank
and
Koianagara, identical u ith Kottlragrrrna
^liolgartr'
('lrcptct'

()-b-

(xrlii) l-irintrgilma, aLso caileri Rhanakagama and Baranakhazs ;

(rxviii) \-rlcitagS,rnaztt'
(.rxix) Hillapattakakhanda : Parakkamabahu I restorecl the

.r.n"-'i.g."a, cunnt.cterl rvith .sr:z,z,rtrz itt f.ihr7ro,

Vilga[r Viha'rar' arc containetl
."hose :rncicn^t-?''i"l
;
in the Dhatuvarhsa2o "'"t

rivcr.

/rx\
\-'--l

tI is't](}It,IC.{], TOPOG]iA PTIY

-3.-3.

:14.

3-r'
36.
37.
3E.

3q.
4c).

41.

close

to Mayirrapasana

abovc4r

: Tl,,'. r 1t>.
71.7:.. qo.

I?aj. .\7

lI. 7t. qr : 79. 37.

11. ':-5. r3;N..S. z6 ; I?oj.37; Tha. tq6; Sig. Graff., I, App. C.
XL 7z. qz.
r11. z-;. r4 ; E.:IL zi. 29; N..S. z6; Raj.37; I'hu. rq6.
)[. 72. 5o; Puj- t8.
l,L 7z. 5z ; L.2., l. zoo : IlI. 8r.
;11. 25. 7- to : 3.5. .5E : 7 z. qq ; E.trL z5. 3o ; M.T. 648, 5 ; N.S. z6 ; Tlut. r q6_
)1. 72. 45-q9.

)1.2.3. t4; N.S. z6 ; Th,u. tq6.

II.7z.

54.

X1.72.74"
I'L 7:.. 82.

4A JOURNAL, R,.A.S. (CEYLON) New Ser'ies, Vol. VI,

Sptecial Number

(xli) 'famba, also called Tambunnaaz;

(xlii) .]ambu or Dambunnaruas;
{xliii) M6,galla, mentionetl in only one Sinhalese Chronicleaa ;
(xliv) Unnamaas;
(xlv) Sahassatittha, identified by Geiger- as present Dasto{a,
south of Polonnaruva : in medieval times the ceremony

of ordination of ntonks

held on an island,

"vas
called Kd,ling&-nuua'r@, near Drlsto'

(xlvi)
(xlvii)

nor'v

aa6 ;

Rihaltota4?;
Muqdavaka.a8

Dolapabbata, also called Dolarigapabbata, is mentioned in the

5th ceniury B.c. as one of the fortresses occupied by Paadukibhaya,
and has been identifiedas Dolagala, alarg,ehili about ro miles eastward
oI Hiincbaraaa on the river.ao

or Udumbarasalaor Guntoer's Quoin,-the most prominent

or Udumbarapabbata
Dhtmarakkhapabbata
-Dim,bulagala

pabbata is modern

iritt itr I'antanhaQuva. Pandukabhaya is said to have li'ed there for

4 vearsinthe 5ih century 8.c., and a pond near its foot, doubtless
orie of the ziias"which lie betu'een it and ihe river, n'as called Trrmbarivansana. Althoueh the foundation of the VihS,ra is not recorded" the
iroti"ton. inscriptins on the many caves on its slopes establish its
origin late in tire 3rd or early in the znd centu-ry n.c. l\e Tit<a
safs that the vihiri was g llojanas (7o to 8s miles) fromAnuradh-apura
rt d ott" yojana (Z ta g miies) from the sea, and that the Lohapasd'da at
Anura,dhapura was visible from it: the actual distance frorn the sea
in a direct line is about z8 miles, while the distance from Anurd,dhapura
bv road could not have been less than Bo miles. Mahdndma (4o6-4z8)
added to the buil<lings at the Vihara and presented them to the
Theravida school. A-"n inscription of SundaramahS,devi, Queen of
Vikkamabahu (rrrr-rr3z), incised on a cave near the summit, names
the monastery Dumbulagaia and says that 5oo monks were in residence
there: the Queen repaired the dangerous pathrvay joining the.two

TIISTOR,ICAL TOPOGR,APHY OF' A,NCIENT AND i\4EDIEVAT CEYI,ON 4I

4g?i",- irr the- reig_l

25. ..4, 15; M.T. 471, 5og; N.S' z6 ; Rai.

combines the two place-names, Tamba and lJnnama.

43.
44.
45.
46.
+7.
48.
49.

M.25. 15; Thu.

146.

N.S. 26.

M.

25. t4.

M.87. 7r:.89.
Sdhlh. Y7.

47-64.

Ibid.,6oo.
M. ro. 44; M.T. 287, 28.

Parakkamabd,hu

II (146-rz7r) it

was a

Sangha.50

At Mutugala, close to the right bank of the river ancl about 6 miles
north-east of" Mahagantota, there are the ruins of an ancient cave
monaster5i and inscriptions dating from end B.c. to 7th a.c. The
inscriptions nanre the loilowing places :-(i) Todikatana; (ii) (pa)na_
garnaka. lank ; (iii) Valagarina and (iv)_Vijiribupa(va)tagili Vehera.
In tlre river, close to Mwtugala, is the Ana-ihallu'oi Cataitya, a stone,
life-siz.e sculpture in the full round of an elephant : this sctilpture once
stood in. a monastery through which the river, by a changetof corlrse,
has cut its way, submerging some of the structures.
At Kurwnd,kallw, abott 3 miles north-east of n[Musala. an
inscription of ilnd e.c, records thc gra't of a cave b.v the viilage

corporation oI Dipikulika.5L
pre-Christian inscription

at f.unwaayaTtiyagaJa, z miles south of

tlre 4rst mile on the valaicena-Manatnpifiyi ioad', testifies to the

existence of an ancient monastery at the s-ite.

. Thg region named" AnjgrlS-anS9ya, called Ataragaga in an early
inscliption, has been identified-by-Faranavitana as tie"area between
the Mahaaali' Gahga and the Mddurw oya.r2 In this district *"r"
(t) Pelagdma Vr]1ar-a, built by Kutahatrta Tissa (e.c. '-

and identified. by Paranavitana from a

ist

44_22")

ceniury

inscription in sitw, in rvhich it is callerl pilipar.ata vihara,

with the preselt ruins at Mold,hiilyavetigata, sotrth of
Dincbu.ld,gala. There are four insciiptiois ai this site

dating fronr rst s.c. to znd e.c. anh the place_names

mentioned thercin are : _(i) Dapalaga(milca) tank ;

(ji)

Cana(1a)faka canal ; (iii) katelavasaki tinf< i

(1). pidavika iank and (vi; Ntkavili,

(iv) Ahuravika ;

(z)

summit cat ei, Hit..-niaha-Iena and Sanda-maha-lena, and re-named the

former Kdlinga-lena. Parakkamabdhu l (1153-1186) carried out a
purge of the riligious order with the help of the MahS,thera I(assapa of
hud"umbaragiri 6r Udumbaragiri or Odiimbara VihS,ra (Di,rnbwyigala).

42. M.

of

Mah5,thera of this Vihara who assisted the king to restore order in the

(:)

lZ ; Thu. t46. Tambunna

for which see above53 ;

Vaqnaka canal, constructed by

Tissa (e.c.

445u13\tu"
zz). At Kotaaeheragala, near Hoytutla,
an irrscription of
king Mahnddt hikamahanaga (7-rg) names the site Tisa
Vihara and grants to it the Va(na)ka canal and the
village Aligamaka.5a
Ambadugga or I)ugga tank built by Kutakatta Tissa.5r

5o: M. ro.53,6t: j7. ztj; M.T.287,32:

..
LL. rgo,274,

5o5.

u; C.A.III, zrr ; I.R.A.S. (C.8.), NewSeries,V, 7r,

.5r.^
note
18.

A.S.C.A.R.. t8s7,

' 52.
53.
54.
55.

E.Z.III, r54.
M. 34. 3z ; E.Z. IJI. r54 ; C.A. III. 77.
M. 34. 3z t C.A.,IIl. 2oS, 2c,6 ; 8.2., lII. r57, note
M. l+. ls.

4.

IIISTOP.ICAL'IOPOGIiAPHY OF ANOTENT AND MEDIEVAL CNYLON 4}

42 JOUIiNAL, Ii,.A.S. (OEYf,ON)

4+)

Neu: Series,

'l/ol' VI' Speci'al'

-Ytunbcr

Vasabha (ro7-r r r) built Cathamanganatanlc, also called Mangu4uila.

An inscription of Udava II (887-8q8) at l{occil>otana,near Manarnp'i.tiya,
mentions the village Nlungu4ueluvagama, irrigated by the waters of
Valaraka Gelgama. Cd,thamangana, Mangu{ru5la and Munguqueluvagarna all stan<l for the present tank near Noccipotd,na. Gel,gama is
nrodern Galagama, about z miles arvay (Bell;.0t

Bhayoluppala tar.rk, also c-alled Setuppala and Bahuppala'

briitt ti5i the same

king.56

(synonymous rvithKacchakatittha above)

(l
\Jt) Kahagamakato-ta
.nd" Hn*"na-at-aganiakatota, t\\'o [or'ls sitrrated in
Ataragaga (Antarigangaya), a9 stated in an inscription
of Bhatikatissa (r43-rb7) at Mztt'uila'

clottale.l
Antaragalrga\.ih5ra to wlrich .Iettlratissa ] I |
oI
Ctrllamatika'5;
\;illage
the
Minatta, a swamp on the west hanli ol lhe Xlahatiili Cariga'
ndaka'l u, are six inscriptiorrs tlatirrg. {roLtr. lhc t sr
(h:Sr

io)
At

At the picturesque ruins at Kwrnbt&hattda.na,

,l**i "pp"iii"'Nr
are the ruills norv
.".lrto* itic. to the znd'century 'r'c': ciose bvnarnc'
in addiliorr to
inscriprior)s
fn;sc
cJ,i".i;;iii''"1 ia,',iar':'ii,
tnenlion"l

X"nunn*ut*otola anrl ilu,'."nu-uttgatnakatola 1tre3!]^

(i) lPrr)11aii-nivaganra canal ; iii) Rajali canal ;
;b".;;i;l;11;i;";:
fit'ld irricated b\.
itiro.ihe-H^"
- tlre cerral
Iiii\ Raia-alipiriva or ltaia-ala"i
'=;j;*p ;;J'"i;'
rrrc rir cr'
hcrd'
it"ka.
l
;ij:l il'.:;i''M';,,i;
..rr.r;.i' it-';;ti i,;";J jn tni. iocalitl', \\as cPpirrenltl S"*"1:1 "ot^1''i'
*"rir,: p"rio.l by a lemporarl'timber dam' rencrtcd altcr ' r'crr'floo'l:
*'as macle to constr.ct a stonc or earth
;;"n fi later times no'attempt
'the
river. At tlie neighbour-ine Sur.naltati
of
;; i" this broad stretch
()1 tne \ lnara'
Cetitta there is an inscription recordine the foitnclatror
Naliala' son
priuce
the
b1'
Fujit:i-Xut
'iiiJf-t i=
tr3b-r'1't) : anoLlr'r' Jater inscription. "f
,\lahIllaka XfS""1a-araba-vihara'
,ri t.ln*""-"a
r. Tlr,'
K";i;, i" T;r" J ii," rii. nal n"cs thc'cetiya, NI ani-agaya-ceri\
tirerefor:e
are
site
this
."lrecl traditions about
,

;#;r#;;-r"J-r"

or7

the west banl< of

thc rirrer a ferv miles north of Maraha, there are serreral inscriptions of
the 4t1i to 7th centuries. 'lhe place TabaraSra, the residence of the
district chieftain (ratiya), is mentioned.
Aggabodhi I (57r-6o$ rvas the original buildcr of the Manimekhala
dam, non, called Minipa, on the Malmaiil.i Gahga. Sena II (853-BB7)
is also credited rvi.th its construction : probably he restored it. The

clistrict was called l{alimekhala after tlLe dam. In a r3th

century inscription at Minipe the dam is called Minibe

the inscription

sal,s 11r.t its original builder r'vas the Minister, Mokit-Na, that it was
breerched in the zoth. year (rr73) of Parakkamabdhu I, and that
it u'as restored by the General Bhama in rzo.3. In the reign of the
invader Magha $zr4-r45) a Sinhalese chieftain built a fortress in the
l\{a4inrekhaia district on the Gangddoni hili, present Catitderuiya abott
15 nriles south of Minipe , and kept the invaders at bay.62
llahasena (275-3ot) built the great canal named Pabbatanta on

the river.63 For an account of the irrigation system on the lor'ver

coLlrse of the rirrer, reference should be inade to the paper entitied,
'The Irrigation Works of Parakkamabihu I ', in the Ceylon Historical
Jor,Lrnal,' The Polonnaruva Period ', Volume I\t, 5,y to 65.

spurious.i'

district
cittapabbata or sitpavpan ata rvas in or near the eastern
*tiJn ,i"r bounded bi'.the xfaltavtili Gafigtt.. An

,oi ptaru,s'i.ingdom

;;;ilti;*

.ettttory al. Toicihalltt ot Tdniqala' lrear

cast oliheriver, names the site Citanakaral<a
miles
3

of'th" zncl

ioiahnadr,about
,\rih;;.
(Sa)rrrare'ativa.
ancl'recorditlre grant to jt of tlre tank narned.
named Mahais
rnonastery
the
centtriy"inscription
6th
i"-. i"i"t
Cittapabbata'
to
close
p"tuttlablr'
Clitu".f..t.. Cittana(ara

"'u'

rnodern Tonikallw.s\)

Pd,cinakhaldarEji,alsocalledKar.lar.oda.(buterroncousivlocate'l

\\as,near Cittapabhata'
to.oltlt] lt Anuradhipura in tlrc Rajevaliva)' woodland
solitude rvhich
ja Vihara rvas a
p"a.itti.f."nO"raii o. tit'anaara
' 'Upitissa (365-4o6) restored the \'-ihara'
tl*"t.
-.irt"[-i" i^iii,
.
of Polonnaruva on
Fali""r.r.,"r_,+araji was a sub_district to north-east

the rvest bank o{ the river'60

56.
57.
58.

59.
60.

D. zo.35

II.

3+.

,;

XLT" 6:8,

14"

,il1.41. too.

A.S.C.A.R., rs51,

M.t3.q:
M. 4. 1;

.:q.

ill, zrl; E'Z', \-' 8o; 7/'u' r5'

Thu. tzg; Raj' 3o ; E'H'l]' ro5' rrr'
186;
37.

('..1 .

6r. M.35. g5l; Pnj. zt;

Raj. +Z i ri.Z.,U.8: C.A.,IY. r, z.

62. M. 42.34; 5r.72: 8r. 7-9; A.S.C.A.R., r94o-45, 40; E,Z,,Y, r59.
63" LI,37. 5o.

IIISTOR,ICAL TOPOGR,APIIY

ON"

ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON

45

of the same period here, the donor was the grandson of a king and the
son of a prince named Daraka.s

CHAPTtrR IV

THE TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT

ll'yinconoalee itself contains one of the largest and safest natural
harbours in the world, but it did not achieve importance as one of the
great trading ports of Ceylon. The landing place of Panduvdsudeva
in the 5th century B.c. is given as Gokaqlatittha at the mouth of the
Mah5,kandara river : therefore, Mahakandara is another name for
Gangd, or Mahdganga or MahivS,luka Gang5, the Mahavci,li Gahga.
Panduvasudeva's queen is said to have landed at Gor.ragdmaka: this
is a synonym or slip for Gokannagdma, modern Trincotnalee. On the
coast of the eastern sea, on the site o{ a Brahmanical temple r,vhich tre
destroyed, Mahasena (z753or) built the Gokanna Vihara. A place by
the Gokanna sea is mentioned as the scene of a manifestation of the
Nd,ga king : again, a manifestation of the god Skanda riding a peacock
is said to have appeared to Mdnavamma who was ' seated on

thc bank of

theriver in theneighbourhoodof Gokannaka'. AggabodhiV (718-724)

in Gokannaka Vitrdra. Parakkanrabahu,

in the r2th century, for the defence of the line of tlne Mahaatili
Canga, disposed his forces 'from Sarogi"ma (Vilganutva) to Gokanla

erected a Practising House

'. A Sanskrit inscription, dated on Friday, the r4th of

Aprrl, tzz3, records the landing of Codagarirga-derra at Gokarnna.
'The etymological equivalertt in Sinhalese of Gokarlna is G6na, and
the seaport or district of Golra figures in the rvars which Parakl<amabd,hu
II waged to wrest Rdiarattha frorn Mdgha. Gor.ra is the main eiement
in the Tamil Tiruhkonatnalai, which has been anglicised as Tritocomalee.
T'iru means " sacred " and malai " hill ", the name thus meaning
" the sacred hill oi Kor.ra", rvhich last results {rom the transliteration
into Tamil characters of tire Sinhalese G6na'.1
Copper is said to have beetr discovered in the reign of Dutthagdmaf Abhaya (e.c. r6r-rj7) at Tambapittha or Tambaviti, 7 yojanas
or 28 gav (5o to 65 miles) east of Anuradhapur:a on the further (east)
bank of the Mahaadli Gahga. Tambala is probably the same place,
but not Tambavitt'hi where the C6fa general was captured after his
defeat al Palatupana. Tambapittha and Tambala are represented in
modern Tatnbalagam,. Close to and east of Tambala was Tisucullasa{Trincomalee)

gd,ma.2

The village Abagamiya is mentioned in a pre-Christian cave

inscription at Nd,ccevi-ntal,qi, near Kwcca'oeli. In a second inscription

r. M.8.rz, 24:. 37. 4r i 4:'. 79 : 48. 5 : 57. 5 : 7r. rB ; M.T. z69, 23.:
A.S.C.A.R., 1946, 17; E.2.,Y. t7o-r73.
2' M. 28. 16 | 45. 78: 58 : zr ; Thu. t6z.

658, 3z

Pre-Christian inscriptions exist also near Gomarankatlauala and

Kar.tqtitauirnalai, near PihnoSd,ai, as well as al lccilam,'l>attai, near the
5oth mile on the Batticaloa-Trinconoalee road.a
Inscriptions of the rst century al lYtlapdll,ikkankularn-ncalai,
about 5 miles north-w est st KwccavEl,i, name the site Kakelakuvahanaka
Vihera and grant to it the Hayigaraya tank. Kakalaya district, also
called Kaudd,pulu and Kavudavulu, an area approximating to present
Ka{dukotlatn-Pattu, r'vas under occupation by 'famil invaclers in the

rJth centurSr. Nlahasena (275-3or) buiit Kavuclumagalu tank.5

The ruins at l{otanav Koail', nezr Periyahulam, were an ancient
Buddhist nronasterlr knor,vn as Velagama or Velagami or \relgam
Vih5,ra. In an inscription of Rhatikatissa (r.43-r67) on the adjoining
hill, the site is called Abagara Vihara at Velagarna. During the C61a
conclrrest from gg3 tct to7o, the Hindu invaders extended their
patronage and protection to this Buddhist \rihara, made donations to
the shrine of the Buddha, renovated the huildings, and re-named the
temple, after their king, Ildjardjaperumpalli. When Liola occupation
ended, the Sinhalese Buddltists resumed possession of the temple.
The present ruins exhibit a Hindu architecttrre and are the only example
a Tarnil \/ihara or lluddhist Palli in Cey|6n. Nissanka Nlalla visited
the Vih5,ra.6
The rtrined sile at Kalku,law, aboat 5 miles south-r'vest of Kilived'Qi,

of

is called Garimahalaka Mahar.ahara in a 4th century inscription fm

situ,. The forindation o{ the \rihd,ra is ascribed by the inscription to

Dutaka Gamili Aba Raja (Dutthagamali Abha1,a, n.c. 16r-r37), and

the foliowing place names are mentioned:- 1i) Garimahalaka helds,
and (ii) Dahadiya. In a 9th century inscription at the same site,
the construction of Uclgala daqiiba is recorded.T
(lirihandu Vih5,ra is rnentioned as the place where tlie tlvo
merchants who secured the Hair Relics a{ter the Buddha's cremation
enshrined thern in a Cetiya. This iegend is narrated in a 7th
centurv Sansl;rit inscription at NEtoopatpd,na. near Ti'riyd,y, altout 3o
miles north of Trincom.alee, wherc the ruins inciude caves with preChristian inscriptions and a beautiful \/a!a-d5-ge. The Sanskrit
insr:ription names the site Girikaldika Cetiya. Near Girikanda
Vihara u'as the viilage Vattakalaka. Vasabha (67-rrr) is said to
have constructed Nitupatpa4a tank, u,'hich is the name norv borne by
a large, breached tank in the neighbourhood, but the modern narne is

3.

A.S.C.A.R., r933, r8.

4. C./.S. (G) II. rt7, r18; l.S C.A.R., 1s51, 36, Nos. 5-9.
.5. M.83. t5; Puj.24, 4z', N.S.23.
6. M. 6o. 6z ; E.Z.II. r77 ; C.!.5. (G) II, r99 : A.S.C.A.R.,

g I 1954, 11.

7. A.S.C.A.R., 1933, r4, 19; U.C.R. VII, No.4,247.

1934, 8

1953,

46 JOURNAL, Ii.A.S. (CEYLON)

probably

iYerr Serrles.

YoI.

L-1.

Speciul Number

of recent origin. Vijavabfthu I (ro.55-rrro)

repaired,

Girikanclaka Vihdra.s
Sarigilla lvas a r,'illage not far from the nouth of the X[altat,riJi.
Caiga.e
Garigata!,a, also called Ga4gatal5, (present

bnilt

1r5r

Kanldtrl') tank

CHAPTtrR V

T'IIE BADULLA DISTRICT

v,as

II (6o4-6t4). Brahmins were established at

in the rrth and rzth centuries. It probablv becarne

Aggabodhi

Ko"rttaLay
a centre of Hindu influence during the Cola occupation (gg3,ro7o) but
that influence did not cease when the foreign occupation ended, becar,rse
' the Sinhalese kings w1'ro succeeded the Colas maintained the Brahmins
and patronised tlieir shrines. The Saiva shrine at Kantal5y, since it
u'as called Vijayar:r,ja I(r.aram, must have been founded bv \,-ijayabahu
I, or, a"t least, unrler his patronage'. In an inscription of the reign of
Vijayabehu I (ro55-rrro) recording a gift by a Brahmin, the place is
nameci Kantala,y alias Yllayaraja-caturvecli-ma;igaiarn. An inst:ription o{ Parakkamabaliu I (1153-1186) gives the length of the bund of
Gaf gatalS tank as 4,3oo rirran. Nissanl<a l\'Iaila briilt the Pdrvati Ahns
Hall at Gangata.l5, also called Caturr.eda-Brahmapura, and he declared.

the tank a sanctuary for anirrals. In the r3th century Tanril

invaders rvere in occupation of Gantala clistrict.10

Tlie port from u'hich Parakl<amabatru's expeditionarl' force set

sail Jor Burma in tt64/65 r,vas Pailar.avanka, identified bv Lloclrington

as moclern Palaakki,4 miles north of Kwccaueli.rr

Parakl<amabahu

I (rr53-r186)

founded the villagePfr,ndur.ijayagdqa

in honour of his successful invasion oI tlie Pandvan kingdom. lAfrer

great initial success his armv r'vas defeated by the Colas and iris generals
captured and clecapitated, but this stage of the canpaign is not recorded

in the Ciilavarhsa but in the

C61a

inscriptions). An inscription of

Nissarika Malla (rrE7-r196) at Galmriliyana tanl<, near Tam'l>aldkanatn,

records that he had the tank Panduvija-yakulanr constructed in one
day: this refers to Galmiitb'tina tank and cannot mean original co's-

truction but some major repair, because Paral<kamabir,hu's nerv village

must have included a tank.ie
For Kottit,cly Pattu, see Chapter Ii (D), Iiotthasnra district.

r5r, r6q
28, 4z; N.S. z3 ; A.S.C.A.R., rg37, ro;

E.Z.,IL

r4z,.

(A) Upper Iiva

'fhe western portion of the tsadwlla district is a mountainous

region with its highest peaks rising to ovcr 7,ooo feet, but, climatically,
is different from the rest of the nrontane zone in that it receives a
rnild rainfall during the south-west monsoon (X'Ia1' to September)"
Extensive stretches of the mountain slopes are patan,a or savannah.
lancls rvhose only cover- is coarsc grass : but the vallevs exhibit a
luxuriant vegetation and are oJten forestecl. 'fht: quartz artefacts of
pre-ilistoric man are found on thase palanas rvhich are not of recent

it

above
origin. 'fhere is no evidence that the upper montane zone 'lhere
about 3,5oo feet rvas populatecl prior to the roth centurt'.
s'ere, cloubtless, routes over the mountains : one such, re{erred to in

an inscription o{ the vear tog3/94 but in existence much carlier, rvas

tire pilgrim route from H.;t,a (Ow) to Sunranal:ita (ldant's Peah\.1

llpigraphical eviclence of the occupation of the lou,er nlontane

zone of the. Bailu,l,la district in pre-Christian times is ar.ailable in the
inscribed ca\/es, the dweliings of early Buddhist noonl<s, al (i) I3ctgoila,
about 7 n.liles north-rvest of Badulla, (il) Miitigaltatriwr,a, about zo
.nilcs by road north of Passara, and (iii) Kattda Vilr1ra, high above
VcilLauaya. The niovement into the hills arouncl Bogad,a and
Xtcitigahattin'l,L& was Jrom tl're Mahiyanga4a area up the r-allevs oI the
{inoa Oya and the Loggal Oya.' while l{nnde Vilrava u'as reached b1r
following the l{'irinda Oya.2 Historical ertidence oJ the exi-ctence of

I{utingana or n[utiyangana Vihara at Badulla is supplied by the Pali

Commentaries although this well-knorvn Vih6,ra is not mentionecl in
the historical chronicles.3
Hatthibhoga-janapada u,as a district in Southern Malar.a, pr-obably

lJua: in it rvas Pangura Vihdra. fhe place

Atavaka mentionecl in the Sigiri Clraffrti is the Sinhalese equivalent of
llatthibhoga.a
Geiger identifies Lokagalla, also called Loka, as a locality in the
vallev of the Loggal' O1a which flor'vs from Passava to the Xfakavrili
Ga'figa. In its neighbourhood was Sakhapatta or Sd,patagamu which
Codrington locates as modern llupatgatnu'aa, 8 miles north-inrest of
tsarlulli, on the Uma Oya. I3oth Lokagalla and Sakhapatta were in

in the lower hills of

r.
2.
J.
4.

M.

6o. 6q-65.

A.S.C.A.I?., 1937, ro

[..H.8. oo, r T5.

i rg5z, 42, No. r6.

M.55. +q: E.H.B. rr5; Sig. Graff. I, App. C.

48 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON) New Series, VoI. VI,

Special Nttrnber

IIISTOR,ICAL TOPOGR,APHY O!'A,NCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON 49

Dhanuma4dala district which Geiger identifies as approximately the

present Viyalwaa Korale in V'iyaluaa Division. The route taken by
Parakkamabdhu's troops, who u'ere hghting their way through with
the captured Tooth and Bowl Relics from KhiragSma (modern Yuda-

inscription that he effected repairs to Miyanguqu-mahavehera. parakkamabahu VI (14ro-1468) restored the Cetiya and re-plastered it.6

ganaaa) to Dhanumaf dala was

proposes Yakwraua;

:-

(i) Tanagaluka, for which Codrington

(ii) Sukhagiriganra, identified by Codrington

as

Gurwhela; (iii) Katadord,vflda (not the same as KantakadvS,ravdta) ;

(iv) Ambagalla and (r') Tandulapatta or Tafclulevya, which may be
Kuruuepotakanda, near Madwlstnta. Rokusala u'as probably near
Ta4dulapatta.s

(B) Lower Iiva

Lower Uua is in the low-country dry zone and is a hilly region"
isolated hills as well as hill-ranges frequently rising from the level.
ground. The main rivers which flow througlr it are the Kirinda Oya,

Meinile Gahga, I{umbukkan Oya, Flcid,a Oya and Gal, Oya. The ancient
irrigation system rvas not, however, elaborate or considerable, there
being no great tanks and no river-diversion schemes of any great
magnitude.

Mahiyangala or Mahiyapokkhala \\ras on the bank of the Gangd.

(L[akaatili Gahga) and the place is first mentioned in association with
the story of one of the Buddha's visits to Ceylon. It stood in the
Mahd,nd,ga garden which vl.as three yojanas long and orre yojana wide.

The garden was the customary meeting-place of the Yakkhas : here the
Buddha appeared, banished the Yakklias to Giridipa, and consecrated
the spot u,here the Cetiya was afterrvards built. After the Buddha's
Nibbana, the thera Sarabhu brought the Collar-bone Relic t<l Mahiyangana, enshriired it around with cream-colourecl stones, and built over
it a Cetiya rz cubits (r8 feet) high. Uddhacfllabhaya, nephew of king
Devdnarhpiva Tissa (e.c. 247-zo7) raised the Cetiya to a height of

3o cubits (45 feet). Dutthagdmarri Abhaya (e.c. 16r-137), when

making war with the Damilas before his accession, completed the
Cetiya b1' raising it to a height of Bo cubits (rzo feet). (The Rajavaliya
has a variant version of the foregoing narrative). Dutthagamani
Abhava fought the first battle of his carnpaign against Elara at
Mahiyangala and defeated the local Damila commander, Chatta.
Vohirika Tissa (zo9-z3r) erected a parasoi on the Cetiya. In the
reign of Vijayakum5,ra, three Lanrbakanna nobles who subsequently
becarne kings, lived together at Mahiyangana. Sena II (853-BB7)
donated a maintenance village to the Vihd,ra, and so did Kassapa IV
(898-914). In the Soraboyavciua inscription of Lldaya IV, dated 946,
the king records his visit to Miyugu{r-maharreher. Vijayabahu I
(ro55-rrro) restored the \rihara and granted it villages. In an
inscription of Parakkamabd,hu I (1153-1186) the district is called
Miyangulu-bim. Nissanka Malla (1187-1196) records in the Galpota

5.

X(. 7o. r4-r8 | 74,28, 79, 16z-169; E.2.,

I,

t36.

In the Sorabara inscription of Udaya IV

(9a6), the Hopitisamu

sub-division in Sorabara division is meniionecl. During ttre hostitities

P-"_t*_"j-tr Gajabdhu and Farakkanabahu in the lzth century,
1\{_andbharana of Roha{ra. changed sides and encamped at *sobara
(Sorabara) with his army in order to attack Gajab5hu in the rear.?
The cave nronasterv at Olagahgala, aboul ro miles to the south of
I\{ahiyangar,ra, is of very earh' date. The pre-Christian inscriptions
there record benelactions to the Sangha by (i) Raja Siua, ana 1ii;
prince Siva, son of prilce Siva and grinaron oi'n"ia'Si"a, n^i" Siuu

qay be Mahd,siva, the brother of Devd,narirpiya Tiisa, or a locil ruler

of this part of Rohala early in the znd century n.c.8

In the collrse of their rnarch frorn Polonnaruva towards Bibitd to
subdue Rohala, the first hostile place reachecl bv Parakkamabdhu's
!1oops was Barabbala r,vhich must have been in the vicinity lof

the route, actions were fought at

(i) Kaalakavana; (ii) Ambalala; (iii) Sava, for which Codiington

Mahiyangana. Further along

lggggsts H at anau

iiu

st

a, 5 miles east-north-ea

of. P an g ar a g anam an a

; and

(ir') Divacandantabatava, where the advance was biought to a halt by

powerful resistance. This last-named place was a forested vallelr, 2 16.
4 rniles.long, hemmed in on both sides by high hills, and defended by a

succession of strong-points : Codrington suggests the neighbourhood of

Hdpola, 7 miles west-north-west of Bibite, where the topography fits
the description in the Chronicle. After being reinforced, tn" tioup,
broke through the fortifications and continued. their advance through
(v) Kimsukavatthuka; (vi) Vatarakkhatthali ; (vii) Dethevaddhana;
a.nd (viii) Sahodara, which Codrington places near Bibil\.s

Codrington has discussed ttre route taken by Dutthagdmafi,s

arn]y, as described in two Sinhalese Chronicles, from Mitregama
(Tissantaltard,nca) to Mahiyaigana in the znd century s.c. - The
total distance was about go miles and the march is said to have been
Sgcomplished in eight stages. The halting places, after leaving
Mah6garna, were, in consecutile order:(i) Kaluvala, in the vicinity of Kataragain,a or Karaaila,.
(ii) Etrala, somewhere close to Galge on lhe Kataraganta-

(iii)

Buttala track ;
Gikitta, in the neighbourhood
Ara on the same track ;

6. D. r. 5z ; M. r. zr-42 :-25.-7 :_39.33,,

zg; Raj. l5; E.2.,II. rr9 : III. 78 : IV. zo8.
7. M. 7o. t87 ; E.2., IIL 78.
8. A.S.C.A.R., rg;2. 33, 4r.
9. M. 74. 5r-78.

58

of.

Tittavd.l Ara or peti.t,aw

5r. Z4: 52. 14 i6o, 59, 63 : 9r-

;0

fiytet:i'61 Num'ber

HISTOR,ICAL TOPOGRAP}IY OF ANCIENT AND N,{EDIEVAI, CEYLON 5I

(v)

an
Guthala or Guttala, Inoclern Bwttatra: this rl'asmay
tmportant place in'ancient times and its limits the
*"if n""" ixtended some miles to the south o{
Present village;
with
Girigama or Kiriganra, iclentified by Paranavitana

dynastic-emblem of this particular royal family. The existence of an

independent roval dynasfy in South-eist ceyloir has been ai*"rrJ rr"
Paranavitana who came to the conclusion that the ro U.otf,.i_ti,ig.
(dasabhatikas) oJ Kadaragama mentioned in the Dhatuvarirs,
i"
all p{o}ability identicar with the ro brothers, the sons or c"*i,ii
"r" or

(vi)

mbdern Y ttdaga4uua ''

Niyamulla, in the vicinityKintcaraboaa-Baliinigahauela-

JOUB,NAL, Ii.A.S.

(it,)

(CEYLON)

Nero

'Series'

Vol' VI'

-l[ tidagama ''

1vii.\l\Iidaeamt't'antolaorllyantota.alord,as.tlrenatne
\vrr/ "";l;tit n.;,;iiott it't Gat oya probably neat Kttrtttluela :
'

(r,iii)
(i*)

Tungam liasatapit'i1'a, probably neat flraniva;

I'lahiyanga4a, the destination'

in Dutt'hag5'mani's
This was a I'vell-established' route' if not
-time'
centur5r l-ry g5'vuta
rzth
the
in
matkecl
o"rtu^ir# iui"i ""a it was
popuiar
to
Contrary
b"ttt discovered'
-illarq ."-reral of *fri"ft ft"rr"to
be o[ recent origin_ and. receives no
#il:'i,r;;;;,**i1i.}, "pp.ar.s Dutthagamani's
march did not i*ciude
:::;,;"i;'"i rn,l ota.ii"oiks,
was a rve11-knor,vn place
.rit'oJgh
."i.i.r',
:"ii$'"t,i;.oirrr.g^il, ayttutty and tiie Buddhist religion from very
associated rvith a ,oyui
;;tifii.*t, is not mentioited ai a place on the route'10 near Bib'ilA'
'-Dufa1"p.atal Nay-inttEvel'a Vihara'
In a 7tn century inscription
a, Vihar.a' The place Bejala is
the temple is namecl
alio near Bib;lc'11
nrentioned in a 6th ce;lury l;'sc,ription at limgoQa'
seat' in and prior to
Kajaragama, modern Kataragatna' was the
family of kqatriyas'
a
of
the verv early part oi the zttd ceittory 9'c'' Candanaqrma (also
of
ksairivao
oI
i;i;", ;iad."jtri.r"i|'*'iu*iiy
at tl)e ceremonial
'lista i*
Rohana), *.r. u..o'dla u put" of distinction
Inarhpit a
Der
by
ut'Atruteahapura
l\I.i;;" "f rf'" Sn.lt,i'i-i..
planted,at-5u]-1:"-gj'"t
i:.;' ;;4;. Saplings oI tlre tree were afterwards
Gothabhaya,.ruler
th^t
relates
Dnat""arhsa
iii"
and cantlanagama.
slerr 'the ten brotherJ<ings
n.c.,
,"acentury
tr-,"
i"
h;;;;;?iy
;f
afterwards' i-ry rvalz oI espiation'
X"a"t"s"*"'

it

i'

ia"#r,;trr*.f'.r

"na'rt,. .uu" insciiptions,:1,1.11:,. r', I

i#;"r.
;;]il ;'i;;;;.,.,o*t.r*iiv (ii
district) and at Koladtitttultela
Eauicatoa
cenrurv n.c. at uotattaiala
r^ {^.., mileq to west

b;ri-i; iiiiUa,ttota

distt,icL), are

bythe descendants

ruler'named Garnili who had

,T fi; i'ir'ir'; ;i;;;;th g"""i"ii"", of a
are stvled clasabatika' ' the
sons
ro sons : in the i,t..tiptl"t these ro
iclentified t'ith anv
personages,cannot
royal
''
ThesJ
-i""i;o".. fi ,!q P5,1i be
ten brothers
: anrl their
Chronicles
;;'il;k;;; o, prtr"'"r
been the
have
to
appears
which
t
fish
of
ty*Uot
itit."iirti"ti!1"*v trt"

(G) 1[' I:9-r34'

Codrington'
10. ' Civuta Pillars', by H' W'C"yron
r2th ce'tury'
tne
in
''/"s'
f6poei"otti'
i'ot""-ott
e^p''is"
Codrinston's t*o
a"X t'S are jndispensable lor a
Nos'
XXX'
and
75
XXii
in /..R.1.S. tC'e')
6t"xrtimablhu I in Rohana'
i
stuhy oI the campaigns i?vll"v"ilih"
"na
,t. A.LC. gg; A'S'C'A'R'' rg52' 1r; E'Z''\' 86'

the Boztattagalg 7nd Kottadiim,whala inscriptions. \\rrth regard-?o^tt u

ksatriyas of .liii,jaragnma he says:-'trre origin of the l.'otrivo, ot
Kar,.vagctna rs obscure. Tlre only menrion of ihem in the chroiicte
is
in ciapter XIX, verse 54 of the Maha'arhsa. There is
,Jui"*."t
to.show that they were, in any way, related to trre royal"ot."r-rtv'iir"r.,

Ij appears pcssible that tire lCii'u".,

Kataragama _were connected with a siream of immigiaii"" -ii-ini,
"i
rsland cluite distinct from the main stream whose legend!
are the theme of the chroniciers of Anurddhapuri.. It""Jir"aiti.",
-"t;;ii";;
that tlT,kmtriyas of Kataragama were no otheitiran tne aasirnaiitus
of the Dhatu'arirsa and.the inscriptions '. It should u"^aa.J trr"i
H-en_a.nnEgula tnthe Batticaloa districtthere is yet another.oyal
"t
epigrapl,
of this period r'ith the fisl'r emblem, ancl it rn ourcl appear tn'"liri
?..r*
ol t,his i'depcndent d-vnas.t5. ol Kataroganin ex{en<.icd o\.er a g."",
;"r,
ltatticaloa d istt'ict as well a" ovcr tlre region noir. io,r-,*5,,t5.
ruling at Anurddhapura.

:ji:5 T,",,,;:,1
partly ruined thupa at the Buciclrrist
,_ Trlu,r/ ehela
rttrt
at lla.tara.gatna is ca[ed

monastery nolv

kno'n

:r,.

the Mangala-maha_ceva
Rajam"h;ilh;;;;.";it

(' auspicious great cetiya'). at Kajaragama

century,ro5,'al inscription 'in situ j the inscription also *entions
itre
vrlrage Jetugarna, iderrtified by paranavitana as modern Delaqatnuua,
abo*t a mile from Kataragama. Sonre of the bricks ;tiir;;irii;;;",
mason's-marks of the r.it century e.c., the period .t iir'-5iJ"^r

construction. Another-inscription of the znd century at this'site

records the enlarging. of the thrrpa_ and the construction of

steps by a monl< residing at Dakavahanaka in Kadahavapigu*.,
""1.."..
i'ii"r.
P^1lr"1yi,n1a suggests may be present Katagunwaa. miiel to
tfi"
9
r )appura, ruler ot Rohar.ra (circa 65-9) is stated to have buirt
""rt.
a vihaia
Kajaragama : the work was one of restoration since tr," virrar.'riul at
,"

existence 7 centuries earlier. K[jaragdma became t1",. i;;p;;;ry

capital of Rohata from about ro5o io 1656 during the Coia;;;il;r,
,
Loka, Kassapa3"q Vijayaf5lo ruled the"re in turii
ii;;#;;u"
captured and plundered by the Cofas.lr
""tii
Witq
reard
to
the
DEvd,la
at Kataragatna- now one of the most
.places of pilgrimage in Ceylon, iir. paranavi,;;;t;r;;"_

:,e-l_:!rated pertrnent
tlons
are
and authoritative. He says-:-_' The literaiure,
both Sinhalese and ramil, connecting Skanda iitn xoiiiigi)il:'it
.t
recent origin ; and-there are,
thJ place, no, vestiges ,"li"t**
.at
the prevalence of a Hindu cult in early days. rherefoie, th;.J;;"", "f

Sir Paul Pieris Felicitation \-oiume 65-07.'

13. XI.+5.+5: 52.2,67: 58. 6: 73. 7S:E.Z.,III. zi5, zt8:Iy. ztq.

52

JOUII,NAL, Ii.A.S.

(CEYLON)

VI'

New Ser'ies' Vol'

Special Nttmber

IIISTORICAL TOPOGTIAPI{Y OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON

(ii)
(iii)

built at I{aluragania br I)rrtllragamani

(thaL tlre shrinc oI Skarrda \vas

'l'hc shrrnc lta. always
in frrlfilmcnt o[ a vo* ) may rvell be doubtctl . . .
is, uncler thc'superlision of Sinlialese priests (Kapuralas);

il""",

ih" annua.l festival, I

;;;'i" ""Jrtill

rva:^

informed

PV-

t..\t pliest' thaf

-1he

trke l)recedence
cere.monies connected r'vith the Bo-tree and the J)dgdba
i" trr"r" ,t the gocl. Some of the legends associated r,vjth KataraglPa-

tlevivo ur" rroi known in lnclia a"bout Skanda; ancl the pre'ailing
i"iiJi ttt"''g thc Sinl'altse is ihal he is orte.f the [o-ur grrardian
'lcilies
lirerefore,

(i.')

;i a;ui;; ."? is ciestined to become a Bucldha in the future.

i16 w25,origi*"'m"J U. ittiin"a in conclut.linq.t.i'ut l(ataragarxa-dq1
liucl'lhists;
Sinhalese
of
the
or
Roiihisattvas
deities
local
the
Skanda'
""fi" ";"-"f
;i ti",'; rvas identified *'ith the Purdnic deitv
;;;i;;;;;;;t
that
s'rites
Parana'itana
I)r.
work,
later
a
In
.g"'.
,"*"-.J"-t.i.i*
rvho ' accorciing to

B'ddhists
oooularbelief,har,etalienuponthemse]vcsthetaskofprotec-ting'the
' " 2u9 Upulvan
i;5;1"-;"a"iir"" ."a the ieligion of the Buddha
Vibhiqala,
Samanola,
on
liis
abode
his
rn'ho
Son.,"n",
5i i5i"""a.ii, -ii.tio." '.ott
ancl Skancla-K'mdra of

ir-,.-i"i* g""iaiafr

gocls of the Sinhalese

is

;h"";;l;;'oi

Kti.laniva,

Kataraganra'.14
l'l're ereater part o{ lorver dua as rvell a s M t1gatn P a ttw tn ll anl'b ail'tota
,lirtri.t l;li;;6 ihat division lr4rich was knor,vn as Atthasahassa-rat'tha

provincc of 8,ootl villages', whose capltal in the rlth

"i-J".",;trle
was Uddhanad'ara or Uclunclora,_the p.resent
centuries
iriil
t
""a
C; ii iia r at the. zgth rnile on t]ne'l I,o r q't' ;!-!ij ::: ('c)Lg('L'
ilii.g"
:i?,1
ttc

"i
compri.sed all ttre region to--east
Attliasahassa

oi the

(")
{"i)
(vii)
(rriii)

ValLtue

uddlianadv'ra, the residence

a;i."tlf "" ".er"glttu.L rvas clelive"red ontroops
in orcler to capt're her
Parakkamabs'hu's
1;
;f'o;;;t-.{";;G

ToolIr and Rowl Rciics'r;

^tt.l'th.
.lheprincipalt]istrictinA!'{1rasa}rassawasGrrttahtrla-ma4da]a,
in lvhich
also called Gutiratra ancl Guttala, present Butiala'' a region
specifiPlaces
u'ar.
civil
pnncipally
r"ar{are,
mu.h
alrvays
ih"r" ,,,",
'\\rere
district
Guttahala
."UV -."tl"I,"il ut situatecl rvithin
t-rrNakrrlanagarc' noI far frotlt Cutra(i)
\'/ Nakularrlga-kanniki
'
thc area crtending o\"er llrc hilly
t'ut
it'
,
itt?rr
nal"
region Lo northrvartl o[ l'cillaz'(tya-,-,]n,'h]t llb divi-ion

oi Jli'leni' l)rcselil 'I.liddel.tiyaabolttls'milesrrorthofVilltluuya,rhebirtlrplaceoI

thelr,arriorKlrafljadeva.onPanja-lipabbata,alsocalled
,t't-,iutlp".rn", tteuithe source of the Karinda-na'li (present
very
X'iilnia Ol'a), there was an ancient monastery'
p"nU"frfv ideniicat with the rock-temple norv known as
Kancta Viharo,.5 miles north of Vdllatta-va;16

tix)
(")
(ti)

rras tlrc villaee Nlallisadonika

14. E"Z.,IlJ,2r3, note 3 ; 'The Shrine of Upulvan at Devundara

Memoirs,

VI,

r9.

t6' 24' 25 i 75' r54'

15. M.6r'
ft . M. 23. 77 i

24. t7 : z5'-O':-32: r4 : 58' 34 : 6r' 72 | 74'

.:6:33. jo;Thu'.'t35, t5+; E'H'B' 6g'

:r5+ |

'q'' S'

"

75' 15 i E'M' z3

17.
18.
19.
?o.
2r.
22.
23.
21.
15.
26.

l,I.

5IJ

Javamala ford across the Mrinilt Gahga at Bwttaln,.lz

chlanganiyapitthi or yudagandpitiya, the battrefieicl of the
two princes,. Abhaya and fhssa, abou.t s.c. r7o: it is

populariy jdentified with present yud.aea,n,aua, al>out

: miles northward o[ ]Jultala,-t\
I(atavallima4c.lapa, also callecl Kala'allika-manclapa, rvas
the residence of the renorvnecl thera llahanaer'in th"
reign of Du!-thagdmali Abhaya (c.r.. rbr_r37), Xncl it rvas
six hours journey on loot (r! to rg miles)lrom Bu,ttala.
Kalavap_i in (irrttahala clistiict was very probably the
same as Kalavalli tank in Rohala restored by parakiama_
bahu I (rr53-rr86). fhe ptrj[,valiya ascriies i" K;;;"_
1is<a in the zntj centur\. 8.c. tlto fourrdaliorr ,,f a vihuia
in Rohana named Kalumuhudu. All these naltes mav
siglifv the same place. (Kaiuvala, Dutthagdmani,s fiisl
halt, wa: different). - Thc location" r,vis probabiy
southu,ard of lluttala ;7e
Maccritthala, to rvestlvard, of liatarag(Ln.td. ;2,.)
I{hadirangari, a strongholcl to nortir or north-east or liataragarna atd between that place and Buttala,.21
Kubnlagaila, u'hich may be the sa're as Kurnbuganr., anrl
ri'as possibly near Kotmbwkkana,.:Panasabukka, apparentlrr the same as pankavelar<a. ilre
*cene of tso battle.s :it rnrl.hc rrroderri 1(rr.sgnr/a, jrist
south of McnerAgala,.zz

Katagama;2a
Aaipacta-jambu-paclesa, also call eci _ltli pntlapLrnnrr gakharlda,
a srrb_ch'strict, probab11, thc area 'arouncl D'antbagaila',

.5 miles north of trIonerrTgtla ,.zs

flru'ela-mauclala, a stib-cristrict r,vith a torvnship and tank

of the same name, also calreci Eturrrala, ancl icle'ti{iecl

bv Codrington as preseltt lltimole, 6 miles south_east of
Monerd,gala
a Queen Sugala took refuge hcre but her
troops _rvere defeatcd, ancl althor-rgh shJ herself escaped
frorn the battlefield, the 'looth ancl lJowl lRelics uiere
capturecl. Parakkamabdhu I restored Uruvcia tank;.,r0

zq. zz.

M. 24. rg; Ilaj. 3a.

l.t|.6r. t6: 79. 35 ; M.T.6o6; pwj.
,trI. 58. 35.

M. 57. 7z: 58. 36.

-1l. 58. 36 : 75. r49, 167.

M. 6t. rz, 17.

M. 6r. 16.
M. ot. t 5: 75. 15.

M. 74. 88, r25 i ?9. \;

Puj.

34.

16 ;

8.H.8.69, rzo.

JOUIi,NAL,II.A.S'(CEYLON)ireu''Selde"s'l-ol'l-I'f'|pecialNu'ntbev

(xii) Maharir-ara, a stronghold, present MdrtTt'ta;2;

with Dematahal or Gamitthavlli or
{xiii)
\-'rrr/ Demalavala,
"C;;il'";tii- iclentical
{irtutu lounclcd bv lialiavanna 'l'issa
*tty'i" )nd n.c., and idertitred by-, Codrington as
Oiiam'pi,ti..tu rvhere the temple is still called Dematavalzr'
Insctiptioti' in the vicinitylnciucle a prc-Christian. ca\/e

(xil,)

i*..iftiot't

ancl

a grant-b5r Gothabhaya (249-263) l'j9

Voyalaggamu, situated between Nlaitarir'arzr and Uruveiirtire

l(hiragama, alio calletl !1r1S.anr1 and Kirigama' \\ras a plac.e on
rotite frod }ilahagarna to l,Ialiiyanga4a,-ancl Du!!hagama.4]'s..1rm1,'
ttt.t.. At iihirag[ma, ParaklamabLr'hu I (rr53-r186) built- t]re

irui*a
ii'
ii"ir:,at:rrl" c.iiy... rso" lcet high. ]lrl*tklrirrgama, Inerrlionetl
u19. near it
Khiraga9u,.
rvith
id"entical
probabiy
is
til"i;;;""taries,
-n-"lt"gti
or I-e4igiri. Go!habh?v1-91 Rohala built Khira"sirla
;;"t
or
iti-a"r.'p-rrana'itaria"has ideltifled" Khiragama or. Girigama
iiiri,.**r uith rno4c'n \-ttlaganat'o. z nriles Irom Bullula, rrlierc tltr';.

tirhpa brtitt br Paral<l<anrabnlrrr I.r"

:raooanir,rul<okilia \\ias the place u.here the Senapati Rakkha-rlierl

;r.'lh.:^;"i"r oi ,L'" colo-sal

crcmatioi Parakkamabrlhu l built a,large Ai*r:

^,r.i
""T[^tli.irrr.it
iirJl l ltt location rvas probably in the vicinitv ol Bwttala':rL
i;managalla-pa, i"i.r. oppoiire \:o1 alaRgam:1, ,.u";. , li.l?i,l,lig ',]
Cr,.l, nsfo'. an arca rrr the irt-,rthcrn pirt o{ Butlala l'iidirtla lti''tl'-.
Kattt"l>rikilla'
if,.,,i"f?".i*tu"*tolt". been id.entified bv Cocirington.as
CorambagJ'nra, Codrington prol)oscs
For
Datnbugalla.
ti
i';--;';,;it
t;;i,;
oi i[ on er ag at a. Maragallaka or Nigrodhamdragall ir
";";ar;,"ro"tn
is iaentitrea by'bodringtan"as lloragala, tTte rnain peak
"r1iiar*iii
t'..e ]llonct'figala range.'\:
of
Itlrattasupawaseastrvardorsoutlru.ardofo/l/t.ont'pitiya.:\''
Tlre ruini at Habiissa,6 miles south o{ Okkampi[i1ta,.are narnecl
the Uvaraja
UtiUit<alaiaka-mairavihara in an inscription in s'itw of
anrlchronicles)
in
the
(not
mentioned
Nil;; ;;;t tl;; Maharaja
Vahaba \laharaia (Vasabha' 67-rrr)' T-o.it ygre grantc'l
"r."a'."t.
"f canal ; (ii) Matavil a ; (iii) Abavil'a ; al9 (Iv) .( 'avrgavr]'a
?ir
UliUit .tr
Anot,ner
ir"c- Cavir,a und'er Cit-talapabbata in Hambanlofa distrtct)' .
ts.
ca.llctl
L1dorugala,
named
l"- lr-)ii neighbourhood,
[i;J-;;i; "Viilura
"znd. century inscription of 'trvo brothera
i"
U"f.lgil".
kings'.34

27. M. 74. trz.

18;
28. M. zz.23,71, rlo; E'M', zz' 65; Pttj' :16' 29i Raj'57; A'I'C'
27"
1953,
A.S.C.A.R.
29. XI.74. t:z'
rrz' App' IB; A'S'C'A'R"
30. 1lI.74.163:79.7r; Dha.3t:E'H'B'87,rol' 89'
1955.27,28.
3r. M.74.t35.
i". M. 55. zo; 74' 55, \23i 75' t5, r8z ; E'Z'I' t36'
33. M. 74. r4z.
34. E.Z.,lY. zr7.

tfISTOllICAl, '|OPO(;liAPHY

Ot:' ANCIIIN:I. _{ND

t1l,lDItt\TAL CEVLON

r;

in a roth centurr: in-rcr!p1io,,

.'I'he place Dit'a]<ar'5na is mentionr:d
at )Iaragalu
Estale, -llotterugala. 'flte rock-templc at .llori,.yigalu js
named-Ifa]ranama-Jetalisapa'a-R4j amahavihara i{ter the
4th century
king who founded it. close to Moi,teragala, are other car.e mona-.terie"s
u'ith pre:Christian inscriptions, namely, (l) ItAlltaya, near rire :4th
TiF x[aifur,gasmwlla,
i Jii). a group_ oI 5 inicribed caves "ety't,ign Lip on the hittr above ;
zTth mrte t"heri or'r" inscriptio* ol the
\tii)
'ear-t]re
-4th centurv bears the
place-name, Taburar.u ; (iv) Gattiltdtitiu. nbar
tl're zStli mile ; and (:,) Kinrbuluaela, near the 3otli mile.:r;
Lt_Vcilaellwgoilakattda, oII Dom,bagal,taLela at the
34th miir,

o'the

.Jloneragala-Pottwail road, there is a i-eries of car.e inicripti,,.ns x.hicl-r

give the names o{ the king (Saddha Tissa, r,r.c:. r37-rr,ii ; the iiing's
Sr:napati, 4girlata ; the,senapati's rvifer, Naga; arxl the'ia.1-1,"s f:Lther,
seniipati Pusadeva. NandlLimitta, the Se-nepati of Dutiiragamari
Abhaya, was succceded in that olfice bv anotlier {arno's cornrrlianc}cr,
PlLussaderra: and in tlre rcign of Si"cicllrri Tissa, r,rto :*ccceded
I)ntthag5,mani, the Senapati uas the lafter's son-in-lan-, Aggiilart.l.lr;

. ?lr llre edqc_of

n.ar rlre r-. rrliiu n'

is a 4th century irscriptioii rrv the

tlrc._precipice aI -lilon,laqala.

tbe'. Mon,eragal,a-PottwtL.il road,

.

_1

,';atiya (clistrict chieftain) resident at Galataraka-.

There is a small group o{ inscribccl, pre-Cirristia' c;r\.es at
Cnlhofuna, near the 4oth miie on the Mon,erogilo-pottttit,iL raad.

At Kiniacllgo(,a, abo't 5 miles cast of Dantbagalla, is o'r: of tl.re

,cldest epigrlphs in Ceylon : it is dated in the reign irf ttrre prince Naga,

.ttrat is, N.{ahaniga, the

brother of I)evanampilia llissa

rulcr of Rohana.'j7

jnil the .hrst

tire pri*cc liitti,

the rrth century rl,as jri tlrc Buttala
region-. __Dappula (circa 6-59) built Kavuciit \-ihara. ll,ere i- a placc
Mal<khakudrflsa or_ Nlanclakar.iclutota, rvhere

:rnc1 afterwards,

Loka dwcit

ir

narited KavurJaua, near M onerdgala.sN

Codrington identifies the Girirnanclala clistrict u'itlL tire liiil country
',vest or north-rvest of Buttala and probably the ,I{oslailrJti ate^.:\tl

In tlre 5th century inscription of grcat length at lf,in{u.igala,

:lear Sr.t,dwpd,ytaaela at L/tll.lcnt(r.ya, a recorcf
ir.ade ol tlie na_mes
of the fields r,r'hich r,vere purcha,*ecl on behalf'.,as
of the monastcn at trre
place from amilitary nnit encainped at vasaliavahara c.r-nlp ar i{ahaba'iarayatana in.l'I_ahagama district. other place-'alnes
ii thc. irscripti9" are:-(i) Namacla-pagaragama, l'hei:e there \r,il:r a clam ;
1,.;;) Narapagaragama , (iii) Sanayagama; (i") llmanarorla-ac1ai-a
clam; (r') Ganayagama; (vi) Kahabagala; (viij Gamatataia danr;
35.
36.
37.
38.
-39.

56

jouRNAL, ri,.A.S. (CEYLON) New

Series,

vol. vr' special

Number

(viii) Ir.atunahabiya-tata; (ix) Mara-ta,dam; (x) -Baba-atara dam;

ixi) I3aclailavara; (xii) Ula-araba; (xiii) P-atanaga-ubara; (xiv) PasaraMadahababa. ; and (xvi) Kayuabaliya.ao
lhe ruins at Pitikema, z miles west of the 37th mile on tbe Hambanto{tr-Val'l,avtiya road, are cailed Pahalabena Vihara in a 4th century
inscription in sitw. Other places named are:-(i) Mahagevidhagg-na ;
(ii) A"balavatuka darn on tfie Cukarida Oya which is the.plcjent KurJa
itia, a hranch of tlne Kirinda Oya ;(iii) Akalayugu : (iv) Yalagama ;
and (r') Akasakayota.al
\raliv5saragama was situated in a locality lr'here malY roads meet
ancl it u"as to kest of Dighavdpi disttict and probably in present
I]/ ikat el{it' a Koralc.az
Hintalavanagama was ,+o or 50 miles from Dighal'api and eastrvard of I(triragd,ira: a strong fortification was built there. There is a
hill called Kituthela about fi miles north-east of Dambagalla. Near
Hintfr,lavanagama were :- (i) Gallambat'thikagama, yh19h- may, have
been across ihe boundary in Dighavapi district ; (ii) MulinagSma ;
{iii) Kucklalarranclala, tretween Hintdlavanagama and Mfrl5'nagdm:r ;
Aglaboclhi lt nuili Malraudaltt tanl< ; an<l 1iv) Kittirdjavalukagdma,

iatit<a; (xv)

bJt-ween Hintalavanagama ancl Voyalaggamu, c'lose to and west-of the.

former: there is a hill"narned l/atiiela, z miles south of the 3.ith mile
on tlre Mon,eragala-Pottuttil rcad. Ulada was between Voyalaggarnu
west of the latter. Vdluka was betrn'een
and Kittirajavilukagdma,
"Voyalag[amu, and west of the {ormer ;- Gothabaya of
Ulada and
Rolrana lrtlilt Valukatittha Vihdra : there is a' Viili-Ar, 3 miles east
oI IlAllavut,a. Huyalagalna \vas west of \/aluka and probabl)r in the
Vdllaa(tya area.43
llaritakivata was east of Kumbugama aud has becn identified by
Coclrington as .lralugasnr,rida, a hamlet of Old Alup,otu- Kanhavdta
r'vas east of Haritakivata ancl is probablv ntodern KiniaillgoSa, near
Kollatle'ni,,;a. Vanagd,ma, where Queen Sugala lvas finally captured,
was eeistir.erti of Kanhavata and closer t. Llclundora : it is possibly

oI D otnlt agaltaa ela.aL

The Vihara named Talangara or Talangaratissapabbata or

identical tt'ttin

R ad d

egatna, norlh

Talanka or 'l'alanga or Talangatissapabhata or Talaguru existed from

the zncl century e.c., but the name of the liing who foundedjt-is not
stateci. It is ihe very rernote, ruined site, still knor'vn as Talaguru
vihara, rvtiich lies deep in the forest in the north-east corner of the
present Ydla I'lortlt' Ii'tterm,ediate Zone, abottt'3 miles south of the
kumbt+kkatz Oy'a : it is a place of pilgrirnage for the people in the

40.
41.
q".
43.
44.

A.I.C. 78; A.S.M. VI' 25 ; E.Z.,V. 1t7-1r9.

A.1.C.77 ; E'Z.,IY. rz6, rzE'

M.i+'t77.
M.74. 162.75.7,12,r5-r8; Puj. z8; Dhu.3r.
M. 75. 18, r74.

IIISTORICAL TOPOGR,APIIY OF'ANCIENT AND MEDIEI/AL CEYLON

Monerd,gal,a-Siyambaltl-anQuaa

57

area. There are pre-Christian

inscriptions there.ab
One of the Iast strongholds occupied by the follorvers of -Queen
Sugal5 before her final defeat was Badagu4a. Raddhagu[a Vihara
,and tank are mentionecl earlier in the reign of Vijayabahu I (ro55-rrro) :
the Cetiya clestroyed bj' th" C6las was restored by the-t'lparaja- who
built in ihe foresi close to the \rihira a large tank. This is almost
,certainly tlre large, breached reservoir now known as Bud.wguna-uciua

in the south-east corner of Uaa.ao

Close to Talagwrtt, Vihava andBwdwgune-u(iult above, i n deep-f,orest,
is a ruined site of pre-Christian antiquity knou'n as Diuulhdn'a Vihava.
Aii tlis area, as well as the regiorbetrveen the Harl'a Oya and the
Kum,bwkkan Oya, remains largeiy lunexplored.

Lt

VattEgarnn, a,bout

ro miles south of the 38th mile on the Monerir'gala-Pottr'tvil' road, the

inscriptions at the ancient temple there are of the rst to 5th centuries :
.and al Mananahela, 3 miles off the road to Vattcgama, are ruins with

pre-Christian cave inscriptions.a?

Beyond Ohkampitiya are the ruins at Maligii'aila and Damb,go(a
which once formedbne monastery. There are at the site a colossal
image of the Buddha in the full round, 34 feet high, and much stonervork in limestone. The ruins have been tentativelv identified as
AriySkari Vihara o{ the Chrcinicle.as
Ll Konkatiya (3 miles south of Buttala), Kotnarikd,gala (7 miles
south of Palaatta), Atilia(iua (ab out 4 miles west of Telulla\, Sirnal>ahwra'

handa (near Angu,nukola/>cildssa on the Tanatnal'aila-Hanoh,ect'rnuoq'

road), ancl other sites in Vrillaad,ya Korale there are pre-Christian
inscriptions.ae

'The most
Bwdotrwuagala,

rernarkable Mahayana sculptures in Ceylon are at

3 miles south-west of Vtil'l'aaa1ta. A group

about

of colossal figures has here been carved onthe rock on a scale comparable
to that of the Buddhas at Aaukam.a and SdssF;ruua. 'fhe figures are in
high relief. Some of the details are not carved in stone but merely
indicatecl and completecl in stucco. They were also originally given
a coating of paint, traces of ll'hich are still r.'isible in some places. The
central figure of the group is a colossal Buddha some fi{ty feet
in height
ancl is attended on either side by two Bodhisattvas,
the one on the Buddha's right representing Avalokita as proved by the
figure of the Dhyfr,ni Buddha Amitabha in the head-clress. The
corresponding figure on the Buddha's left has no Dhyani Buddha
in the head-dress: but as the triad of Buddha, Ar.'alokita and Maitreya,
occurs very often jn Buddhist iconography, we rlay identify this
45.
46.
47.

48.
49.

E.I{.B. 65, 7o, tzo, rzr ; IL

M. 6o. 8o i 71. r24.

32.

52; X,I.T. 6o6; Thu. zt3.

A.S.C.A.I?., 1954, 37"

A.S.C.A.R., ag5r, 37,38 ; M. 45. 6o-63.
C./.S. (G) IT. z4; U.C.R. VIII, No. z, rzz.

5I , .1}()L:RNAL, It.A,S. (CE\]LON)

figure u,ith Maitrcva. 'I'he llodhisattva to the right of the tsudclha
is attcnlli:rl on tlre left brr a female figure ancl on the right by a naleIf tire icler-rtihcation oJ the central figure r,r'itir Avalokita is right, tht:
fcrnale ligure may represent 'Iara. In l.r,uddhist iconogrzr"phl-,
Avaloliita is usually attenrlecl bv Tara on one sicle and Hayagriva orSucllranakunrira on the other. The nrale ligure in cluestion cannot
bc Ha\:agrir"a as tire horse's neck is not shorvn : therefore, it
rra\; rcPrecent Sr-rclhanal<umdra. The llodhisattva on the ieft -sicle
/of tire ltuclcllra) is attcnderl by tr,vo rnale figurcs rvhose identitr.
it is not possibie to cietermine. There is nothing so Iar founcl ti,
inclicate the periocl these scu\.ttures may be assigned to ; nor lias it
been possible to tra"ce thc mention of this place in the Chronicles.
Some ot the figures, especially the llodhisattva to the le{t of tLre
l-lr,rciclha, sliou, a higlr degree of artistic merit arrcl on grounds oI st.l.ltr
thev inav bc ascribcd to a period anterior to tbe Polonnarll\ra epoclr.
Probablv. the gth cenlr.rry wonld not be too earl1z a date'.50

'fhe l/elas.sa Di,t,isic,u. is a very hiily rsgioli and the irrigatiorr

facilities provicleci in it in ancient times r,vere necessarilv scanty o1',,i11g
to the nature of the terrain. The popular belief tliat VeLassct nteans
'a hunclred thousancL hclcls' can easily be secu to bc absurd oll a clir",iorv
e\anrinatioll of the one inch map. Ancielrt ruins are also ierv and
probabl-v rr-rark thc localities in lvhich thcre u,cre settlcci popuiatiolls
in forrner tirnes. 'l'hose of pre-Christian origin, as their epigraphs
pro\re, are (i) I{ahata-atu-hela, neat Nilgal,a ; (1i) Bwd,dhatna., altovt
16 miles north of ,Siyantltolu,-anrlwua ; (lii) Lf ha.pita-lena, z miles rtorthu'est o tlre Vahaud, hot spring; anr-l (i") Biind.iyagalgel, ncar
Han1l;iidda.i'r
[]or"inc1ama1a, norv knoivn as GovirLdalrcla

tlll

or' Westnt,inster Abltey',

rlrrring lhe rcign'crt

forl.ress of tlre
'\clipada Bhuvanekrbahu
the ir;r,acler l{5gha (rzt4-t45) : on the slrmmit o{ this imposinq ancl
foriniclable rock, the prince {ortilied l'rimself ancl kept up resi,stauce
u'as

in this part oI

Rol'rana.52

.lhe
Bintrinla Diaision oI (jua was iuore thickly populated and
bettci ser-r-ed rvith tanks and other irrigation norks than llte Yelassa
Diuisiox,. Ihe area around }lahiyangala and Llraltiya has alreacly
been de-scribed. Lt Mataragala, near Dam,biina, r-1, niles from.
Pad,i3'atalth'a, there was a fairly large cave monastery of pre-Christian
date : an.rong the donors of the caves \vere clistrict chieftains alicl
village headmen. At Mdpaha{aaiiaa, south of l{ahiyangala, t}rere
is an inscription of the gth or roth century granting imrirunities.;"1

CHAPTE1T VI

TI.IE HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT

(A) M5$am

Pattn

tr[a1ri,gama, rnoclern Tissanruhdyd,z.rrz (locally caTle<\ T"ihaa_a), rvas

ttre .,opitul'of tlie principality of Roi'rarla. The S-a\ka prince, Rr:hana'
is saici to 1tave founc'letl the ,settlement namecl ltoha4a in ttrle 5th

n.c. : it is probable that here Roha,la is st''onJ-rno*s u'ith

""nt"."
llahagdma. In the.seconil hali of the 3rc1 centufv I'r.c., ther L'pari,ja
llahilnaga, the Vo,nger- brotlrer and heii of liing l)c'anari-rpiya,lissa,
thtr
l"jf f.n*aahapura fir Jear of his 1i{e, surre'dering iris right to
ther
as
seat
his
established
he
rvhere
I'Iahagama
to
succession, ur],i ."-"
to
fuler

o.f

lRoha4a. None of tire Cirronicies offers an erplanation as

how nilrrhanS,ga \\ras abie to supplant or supersede tl-re lincal descendarits

of the originii ruler, Ilohala.- Ne'ertheless, it is a fact that le.rvas

a" ruler oi-Itoiroiru at the periorl assignecl to hi'r bv the Chron1cLes,
l-'ecause epigraphical corro6oration is iurnished bV the iiiscrip*tions at
(a11, in Rohala)
-Iiittiriiteoil,i',' kusalattakatd.a ancl DeaiyannF,henur
Contemporary
rnler.
a
ancl
Naga
Uparaja
as
in u'hicii he is describecl

$,ith llahand,ga v,ere two noble families of ksatriyas at Kajaragama

(also in Roharla) rvho r,vere.accorded
\ Ii ataragamaj-a1cl Candanagama
a place"of honour at the c-eremonial planting o{ the Rodhi Tiee at
Anuradhapura : of the eight Bodhi saplings, two \vere planted at-the
families,'bui not at Mah5gima' -The
seats of tiese trvo ksatr'iya
i

Dhd,tuvarhsa rnentions the ten brother-kings (dasabhStika) of Kac-laraof }lahdnd'ga' an

.slana' w-ho were slain by Gotli6,bhaya, the grandson
iction which was appirently disappror.'ecl by the people btcause
Gothabhava is said #h".-" built a number o{ r-iharas afterwartls by
11'1y of expiation. Al l{ottad,iinouhela in lhe Yala area and at Bovatiagala, across the Kutnbukkan Oya, thete are inscriptions of.the,zncl
century n.c. of a roSral dynasty, among r'vhon were ten brothers
qdaiabatilta), whose distinciive emblem lvas that of a fish' Paranai'i t.r.o has e"pressecl the opinion that ' it rnav well be that tlie Kqatriyas of Kataragam,a were no other than the disabhdtikas of the Dhdtuvarhsa and ihe inscriptions'. Apparently, the differences between
Ilahd,nS,ga's royal famiiy of Mahd,gema and the k;atri5'a-royal fanrily

teacl're<i a crisis ri'hich ended in bloodshed and the

terrnination of tlie territorial authority of the latter in the reign of
Gothabhaya early in the znd century ts.c.l

o! Iiatiragan i

5tl. S. Paranavitana in C./.S. (G) II. 5o-.5t.

5r. A.S.C.A.II., tgio. 2.).
j2. ,'11.8r.4-6 ; J.R.A.S. (C.B.), No. 6t, t67ff.
5J. A.S.C.A.R., r('-55. 3+.

and No. 67,279f1"

r. M. g. ro: zz. 8: 35' 32: 45. 42 71. t57; E.Z" TII, r8z; /?so'' II' 4;
(G)Ii.'i8,-i5, ss,roo' rI4,rr5, t75,t76;
il.r1.5a,6i;L|.7'.a"7,ii:"c.1.1.

:j,ir Paul Pieris lrel. \-ol. 65-67.

60 JOUR,NAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

Nezu Series, Vot,. V.I, STtaciat Number

I{ISTOI],IOA1, TOPOGR,APHY OI'ANCIENT AND }TEDIEVAL CEYLON 6T

Hatnbantota d'istrict is one of tire most arid areas in cevlon.

The coa.st-tine is indented by severat i"g;;;;; G;v* i;
-ii.iir"rt
forms natura.llS'.by evaporaiion durirrg."ti-te dry .."rL". rt,etanJ i,
mostll'flat. br,.-,Jien b1'a feiv inlan, I hiils. The lower courses of ine
l'alate Gaigu, rvhich is a-.perennial nver, Kirinda oya and Miinilt
cahsa f'ow through the diitrict. These and other #ater ,"-*oor"",
for irrigation, but large_resenoirs rvere ferv although
I..,1._i"pp":l

Nlah5naga founded the flddhakandaraka or Llddhakanclaridi

\rilrd,ra. An ancient temple a miles east of YodakanQiya, founded in
pre-Christian times on the eviclence of its cave inscriptions, nor,v bears
tlre narne Ud.d,hakandara, l-tttt its iclentity rvith the ancient vihd'ra o{
that narne is very uncertain.5
The I'Iahdvariisa does not mention Candagiri VihEra at lfahigama
tiil the rzth centurlr, but the Sinhalese Chronicle-s vary in attributing
the foundation of Sandagiri Vihara to l{ah5,ndga and to l(dvantissa.
lts rrrins, stili knoi,"n as Saridagiri, lie :r mile to east of T'issauriua. A,
large, octaeonal, inscribccl stone to south of the rrins bears inscril>tions
of a son of IlhS,tikdbhaya (n.c. z2-A.c. 7) and of Vasabha (fi7-rrr) :

'fhe

villagc tanks werc numerous, and the irrigation syste'r was nbt
nearl1' so large or comple-r as in the Anura--clhapu.i, pototrn,.ro".
and Kur wnd4olq distric[.
in{req

rntlePentlent

uenth' Itohana rvas rulcc,l b.., princes who

or

serni-irrdependcnt

oI tlre kings'at

were

Anuradlranura.
Re'olts and
usuallv originated therei -'\rways it *ol 1ne
'prisings
stroirghoJd of frecclom in whicrr trre Sinhar-ese retainecl the ir
independence or buill up resistance when the country was occulried

br' {orcign invad.rs. A prince rvho go'crire,t Rohina in LIre' lst

ccntriry rras sivlerl Rolrinil<a rrhile a llinister rih. pcrloinrecl the sarnc
dutres r' the znd ccntury_bore the title liohala-bojika. The first
tank at I'Iahigdma, Tissavapr (prese*t TiJsaztcit,a), ouas uuiti-u1,fargc
(:: +:) : he also built thi f)trra tank. ln an inscription of
Jlo"1s-o
(67-yr) shares in l)urartisa tank lvr:re assigncd to a Vihera in
Y3?thr
Mahagama : Dfira or Duratisa tan k r.vas probablrr tf,e tank norn' knor,r,n
as Yodaatiaa. A vihara na.ne Mahiivdpi or }fahavdsa, associated with
a tank of tire same narue, was thr: abode of many monks in earl,r,, times :
the tanl< is pr.Liably present vtvaaila, also l<nown as Mahaviii,a. Trie
Mahirp5li or R'yal Alms Halt at Mahagarna. at which alms were
distributcri ciailv at the ruler's
rvas built by Aggabocllii
"tpense,Nlahagama wai noii
(circa 6oo), inclependent ruler of Rohana.
wailed
town lil;e Anuradhapura and Poiorrna^rva: its ruins bear no comparison
with ihose of Anuradhapura or Polonnaruva and illustrate ttre iela.tive

poverty of

Iioha.i.ra.2

The oldest Vihdra at Mahd,gdma lvas that founded by Mahdndga

in the 3rd century e.c. and l<nown as the Ndgarnaha or Mairagar'.anaga
or Mahanaga or Naga Vihd,ra. It was restored, its thrlpa rvai enlarged
and its area extended by Ilanaga (33-43). An earlv inscription,-of
r,vhich the text is cloubt{ul, records the grant of Golagama to Nakarnaha-

vihara. The Gotha sea, by which Golagama

may have been situated,

is meirtioned in the reign of Kakavanna Tissa.,|
I'he Yatthdlaya Vihara mentioned in the Mahd,varhsa a.s the place
where Mahand,ga's son, Yatth5,iakatissa, was born is not the prisent
Yalal.a Vihara atTissa: it is clear froni the context that Yatthalaya
Vihara was not in Rohala.a

z.

M.

thev recorcl the grant to the llposatha House of shares in I)uratisa tank,
o1 fields in Patiganr.a. Vijavabahu I (ro55-

of Abagamaka tanl< ancl

rlro)

restored Candagiri Viliera.G

Tissan-rahavihAra, also callecl Tiss:lr'ama and Tissamaharnlna, \,vas
founded by Kakar''anqa Tissa early in the znd centut\z n.c. ln it rn'as
the Silapassaya Parivena. I)utthagimani Abhava made offerings at
Tissarnahavih5ra before setting out on his canr.paign against El5ra.
Thc name Akuju l,Iahagama or Akujuka occurs in two inscriptions of

the znd centurv and appears to re{er to Tissamatrdvihdra. In an

inscriptiorr of king lllahanEma (4o6-428) the \rihara is callecl \fahagama
Rajamai-ravahera, ancl a grant is rna"de to it of a large extent of lanrl at
Paiitotugama, r'r'hich, fronr its name, ntust h;lve been situated on the
banlis ol the l{irinda Aya. f)appula, ruler: of Rohana (circa 659),
donatecl tire village of I(attikapabbata to the Vihara. In tl"re inscription o{ Daprrrila IY ig:27) at Detagamura, Tissamahdvihara is called
1\{aharrehera.T

The ancient names of tbe Mtiqtilt, ancl Yalala Viharas at Tissa are
not known. At thc forrner there are a pre-Christian inscription and a
7th/8lh century inscription in an undecipherable script, ivhiie at the
latter there are inscriptions of the 6th to roth ceniuries, but the
Vihfr,ras arc not named.8
The disbrict around Mah5gana is called }fahagama-janavaya
(P.-janapada) in a 5th century inscription : in the rzth century the

Culavarhsa calls it Mahaganra-mapdala.e

The },Iahanuggala Cetiva, al-so callecl l,Iah6,mangala and ilfahdeluggala, rvas built by Kdkavalf a Tissa. The PnjS,valiJ'a ascribes to this
king a vihdra named 1\{ahagamtota.r0

5. ]1.22. g; E.M. zz. 32.

6. M. 6o. 6x; Dhu. 3o; Puj. 16; A.I.C. z3; C.J.S. (G) II.

A.S.C.A.R. r95r, 38.

7, M, zz,23, z8 : 25.2:

67 ;
35. 3z : 45. 4z ; C.I.S.
zz. <2,48-50 : 55. 31, 32

3. M.
4. II. zz. 7, 8.

(c) II. 8, z5; E.Z.III, r8z ; Rsu.II,

: 36. 34; M.T. 649, 3z ; A.I.C. 4.

4.

45. 49 ;

E.M. zq. z : Puj.

E.Z.III.215,216, 223; J.R.A.S.

16 ;

(C.B.) Nerv Series,

8. C./.S. (G) II.24, z5; A.S.C.A.R. rs54, 37.

c). E,Z.Y. tr6 i M. 74. r57.
ro. M.24, 8; E,M.24. 17 : M.T. 462: Puj. t6.

II,

17, 18, z5;

Dhu.II, 83; A,I.C"

r34,

$2 JOITRNAL, R.A.S.

(CEYT,ON)

The Dnthaegabocllri Parivena, pr:obably at llahagiina, u.a:i built

HI S'jl(

)l)"I(-1-\

t,

IUO

I'(

)( ;

lt.\

l, Ft

() F ANCj

tltNT AND IIEDTII VAL

CTEYLON

apparentlv of sr.ifhcicnt local importancc {or the recantation to

(t:+

bc

bv Aggaboclhj, rrLler of ltohana (circa 6oo.).1r

In Patirn:r or Pilima \,'jhara, ltrobabiv in or close to l'Iahagnma.

piibliciserl Jx, the engraving oI tu'o inscriptions, olre at the Uvaraja':

seat (liaha,eirrna) and the other at the Vihira u,hcre the conversit-,tl

Itrtrgc ol tlrc Itrirlrllra.

flom I'Iahlgrl,ma, a ltospital for the biincl.rl

l)atung:riu Viha,ra is ascribed to li5r'antissa. lhere are ruins otr

tlie rocli-grolrll now linor'vn at Pa.landrLgal,a tn th<: Rultun,a I'itttiort,cl
Pavh. '['he anchorage herc rvas probably rtsctl from early times.rt

Dappuler (circa

a large Image Hon:;r: aucl installcri li .,Ston,:

llre sanrc rrrl, i I,rrilt ;rt lrf r.raginrr. n.1 Jalr

65q1) t--rectecl

Tulacl.hflra or 1'ula,karapabbata \ri]rara, on thc hill Tilncllrtrapirb'llata or'I-aralpavr,.a, is sta"tccl to |a1e ltecn louncler,L bt'Ji+11<ayilnir
Tissa u'ho rulecl ltohana in 1he lirst half of thc zncl ccrit,,rr. lt,t:. It
.gas a Jarnecl scat of leaLrning
in tltc rst centLtr'\'a1lrl allr(,n( it- Sreat
lrreceptors u'ere the tlrera.s l{aTr:rrilianrnraralilihita iincl llalt:1iraclurla.
.\rc;nncl Il c/tcyaliinta, a consiclct altlc roi:l<-grorip :r'ltor.rt I r .. z rliles
nortlr-north-east of the r.illage ol lii,yi.ndtt, ar-c -se\.'eral drip-1cdqer1
{ralves ancl r>ther luins irs r',,eil as a nrrrnl;cr o{ in-scriptio;-r. ilar,i;tE {ronr
the zncl centurl,'l:1.(t. io thc 7th ctnturi:. hl sotne r;f thc insr:r:iptior-t:
the site is rrarnecl 1-ulal<araparrarata. or iulaliar:Lpil-t i X'ialtitr-tLer iL : thjs,
tlrereforc, is the a.ncient -lirla,dir:rra Yihaia. At thc {ooi oi Trrl.i.clh.aralrabbata u'as the r.iilage \,'i1ru,r-avirpi ol' \litrar,aganra. the ltirtirirlacc ot
llre rvarrior Labhiyar.asabha. Otltel place*nam(s,,ccrL..t'ir:E jn thr:
insr:r:iptions at this site arc : (i) Puinagartra; (ii) Pa-1r:rlarLora ; (iii)
llarigir"nacla. , lii') Nctulavaha; ancl (r.) Caclulilgarna. :\ggahociiti IY
i6(r7-6ii3) grantccl the village lf'uIfldhara to thr: Pr::rctising l{oule u,hich
he buiit {or tlie thcra l)dth.lsl1ri1 sf N-o;ssiila: bu.t u'irether tiris liliag.r:
is identical rvith TuladhAra of Iiohana is uucertain.l'j
\/ih:irader-i is said to have come ashore at l-aik:L Yihlr"a itn the
-lolali:t
coast near I'fah:rgnma

: the l:rnclins pla.ce is also callccl

\'ilrl,ra
;uid l(otthaiata,. Jiavantissa is sairi to har.e br-rilt \Iiharamahlrcler,i
Vihara or Bisdvalu \,'ihdra, presumably to corlrncrnorate tlre lancling
place. A11 thcse ltames appear, thercfore. to refer to thc sanri: irlace.
'I'lre popuiar identification o{. I3ri,nda as \'rihar:adevi's lanriine place
has no iristorical authoritv. 'lhe inscrilttion of tirc tst centurv n.c.
at tlro ruins at .Kiyinda (a contempor:rrv copv of u'hich a.lso exjsts at
Tissamahrlrintrr.) is in r-crse anci it is uniquc in its subjcct matter.
It r-ecords tlrat at the Viirara at this spot tire llvaraja Naka (aiterrvar:cls
king n'lahAd:rthil<amah:rnag:r) abancloned false beliefs and u'as conr.erted

to Buddhism. ' The Clrronicles gir-e trs to understancL that lronr n.c.
2,+6 onwards Bucklhism rvas the finn alci onlv faith ol thc Siitltalese
nronarchv and people, ancl the accuracy of that assertion is not
irnpugned by this solitary jnstance of one clissicient prince crofcssin5l

otirer beliefs and recanting them in favour of J3trc1<1hism. This singular

event is not recordecl in the Chronicles or Commentarics, but it rvas

rr. II. q5. q:..

t2. ,1,1. 45. ,13, 14 ; Pu,j . zt7.
13. 11.23, go: 33. qo : 35. 3r : +6. 12 :Sig. Grall. nrcntion faral-pa- pirivex.r,
;\pp. C; I-hu. t36; Dhu.83; E.ll .8.3o, E4, r:r ; A.l.(:. {t7 (a) ; C. i.S. (c)
26"

oCCllff('(l .'l

l'he e,rtcnsir"e ruins at Sitwll>uttt..u V'ilmva in t|:te Rrt'htu.to. I{ationa !

f)ctrh itre icler-rtihecl b.v urscription-q in situ, in rvhich the -site is nameci
L-itaiapau'ata \'-ihara, urith the renoi.vned Cittalapabhata Vihara of thc
Chronicles anrl Contrnentaries. I(:rl<avanna Tissa, rnlcr of ltohtrna
carlr'irr the zncl centurv Li.c., is crcclited u'ith its Iounclation. It n'as
one'of thc most celcbrhtr.l Yrharas r,{ ancieut times ancl its uronll.
li:rcl a great reputatior.r for thr:ir pic:tr,' and lear-ning. Dutthdgamarri's
paladin. I'lrussaclela, hailecl Irorn the village Gavita, near Cittalapal)l,ata. iI f. (lavit1ar-iva jl the Ilabtisstt inscription uncler'[.lhapter V (81
I"ort,tr i-:i'tt\. Onc oi the cetivas at thc \riliam en-.lrrinccL the reiics of
a Sinratnera rr'ho became an Aralrant and it was callcd Tissatthera-

{rcti\/a. .\ nr.eclitation-hall eristing in tiie rst century rvas l<norvn as

-i\inliaiporlr'ra-paclhiinaghara. \-asabira built ro thrlpas in CittalaliLLta
{Cittalapablia.ta) Vilrilra. The inscriptioirs on tho site recorcl rich
cnclorvrncnts of l:rncl in the rst centur-v ar-rcl the builcling of a cetiva hv
llairiillrlia Naga. Dappula, ruler oI Iiohana, grantecl the I'illage
(lonnar itrhi to the Vihara : this name rlal' be preserved in ntorlcrn
Ginugalct in the llLt,hrlnl l{a.tion.al ParJt. Kttraval<agalla, r,r.liere an

action n':rs fought betrveen the troops of Parakkamabahu I and those

ol tlre rebel Queen Sugal[, is vcrl' probably icientical wrlhl{oravultgaltt,
onc of tlLr: hills in lhe SihtLf au?r.r.'d cntol1ra.ge. 'lhe 6r ca\re inscriptions.
of the ::ncl irnd rst l.c. at this sitc inciucLc trvo in r'vhich Dutthagduali's.
palaclins. \andhimitta ancl \'clusumana. are mentionecl. 1'he piace
names nrcntionecl are : (i) I'a3af adariyagama; (ii) ll'otaganriya,
evidentlv ir villa5;c on the f,ltiinik ()anto near I,'arahiinu.; (iii) \ranakaganliva ; iir') \'iiadaka, in u'hlch was l{ajinragalnir ; (v) I(avarasaka,
in u'hicli ri':rs Kanikerapali : [iottrfr,bhirya of Roliar]a built KanikS,rasFki
\'-ib[ra \\'hich $,as probirbly iclerrtical rvith Kanikaravalika-Saniudda-

; (r'i)

(vii) Kibabacli : {vii) Sivzr-nakara;

: Saddha Tissa built Dubbalava,pitissalia
\'riliilra :rncl Iianittha 'Lissa iLdded to it an llposatha House ; (ix)
Dakinitisri tank, sliares in tLrich \vere assignecl to the Vihara ; alrd
(x) Hitadalal'a. A clistrict named Ala-janapacla in tlris region is
itentioned in tlre Commentarios : the rvile of the Ni'garaja of/iiaureclAianda renerved the gift of a canal abanclonecl by the nonlis of the,'

\'-ihrrra

(r-iii)

a4.

l'Iarhahaiagarua;

I)ubalayahatigernra

-ri1. 6o, [.rr

A.S.C.A. R. r95r,
r

5. Puj. rtt.

; Dht,,'3o ; Puj" t6; A.I.C.4 i (:.,T.5. (G) ll.

3S.

17, rS,:5

,64 JOUIiNAL, I{.A.S. (CEYLON) New

Seric,s. L/ol. VI,Spec,iat, Nutnber

EIISTOll,roAl, ToPocRAPHy oF Ar*crENT AND rIEDrEvAr, cE)ILON

6s

Vihira. The Commentaries also mention a ford named Kurur-akatittha, which name is preserved in modcrn Koraaaka-atiaa.16
At Palutthagiri the Colas suffered two severe defeats in rorT and
ro4r. In both instances the position takcn up by the Sinhalese forces

Vih5ra ascribed to Kavantissa, both rulers i' the zncl centurv s.c.
1,1 rl"t- pg. rh,c rocl<-groirp norv l<norvn as .ttu,lct"iqai
:"1i"'-ilrl,rnn
1\,/ tltettt,t[ /1ri,/,' rvhere tJrerc arc caves
all(l pre_Clrristiarr irrscriptions.i_
Tlrc ruins al -luaqali.vnr.n, a rocl;-group aboul a mile lronr Al<asa
cetiya, are named Atada'viliara i' a )ncr 'century inscription ,i,n-r;tr:
f |he 'rcnastery r,vas assigned (l'tavi-rza tank] norv in" t..""t.a
b rUArfl-AttAO.")

w-as essentially defensive, r,vhere they cor,rld r,vithstand siege and make
offensive forays as r,'cll as trap their encnries. Hocart has proposed
the identification of Palutthagiri u,itli irrodern Palatupuna, and in the
identity of the tr,vo names he is doubtless right. Tire nearest rockv
hilis to Palatwpaqt,a lvliich could have serr.ccl as a fortress ancl still
bears signs ,of having been one in the past, are the rock-grolip now
calIetlXt[agul-n,talta-ailutrainthellwkwltaNationalPark. Ontheserock,*
rvas a large pre-Christian monaster\r r,vith several inscribed caves.17
S'tlavakanda is close to Mag,tl-ntalta-aihdya above, and it too rvas
apre-Christian cave monastery. One inscription is dated in the reigrr
of a king u'ho was probably l)utthag5mani Abha5za (n.c. r6r-r37).i8

The extensive ruius at- I,[cntllaqala jn the yrjla .strict l{atura{,

rleserte are those of a' iirrportant'irrl'astery iir ancient times, The
inscriptions thererangc i' riate frorn z'd n.c.io .1th -1.c. a'cl the_ placelralrres rnenlit,rnell irr tlrcrrr rrc:-1i) Iirrragame;
1ii) Gnlcrtr,lrt,,, ;
(iii)_Dov.r iganra ; anrl. (iv; .\bav..lalia. t irc ita'Jar.api
-nva-"
Vilrara
"i :i;.",1-:-pi
foundecl by l,lahaculi ],Iahatissa iu.r:.
if'ttris is
7)_q1
nirlr_thc preieni 1!,t,,,lriq,tla ruirrs, rvlriclr
irr 6arc,
i]"ilfi.lJ
:llirhzrc*h l\lahDtrssa rvas not the Jounder but a iater"r,,q1,11;.,"
benefactor o{ the
Vihara.,.'fLre. r,illagc lllaqrqlaga.rna was^.grantecl 1o tfr" _iu"gflu Uy

.Conagala and Pinthrtratnalgala are trvo acljacent hills in llrc RwlauTta.

)l,rtiottrtl Payl; whtclt in past time {orrned one monasterv. r)f th. niire
pre-Christian ca,ve inscriptions, one records the gift toihe Sangha by
the Village Corporation of MacitrkaSali.l0

Akasa Cetiya, still known by the same name ancl ilre loitiest ancl
most impressive rock in the Ru}tupa n"ational Park, is first mentionecl
in the reign of Kakat'anla Tissa and again in connection rvith Vattagamani .\bhaya's exilc in Rohana: lrcre a sordid incidenr. occurrcrl
wliich caused a temporary estrangerrent betrveen the l<ing and his
ministers The ruins of the Cetiya on the sumnrit prove that there
r,vas a stairrvay, probablv partlv of wood, up to the top in pre-Christian

times.2o

Kotapabbata Vihara, also called Kotipabbata l{ahavihdra,

Ko_tagala,- Kotapavu, Ko-tadora and Kelapavu, ivas near Al<esa Cetil.a
and not far from Cittalapabbata. In ii was Nagalena. -I-lie ruins
have not been identified-. Near Kota.pabbata Vihd,ra was the village
Kittigama or Katigalna.zl
Acchagalla Vihara was 1lear Ali,rsa Cetiya and is iclentical i,viilr
Accha Vihara in Roirana ascribecl to Gotirabhaya and Vala:;galu
16. I[.zz.zz : 24.9 :35. 8r : 4s. Sg : 75.47 ; E.LI.22.r33 ;M.7. 3+, 4Sl :
E.If .B. rr7 rrg, 66; D.Z.IY. zr7 ; LI.C.R. VIII, No. z, tt6,izr-iz6:
No.4, zbr : VII, No. 1,24.2; T.R.A..S. (C.8.), Nerv Series, II, rz6fl.
_-_-\7. I'tt. 55.28, z9: 5E. r8-zo : A.S.C.A.R.rc2z8,t7; C.I.S. (G) II. z6 : U.C.R.,
VIII,
No. z, rz6: J,R.A.S. (C.R.), Nerv Series, II, rz6tT.
r8. -4..S.d.-4.1?., 19.15, ro ; U.C.R., VII, 238, note.+; I.R.A.S. (C.B.), Nerv
Series, lI, r:6ff.
t9. J.R.A.S. (C.8.), New Series, II, r37.
20. lbid., r38 ; XI . zz.2-5,11r : 33. {t7-72; :1.5.C.A.R., rg34, pata 7(t.
2r. Ibid., r39 ; XI. zz. 25: 23. 55, 6 ; Puj. zg; Raj, 57; Tttu. :r34; ]i.H.l].
70, rtg,
_

Thu" zg ;

.Agga.bodtrri (circa 6oo), rulcr-

'l-ba Ytlln

strict

oi ltohana..z{

Naru,t'al Resert,t has not been

i'lly

explorcd for

arlciL?nt sites, but extensive sites rvith caves and pre-cn'ristiiri

tion-. :rre l<notvn to crist at Kot{ati.iiut,ulrcla ancl dr,rrotisrii.

*..rip_

1 sld ce't'ry. i'scription at Deyin,nerteille, near Katagam,,utr,

'records the foundatio' of tire vilrara ia'recl vayaliya-risa;"i.^i"'rrv
atalaka Tisa llaharaja fir'e centuries earrier

\r

Kaclacadaka tank.25

.na'tir. gru;t to ii

",;i

r rniie north ot l{atagonwr,,a is an ecrict by

-" 4-pillar inscription
llanabhararla,
ruler of Rohalla for some veais prior to ,rj3, .f"1.a i"

posthrirnous, 35ttr ye.r of Jayabihir (rris), e.antii[' rr.r.r,

{lie
" *' .t
Ilahartirader iva and I{osombura 1o -ral

ainuhu".Gi.i\rrrraiJ]ro'

uccatalaika or uccavalika viha,ra existecl in the rst cent'rv u.c.

thc llalragama area. Another pr._ai,r'iJ",
*]ld_"'a- proballv..in
thrs localit.v uas (lamantapalrbh[ra or VamantaPabbhara
JlllT.,tn
v

inara .'/

Gimendavdla n'Iahd,vihara existed in the rst century e.c. and was

and, situ,lpauu,aa. Hank'ana vihara of
thc sarne period _was piobabr-v situaterr between Tarapururrcraind,
"SttutDaauua. Vadhatalanagara Vihara was
*" "not far {rorn' situlpauuz,a
and existed in the rst or rni centuiy.te

situated betrveen Kataragatna

Ibid., r4o;

II. T.67; II.T.

A.S.C.A.R., ry51,
24.

8.H.8.7,1 ;App.

25.,1.5.C.A.R.,

3oz; Dhu.83.

57.

IT3 ; Dhu.

rg5.+, 37.

3t ; Ii.H.B. rzz ; )I.34. 8,

26. D,.Z.Y. t46.

27" E.H.B.66,68,69, tt6, rz1.
28. 8.H.8.66, rrg, r2o, 123, tz4.
5

5--Cl

93

45.

I ; E.M.

3q"

{tti

JOIIII,NAL, Ii.A.S.

(CEYLON)

New Series, VoI. VI, Special Nunilitt'

Associatecl r'i'ith thc hill Utun.rvaclapavuva, where golcl was founcl.

u'as the village llttara, also callccl llttaraYaclcll.arn5,na or Antar:rr.;rrLci--

'lramiina

near tlle village and not Jar {ronr X'I:rhiigima was Ambari.,va"
tr'Iahdpnnrlaginta n-as near Mahag:i'nrir.el)
Sal<hharasobbha rva.s a por-t, cvidentlv close to Mahirg[nea, rvliere

Vihtra.

Iiar.raga lanclecl in the Year-

ilt

1[lrlragama i.

lnentioned irr rlrc Sigiri Graffiti.'rr

An inscription of DappuiaIY igzT) at Detagantwvo, ncar l{alavagafixit, graflts-privileges ttl Kapugam Pirivena r'vhich is dcscribed as
iituated to tire norttiof tlie Mahai-eirer ('Iissarnairavihara.) ancl on thc'
south banl< of thc Kapikancl.tr-Ho. lliis ril'er is the Kappakanclaranacli of the Pali Chronicles ancl Paranavitana ha-c establi.sheel that it
is the present l[tinik Galiga. Thc I'illagc liappakandaragama, the'
honre oi the paladin, Birarana, also callccl l{apkairduru antl Kappan'
duru, rvas doubtless namecl after the river and lvas situated on it:l
banks.:l:

'fhe Uda-Tisa-pirive4a, situated on the left bank of the Kirind'

Ho (presenl ll irind a Ol' a), is merrlioncd in an inscrip-tion of \Iahinda TV
{g56-q7z) at X[afilaga.slola, 8 miles frorn Tl.s.sa. In the \fahavarisa
tlie river is called Karinda-nadi.:t'r
Forced to flee from Rdjarattha by the Cola invaders, l{ahinda \f
took refuge in Ilohana at a ternporary capitai rvliich he establishecl at
Kappagaiiaka. Irr rorT he and his farnily, _tqgether- with the ro.',alr
captured by the Colas and he rvas sent as
reguiia ana treasures,
Kingdom lvhere he diecl rz years later.rl
a prisoner to the Cdia''ere
\ralliyera Vihara in Rohafar e.tistecl in the reign ol \-asabha
(t17-rrr) ivho built for its chief rnonk the llahS'valligotta -Vihara.
Presunrably, tire vallivera viirara was enlargec'i and re-named Marh:ivalligotta Viltata : tli'e latter nalne may bc preserved in moclcrn
Y

|iligolld.t"i

29. E.H.R.6r, r17'. DJtt:. 1r; Sr1/z/?r'. S5r.

3il. -11. 3.5. :8.
3i. -'11. 3.5. E3: 36. 3o-j7 : 15. 16:4.S. z5 ; t\I .7.6-':, trt; Ptt.7 3':; Iluj' 5t':"
Sig. Graff. I, -\pp. C.
32. )I. 23. 6q : 21. 2 2 ; l' uj " 21, 3o ; 7-|tt'' t31 ; E.Z. III, ::3, 2:4 ; Sig' Grafr' I"
App. c.

3.1.
3,+.

,11.

3:. r4 ; D.Z. tl,

55. r r .
q:, s.3
31,. -11. .t.;.

63.

;1.1.

; l/ L

U5;.

(J?

Kava'tissa buiit Baclagalclora vihara rvhicrr nray be rnocler'

.'l'lre placc-nanres Ba,lagiri rn, I Ea,.lagiri trri'i,r..u."i"n tt,"
\rgtrt gralfiti.
The .ruins at Bad.agiri1,a,, aboti 7 miles north of
Jramtta.t'ttota, arc ancient .ncr incr'clc iriscriptions 6r irr.-3.J"io
otn
centuries in one of *.hich thc ancient rame of the vih:Lri liai-l_,"en
-_
l.lrr,.lrpiriv.r
_

obliterated.r6

3(r.:ttt

r\nurdrima Vihara, near and Lo north of l'iahagama, w.ts built by'

Va,*abha (67-:rrr) u4ro assignecl to it the village Hcligr,inra r'l'here tllere
was a tr)arivena knorl'n as Helaijam Paiivena. Ilronze 'boats ' for
'lissa (eoc)-z3r)
alms u,ere placecl at r\nur[r5,ma Vihara: Voliarika
(cirica 6.59).
of
Rohana
rulcr
I)appula,
built tlie r-,-posatha House.

repairetl AirrrrLr,rarrta Pa.urla. Attut'u-rnllta-1rii

.FIIii.I'ORICAL TOPOG}],APH\: OII ANCII'NT AND MEDI,F]VAL CEYLON

rhe foundationo{ Gc1!hapabbata\rihara is ascribccl to Got}rdbh'ya,

Iltl9r. ol Itohalra early irr llie, z1c1 century r:.c. t,, o,, .pigiuffr-oi
!,3jabaIru I (rr4-r3tr) at Gocl,at,liya I/i/nt:d, near the *o"tii o'f ttr"
l-'algra Gatiga, the site is called Goclapavata vihara ancl trre cr:-strrns
-tr-,

drities of the Port.of the same uu-c'uic assignecl to the

irili;u-

.later 6th centurV inscription the piace is nanied Gociat,a Vahera. Ihe
'appearancc of the little bay at Godar,fr.ya toclay t-loes not suggrst that
it co'lcl lia'e bee'nrore tha. a hazarcl6's anciorage for an 3E.urio""r
-ailing ship in timc- past, ancl the revenue rost by trie religious tr"".ru.-

lloll

\vu.s

l)robal)ly trifl irrg.,rz

Iihandavagga .sr-rb-district *.as a rzth century clivision extencling

the val,auc Gahga over ilre area a few rniies inlanci from

eastr'r'ard from

;thcr

coast. ln this sub-district

1-d,lJraval,i, irlt.ntilicd

bi

\\-ure

Codringto,,

:- (i) the village E"i.g"ff"_

., j,r"rnl rl I(uggalla_t-d,,?,.,ava
.

iii) Bilava(na) vihara, ttre ancienina'ro fdr the presei? xoroiiil"igoLo

\''ilrara, as gir.en in an inscriptiottitr,

of the reifn of Sirimegha..or,rru

(? restoreil) Bhiili'aria vih;r,ra
in Roha4a. The place Abaclaka, the resiclence oI tire clistrict chieftain,
is nentionecl in the inscription.:ls

(3or-328)

Dh:r'tuse'a (+ss-+z!

sir,w

buiit

I'the rrth ancl rzth centuries, perhaps earlier, the southern part of
Rohana rvas clivided into tivo n-iajor territoriai ciivisions, the clivicling
linc being the \rana-'adi, pre'iously cailed l{aha_nacli, the present
vulauE Gai.ga. The area to east of the river, incrucling Lower ei,a, tvas
'r:alled Atthasahassa-rattha or -c1esa, ' the clistrict oi g,ooo villages ,,
ancl its capital u,as udclhanadr'.ira or Lrdundora, present Gatabidda,
near MorLerc1gala.t]e

Saryghabhedakagana
I{oggalla and llssa.lo

lras a place sitriatecr probably betu,ee'

Sippatthalaka, usecl as a temporarv seat of administration by

_
l"ijayabelru I in thc rrth century, t"ai betrveen Ambalantota and,

.liutaraganta.at

36. Dhtt- 33; Sig. GraiT. I, -\pp. C.

37. I)hr'.7r; C./..S. (C;) II. i97 ; J.R..-j.5. (C.i3.), -\erv Series, \-, 78.
.,_-3E._ J1.3ii..19:75.rr9-rr5;. .1.C..:.1 (a);E.Z.I1I. r79:I\.. zz,1 ;U.O.R.,
VII,
No. .1, :.17.
,19. ,11..5r, r:r:6r. :.1 :7j. t;+, r57.
-lo. )1.75. t2.5"
+r. )1. ;7. 7o: 55. 7.

{i8 JOUI{,NAL. R.A.fJ. (CEYLON) New Series' Vol' VI'

HISTORIOAI,'IOPOGIi,{ PIIY OF ANC TE NT AND I{I'DI

Special Nurnltt'r"

LtVeheragala,neatBodaganta,ontl)eTanamalvila-Hant'bEgantitua.

village' Rayaclagama in l'Iayagaraya'43

(B). Giruva Fattus

Gir.i-janapacla,alsocalleclGirirnanciala,[iirirril-clanavil.a'.a,rld
Girur.ahobacla,\VaSo..ii,t'i.trvlrichextencletliirore-Christiaritirries
ll rs/' In ( 'iri
over. apPro\inrarelr , pte:rfll Civtrz'a Pttlltts' F'asl arrrl
Nittlrrrlrcalled
al.,
rli:lrict ri.t,re:._(r) trr.iilillagc \itrlr.la-r.irrhil<a.
it mav
tlgtlimbara.:
u
arriol,
the
oi
ir8rne
the
;tt;;i; u"h ri1"'ri'lti,
-iilirttitl neat TangaLta ant'r, (i;)
.Kutl1nl9ilniu,1n1
il';;;-;i'
Kulrrmbi5.angarra." l( urnbiyangana, Kul lllr lriVr
al.o kno$ n a:^,
viliiee.
"Kclrtl'angana, tlre birtlrplace oI tlrc rtlrrrtor \ eluslln]ena'*
and
.ll-reancientnameofl[utgirigalal:ihuyttisgir-enjrl'arzthcentury
sltl.{l.to lldve
rnscritrlion tlltre ar -\lulrunrlgiri Vilr'tra' I(i-trantt.te t- ]lrrl*tntlciri
$itlr
irle.tical
bt'
may
il,i.
in"r"
';;';',t;,i^'r
ij;:,
"",1tltene clate fromlhe zncl ce.tury R"c'. "l'he
;;;;..i" 1L; inscribed car'"-'
(263-271) .the building -of
Siniralcse Chronicies u*tit'" tc Jetthatissa.I
oJ Manabhararra of thc
nili;i;l iiher; : tte.-iitiganruia'insctiption
'g?on, to I alamu]lrrntlgiri vihSna and, tlrere
.
records
cenrurv
12th
t\\o Viharas named Nlulrrrndgiri' "."" 1T-lli:']."3:
tr"i". "pp"ti'ntl).
'.14
Tlre Rajrtvaliya r'r rongly cqiratcs,uaKKnln'rsrrr
uleiri3,tl,,r.
;;i";'
Vittat", rr hiclr rv.-as near Sigiri' ri ith JIrrlgtrt PalLt V tltttv0 ''"
0natockcalleclVatli'gala,abol.tlr}rnilesfromRannatoi'r.arcl.q
are trvo insSlipiions of the rst century and one of the
Tangu-lta,there
-."nt.t.v. There
was a thupa here in ancient times but all traces
itt,
ou ing lo recenr quarrf ing of the.199\<,,. 1 re
.:onit[.'l
;.utti
ii'ia'r-r"t .
tnara
oI tlre sitt' as given irr tlrc inscript.ioni was Kamuhaltvt.v
.ia
KalaSamayutagama
;
"^*"
qe-(1)
the'inscriptions
in
.(ii)
;il;;;ti"";c1
a'd.
Riliala,
Pailata,
narned
fielili
of
ii".tr
tank ani

Antbalantota.s2

Naclibhanclagrtma has been iclentifiecl by Codrington as AbacJa,

5 miles nortlr-r,r,est <>f Iir,rahcitiya. Paral<kamabahu's general attacker,l
the. strong lortffication here- irom Mahasenaga*u nni won a .,:i.io.y
nl'rich cpened-the-u,ay_to Mah5,ndgahula. l'here rvas an olcl saying,

' they looked for the tolls at NfSsengamuva'.r'3

Malavaratthali \\.as situated bettveen Ranntaloltarrda and
,\4dmadola: Coclrington places it in the vicinity ol Taldt:a.:'+

Simatalatthali

irii)

42.
43.
44.

E,H.B. 72r.
Dhu.83; Pwj. z4; Raj. 4+,
46.
47-

A.I.C.69.
JI{. 6o.

-5r

C'l'S'

452, 18 : 454'

(t1)'

z1; Thu" r33' t35

II' tzz'

6r ; Puj. z9 i Raj- 57; C'l'S' (G). IL r2o' Lzr'

and,

The line dividing the r,r,et and dry zones runs roughlv frorn
to Valasndla. the area to west being the wet'-zoire. In

early times, population clecreased as the rvet zoneivas approacheci.

.18. C./.S. (C;), ll. rzo.
49. . M. 6t. 22, 24:58. 39 : 6o. 9o : 6r.

57.

A.l .C.7o: C.J.s. (G), If . :1.

^u..2,.'+g,
rto; LI .ll'.
osi f .lt.
"l' 79,

situated betr,veen 0bada and, flrubokka.

Tangal,la

is namerl I(acagala -Vihara.in'a. znd

js identical u:itlr Kasegalu Vilrrrra
This
llrere.
iit..riprion
..niutu"
Rolrana lcirca hie) and Kasagalla
of
Dapptrla
l,iiii'i) t.ti"tlaf bv
(ro55-riio)'1;
t
i'ilayabalnr
trv
restored
irlrrirJ
Kaltagal Vihura rrcar Rattrta

Puj. zo; Ilrtj.

r,vas

Codrington suggests that tl're name impliecl a ltoundary tori.n, probabiy

on the Cirtr,aa Pattw botnclary.si'

Hamara.ao

'.

61}

Abavika; and (iii) Ahararrika.a8

Tlre area to rvest of, llne YalauE Canga rvas called Dviiclasasahnssa
or l)olosdahas-rata, 'the district o{ rz,ooo villages', and its capital
w-as l{ahflndgahula, called Mannvulu iit Sinhalesc literature, and
identihecl by Paranavitana as present RambhcT Vihara, abr-rut 8 miles
lrom ,Lntltnlantota on thc toacl to Attrbilil.itil,a. n'Ialianagahula r.vzrs
the scene of much activity during the campaigns of Vijayabnhu [,
u'ho made it liis capital, and of Parakkamabaliu I in the rrth anci rzth
centuries. It r,vas from l,Iahanagahula that \rijayab:r,hu launchecl his
clccisive attack upon the Colas. Gajabahu II resicleci tl'rere and
Parakkamabal'ru lit'ecl there as a youth r,vith his unclc.al)
Bocllrir-a,la i-* moclern Bouala,3 miles south-east oI Iiiralta.;'l
On tl-re Hiraflilamalaya or Suvallamalava rangc of hills, identifiecl
brt Codrington w,ith prescnt Ra2tntalahanda, north-u'cst oI Kiratna,
ri'as the Remuna rock rvhere Vijayabnhu fortified himself. ,Iatrflpabbata r'vas aiso a peak irr this range. 'lhese hi1ls urere usecl not oni.y as
defensive fortifications but also to iaunch oftensitre foravs ancl raids
on the lorvlands to the south.r,1
'lambalagama, a strongholcl ancl ternporerry resiclence of
Vijayabahu, u'as in ttre vicinity of. Tak|t,a, about 15 miles north-r,vest of

:nd
of
,the tlre'
,ona,tiri.r"-"i? Iti'o inscriptions- one 'ery fggmentarY
mentions
latter
Ihe
centur-r,.
r,tn
tt]"
centurr,. ancl the ottrciof

-l-t. 7o. Sz

cerrturlz inscription

gorro no* knou'n as Pdndiltwlant'a!2

\T.dI. Oli \] LL]

Vrgumuaa Viltiiya, also near llanna, is called Vagolr-r in a 5th

in sitr,r,. In other inscriptions of the 3rd and 7th
centuries the follorving place-names occur :-(i) Varanatota : (ii)

built a VihS'ra near the tank

p".riki;i;;"."'j?arakkamabahu I (rrp3-r 186}
pe",ili.{,Iil;.".
"r'"
in" breachecl reservoir north ot Ridiva;J;.Jpilirut"i""ru"l""i.,
Daooula of Rohana (circa (r59)

;;h";;k"r;

;'

t37i A.S.C.A.R., 1955, 72.

5ct. tul. SZ.SS.
5r. AtI. 57.62:. 75. 62, r58.
52. ,M. 58. ro, 3E.
53. M. 75. roq, ro9; Puj. rqz.
54. M. 75. tt6-68, 57.
55. M.75. ror.
r

23

63.

+;

75.

tg, t56,

16o

; I.hu. r33,

IIISTOIdICAL TOPOGIt.{PH\ ()F ANCI]'NI'AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON ?I

CHAPTER

V]i

THE MATAR.A DISTTRICT

'llie
The present M(itara District was a part of ancient llohana..
e"titeiy Jt it it in the rvet zone where pqday cultivatio-n by irrigatiorr
is not ieasible. The hinterlancl, comprising X/Iorauah Korale, is trtounpopulated in
iui"o"t. The coastal region may liave 6een- sparsely settled
much
;;;lt ii-.t, but the int6rior u'ai not opcnecl lP -and of a'cient

bef&e the roth century. There is a markcd absence

;;;;;";it, so proiific in the dry z'ne, ancl this is good e'iclence of
the paucity of settlcd population.
Inhismonographentitlecl..fheshrineo{fipuh.an-atDel'rrn_
<1ara',r Dr. paraiavitana has dealt eriliaustivell'r-ith the historv,.the
mudertt
architecture,
-iri,rrrdooo. ' the norship antl the iilscripiions at DcVanagara.,

Accorclingio the C*lavarirsa, Dappula, indepenclent ruler

of Rohana (circa 659), founded Khadirali Vihnra'--A. SlJt -!9lt"ty

inscription it f,lrrrlr1'ora refers to the temple as Kihiriili Pirir.'ena
(: i. Khaciirnli parivena) of Giriyala : this, then, I'as- its original

The Siniralese Chronicles ascribe the {oundation of Det-nuvara

or Devunuvara Vihara first to l)appula (Dapulusen), then-to AggaVikhamabodhi IV (667-683), and Iinally to Menavamma (684-718)'.
.n'hen he had
Devanagara
of
torvn
the
lafr" t liozg-to\zS visited
iompleted hii preparations to attack the Colas, in'ho were then rulers of
Ceyiln, but he fell ilt and died there. Vijayabehu I (ro.55-rrro)
resiored Devanagara Vih5,ra. During the rzth century c_rvri rvar,
parakkamabahu'i troop.; {ought an actio' at Devanagara. .Nissarika
Uulfo 1rrS7_1196) records tiat he visited De'inur.ara and hacl the
i.-pt.J there iepaired. Parakkamabahu II (rz j6-rz7r).r'isiterl, thrr
temite, r,vorshippld the ' Lotus-headecl God', and erected t5e Nanclana
Pasida : later, he restored the \r'hole temple and celebratecl an Asalhi
i"siinat evcry year {or the goc1. ParakkamabS'hu I\r (circa-r3oz)
L"itt rt Devapura a long temple of two storeys r,r'ith four pairs o{ gates

r,.-".

ior the Image of the iecumbent Bucldha: to the Imagc Ho*se

l're

.rilgt't"a the i'illage of Galthimana, present Gritatnltna' The gcneral of

Bhulvanekabahu IV (1346-1353) buiit a 3-storeyed lmage House for

the standing Image oi th" Buclclha. In the Galle trrlingr-ral slab

'fcna'arai (De'inur-ara) on
inscription, i6" tlti of ollerings macle at

behali of the Chinese Emperor, YungJo, (r4ro) is recorded in Chinese'

Arabic arrd'lamil. In tlie gtir ccntury inscription in u'hich the shrinc
is namecl Kihirrili-pirivana of Giriyala, the follou'ing I'i11ages are
declared cJedicatecl 1o it :-(i) Salkeyal ; (ii) l'Iagula, r'r4rich may be
I.

X,I etn

oirs,

(ts::)

Itu_gall,agorJa,near: Nd,iutana North; liii) Uclumaharoja; (iv) l{ahavela;

and (v),Paqavara. 'lhe seconcl inscription at the siie is of paral<kamabahrr II and it
Te4qlii-atoia, tlie name of the seaport at
Devinuvara. The'e'tions
third.inscription, of parakkamabahu VI $4rb-r467)
grants to the Vih:lra :
.(!) {aymanai, moclern ly'rlimana; (ii) Sungangoii
rnodern Htntgaigo,.la,' (iii) Pagala-Karamullai, no' pahali liay"am,illa,"
ancl (i-v) Verdtvai, moclern Veyadut'a.'z The fourth inscription of
\rijayabdhu- VI (r5r5) grants to the K0r,il named Nagarisa it Devinuvara fields at :-(i) Paravrisara, present Parat,altaral and (ii) pdtir-

gama in Nar-acltrnna, present PtitCgatna and, lid,oiwmna.'t

'The l{u.starujagu!o al Ytiligama

is thus describecl by Dr. paranais of colossal size and represents a figure in kingly atfire,

vitana:-" It

but the Dhyani Budciha r\mitabha on the head-=clress anciihe rotus

i' the hancl inclicate that it depicts A'aiokitesvara as has already
been suggested by Dr. Nell There- is a local tradition that this figure

held

represents a foreign king lr,ho left his natir.e country because he suflireci
fronr leprosy, landed at Yiiligatna and r,vas cured b1, a local physician.
This tradition seems to preser'e in a distorted way iome facts relarding
tire Rodhisattva Avalokita. one aspect of tliis Boclhisattvi, that
knou'n as Sirirhanida LokeSvara, is considered by the }tahaylnists to
be the curer of all diseases and is particularly invokecl to cure reprosy.
It is sta"ted that 'the first success -of Lamaism among the lrlongois was
due to the cr-ire of a leprous king by rneans of the Siriihanada Sedhana'.
But the iconographical representation of this form of A'alokita, as
{orrnd in northern Buddhisf countries, differs from tirat of the vcirigatna
lg.r1", i-t may be possible that the particularisation of this aspect of
Avalokita's beneficient influence with a distinct iconograprricur fottn
t'as of trater date than this sculpture ancl that the cure of leprosy was
origi'i.ily attributed to this lloclhisattva in a more general form.
'lhere is another tradition prevailing among the educatecr Buclclhists
that this figure is that of the god Natha
The word Natha means
'Lorci ' ancl is o'lv a sliortened form of the fuller epithet 'Lokesrrara
Natha'. It is hardly necessary to mention that the epithet LokeSvara
is onr: of the most {amiliar of the rnany nanes of A'alokiteSvara and
r.i'as the one by's4rich he w-as best knolr,'n in Camboclia ancl
Java. Tlie
moderir belieJ that Avalokita ol vtiligarna is Nattra provicles further
circurnstantial eviclence of the identity of the tll'o,,.4
Parakkamabahu s troops ftom Pasdun K1rale aclvancecl dorv' the
coa,"t ro :rttack the rebels in Rohana and reached Mahavalukagama or
Viltrkaga'ra, nroder' Viiligam,a. This place u,as then a seaport of some

importance

2.
Ilaj.

a'd the chronicle says that there r,r'ere many merchants

identiiic:rtions lrre bv Par:rn:rvit:rr.La"

:.r: :o t,'. 6o. 59 . Z-5 17 I S_3 49-5r : 81. E5 : qo. 94, 95 ; ptr.i. z,g
-1.\.-r1., \ l. Or,6q, 74, i7 ; I:.2. T. rj.5 : II. rrg, r+r, r77 : III. j3r,
'.liahtllirrrisrr in Cer'1on', (1./..S (G) IL 19, 5o, 53.

.\11 tirese

Jj

+5-

72 JOLTIINAL, rt"-{.S. (CiIYLON)

there'to

r'vhonr

their liJe and their money rvere dear'" Parakkama-

bfr,hu's general olTered pardon and protection to all those who carle over
to his sicle, and the merchants, together rvith many inhabitants of the

ltriliganl& 'was captured 'uvithout much

area, surrendered, so that

fighting. A Vihara rvas built at Valliggama \Vliligatna)

in the reign
of Queen Kalyanavati (rzoz-rzo8). Parakkamabahu IV (r3o3-r33o)
built at Valligrr,ma Vihara a long pasacla of tr'vo storeys namccl
Parakkamabtahu Pas:rda, and granted it the village of Saligiri, present
Atgtriya, 6 nriles ftom V ciliganta.i'
Continuing their advance from Yriliganta, Parakkamabirhu's
troops broke'up into columns which fought actions at Kammaragama
ili u nr.b u,r n, g anruv a), ll ah :lp ana lagama (P ri kin a), Man akapitthi,
l{ilavalatittha (trltatara) and Devanagara (Devunclara), and convergecl
on Kaclalipatta in order to cross the \ihala Ga'i,ga in force. 'fhe
rebel forces took their stand at Mahai<hetta to oppose the crossing,
but Parakkamabahu's forces broke through and crossed to the opposite
irank at Digheli" Coclrington suggests that X'Iahflkitetta r't as PrTradutttt,
near Alwrrissa, where there is an extensive stretch of fielcls on one side
of the river ancl a long channel (dik-ala) on the other.6

Conjointly rvith the attack dou.-n the coast, Parakliamab:rhu sent

strong forces from l)enauaka and Natadun' KoralE to advance into
.lloravah KoralE and clescend the hills into Giruta Pattu. These
forces captured rebel strongholds at }fadhutthala, present Mlgo{tt
near and to sor-ith-east _of UruboltAa (Codrington), and at SiikarSliBheripas5na, present [irwbokka and Beralapaqr,atara (Codrington).
A Vihara named Bheripasdrla existed in early times.T
"the Pmu,kaQwaa Copper Plate of Vijayabahu I's zTth year (ro8z/
E3) is a grant of privileges to Ruhulu-dadanayaka-Sitnarubim-

Budalnavan (Lord Budal of Sitnarubim, Daldanayaka of Ruhula).

Sitnaru-bim, it lvould appear, rvas the name of the territorial division

around modern Panukadwaa irt Moratah, Korale.s

CH.{PT.LR

VIII

THE GALLE DISTRICT

The Galle District,like trre Matara District, rvas a part o{ Rohaf
a
and was situated in tlie *,et zone. It had
irrigatiori io-o.i.rl"a ir,
settlecl popul_alion in ancient times *,as scant.\,.
'o The earliest
ancient
monument which has su^'ived is an inscribea pillar of the rotli .."i"ry"
The terrain begins to. be hilly a ferv miles irorn the .";;i,
ttr.

hinterland is rnorrntairrous.

".,o

Bhimatittha or Bentota, modern Be,tota, u,as in paical,oiana

(Pasrl,trt Itarolel i' rrre rzrir arrci r3th ccntrrri.i.
i; ;; i.Lriiii"o" or,
rarar(riarnabahu I (r r53-r r8o) at Galpata \-ilrlra, no*-callcd cal,.t
hclln.
v.t.tt'tr'r. t[ Bcttrotu,lhc forro*ing praces are namecr as assigne,r
to trre
Siyambatapaya, in" rir'i.h ,r'a* Sumb.l*par-riiiiru ,,i,i.r,
)l'lol,"
,-,t,rcndered
trad been
suitab'lt' Ior crrltivatiorr : (ii) Tirrgar-al rr. prt.>cnt
T.'itnbat;attnta or Tintbofutaa (Bell) in Bemtota i-;l
the east. by th9-pond of kumbuk trees, on the so"ln-ry-th.';;o",
"J;;;, ;;;i""d;; .,"
andon thonorthbv LIre:trer-t: (iii) Tiratenayi'\'arta, nroderrr Tit.ircnevtjralla \Ball),, tiv) Iiamr.irivarra: (r)-C;...-,g^nra. in r,r.hich *.as p";;:
preseirr.tiasag:attnta

1err",i"i:ii""ri;*i, ii;
antl nranonaudana in trre ragoon'; '1iiii;
ijolrrlrr,.liva,.prc)enr B_oltudiua (Bell) ; anrl (ix) i-irr^;k;;:i","or.r.n,
A'issa,isala,(Bcll), in Berai'agotla, boundecl
b;;i;; i"n,rr,,
"n'tr'"."ii
on.the sourh by the korr rt"el on trre wt'sr iry
Aru'nto,i" lr x"r.rlrr.gala,..prcserrt Kril,ulJgala (paranar itana;. anh o,, tt," n,,rtf
,-b;Jl;il.r"
R:l',"1^,i1,
l'e rsranLri!vfj1-saSatugo,.ta.
uharmmanandarra

rn l{rtl(evrlva, Parak-l<_amabalru Il (r zj6-rz7r) celcbrlred'a festir.al

for the Tooth Relic of n'Iahathera r{ahalassapa u,rrich *,",

at Bhimatittha

(Gala pc\ta) Vihara.l

",rihii*".t
the
Salgamuio,v-a,
pre_sent
Hihkatltri,a
Gaigtt,
at Salaggama,
.. -1c1oss of Parakkarnabalru
tlrc nlinister
il lt2Jt)_t27r) bnih ; ;r;l;;;i;"..
(3oo feet) long : Salaggama \vas on thJ ri,
buni.
ir,.",:iil]s.i"",

"i
laler a.signed to Tirtlrag,rna vilrara. presenr
"'ij
Tor,tgo,tuua"\ait,aro
IY .ft27.r-t.i7jr builr a p;r';.ta in lirrr,aie,l; V;#.".
Yil1shtlirl
'1'\ rorn ccliury,rscrptr.on on a sturrc
1.,i[ar at tiii, tempre nrention.

the place Nlahabdlagairr.:

At the sllanirrana s\\'amp or

Parakkamabatru'tI birilt a t;ig;

Saigas-ho1

a thc. samc ]linister oi

He ar.o cleared the

"i;;T.r,uitr.
Mahalabujagaccha or lrlahadetgas forest,
founded tneie

was narned after the forest, planteil^a large grote of

"
erected an Image House and a

t'etiya.:r

a-i,iffi

,irrl.r,

jak tr?es, and

Gimhatittha and Gaiu-nadi rvliich fisure in the civil war during

the reign of Parakkama!1hy

(rr53-rrgo)
are modern Gintota aif, tne
--

Gin, Gahga respectivelv (Geigerj.r

5.
6.

Ll . 75. 3tc-q6: 8o. 38 | go. gb,97"

M . 72. t:3 : 7 5. 47-6r.

7.

II .75.98, t47; E.H.B. rto.

8.

E.Z. Y, t fi.

r"
2.

!I-. 85. 16,

4.

lt/ . 75. 23, 24.

17,

8r ; puj.

4S ;

Y.99. +t ; Puj. 4s: C./.s.

3. lll.8o. 42, 49-54; puj. 49.

E.Z.Iy.
(G)

zo8.

rr. r81, ru5, rs8.

HISTOII,IC]AL TOPOGR,APHY OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEY.LON 75

CI{APTE]T

]X

THE MANNAR DISTRICT

The X,[nnnar Distri,ct in ttre north-rvcst of Cevlon is t]re most
arid region in the Islancl; it has a lou' rainf:ill cluring thc uortlt east
monsoon and a pr:oiougecl and acutc period of clrought {roin l(av to
September every year. It-s coast is thc nearest part of (it:ylon to
Soutirern lndia: therefore, this :'naritinte area became, by proximity
to t1e Inclian rr.rainl:rnd, ngt onlv t[e comnr.ercial coast {or sliipuing

and external tracle, but also, the vulneralrle inr-asion coast upon which
the clominant South lnclian pou'cr for the time bcing (PtLr't1ya or: Cola)
launched, at varior-ts tirncs, its ravaging sea-llorne attacks. No less
important than the proximitr,' to India in promoting fore.ign tra<lc in
this region was the richness of the famecl Pearl Ranl<s, knou'n from
great antiquitlr, 11r]ri61, iav o1T the north-ll'cst coast imm,ediately to
south of tire islancl of Mrtmtt'd.t; chanks, in u'hitrh too therc lvas:r
considerable tra<le, n'ere abunclant in the r'r'atcrs both nortir ancl south
of Mannrtr islarrcl: ancl, in thc forests of the immecliate hintcrland,
were manlr elephants, also an important export procluct froru earlv
times.
The District is airnost unifornrly flat ancl the nain rir-er r'l'hich florvs
througlr it is the Xlalt'atta' 0)'4, knorvn as the Arwai Aru in its lon'er
course. l'he tiurhs are s5a11ou, 1r'ith conrltarativelV 1611' fq1rrcl,s. 'fhere
are several lagoc.,tts rvitlr large strctclies of in{ertile, open larrd arouncl
them.

'fhe anticlritlr of tlie X'[attntir District goes back beyond the

to tLre legencls ancl traditions associatccl

with the original arrir,al of the Northcrn Ittdians rn'ho founcied the
first civilised settlements in the Islancl. lir the legend of Vijava it

beginnings of Ceylon historv

is related that hc and his men saik:cl clorvn tire rvt-'st coast of Inclia from
SuppS,ralia ('nclv, Saltara, nortlt ;tf Bonthat') anc'l landecl in I-.anka at
Tambapanni: becattse their lrands u'crc stained l.-y the ccipDer-colcurecl
earth when thev threw thenrseives aslrore thcv caliccl tlieir landing-place,
as well as tlie tortnship close 1.r1, rvlii,fi thcv latcr cstablishecl, antl the
-l'he
l)\ravarirsa, tllc olclest of the Cevlort
rvhole Island, 'ltrtnbauat:rni.
Chronicles, states tlrat l'anrbapanni \vas 'o1l the niost lovclv south bank
of the river'. 'l'hc llajnvalivir, thc iatcst arlcl ltlast reliaibie of the
Sinhalese Chronicles, alonc st:rtes that \rijat,a's ships mircle ior larid in
the direction of ltulruna (nrisinterpreting the n'orcl 'south') lrnd rrihen
they sightctl Snmanakfita (Adant's Przll) thtr1, steerecl tlicir ships
for the shore ancl landccl. l-he river referrt:cl to in tire l)iplvaiilsa is
unrloubterll.-r'

llre Ka,lrrrtrba-narli (1,r,'settl .llulL,rllo Uta or .Artn i ,lrtt).

i,s onc u'hich, in its literal fornt, cattttot bi;'crar]ited,

The storv o{ \'ijava

but there is nothing in the storv to crea.te a reasonable doubt about

the facttal existence of a place named Tambapalfi. It is described
as one of the earliest ports and the first settlement of the Indo-Arvan
immigrrnt., and thcre js ei-cry reason to supposc tlrat it still existerl
at the tirne the Chronicles r,vere compiled. Its situation, according
to the Dipavarhsa, was near the mouth and on the south bank of the
Aruvi Ant, that is, assuming the river tras not changed its course, in the
vicinity of modern Arip.fu,. This is supportecl lty other evidence. A
voyage dolvn the rvest coast of India rvould have rendered a landing
in Ceylon to north of the shoais and sandbanks now known as Adatn's
Rridge a perilous undertaking because of the hazards of the passage
through eithcr the Puntlten or tlne Mannar channels : safer natigation
tlrrough these straits rvas probabl! di,s66ysr.4 later, after tliey had
becone {amiliar to mariners. The Pdndyan
'liave princess rvlio came to
Ceylon to be Vijaya's queelt is saicl to
iancled at Mahdtittha
(Montai) and then proceecled to Tambapalni: here again lras an avoidatrce of the Adatn's Bridee passages and the employment of a safer
route direct from the Pnndyan coast to a port in Ceylon to north of
Ad.ant's Bridge. Vijaya livec'l 38 years at Tambaparlni and everv year
he sent the Panclyan king a present of pearls: we may infer, therefore,
that Tambapatni was in the vicinity of the Pearl Ranks. The next
capital after Tambapanni was Upatissagama. and after that the royal
city rvas pernranentlv established at Anurd,dhapura, so that the
morrement inland was

up the valley of the

Malaatfu,t, Oy,a,

from

Tambapanli to Anurd,clhapura. The ruins of Tambapanni have not

Vet been discovered, and if any remains exist they probably lie not far
from tire sea in the neighbourhood of Arippu.l
Equalllz ancient, but soon attaining far greater importance than
Tamtraparlni, r,vas the port of Mahatittha, modern Mantei, on tire
rnain iancl opposite the torvn ol X,Iau,nar, a seaport renorvned throughout tlie east in ancient antl medievai times. In Sinhalese literature
and inscriptions it is called variantly llahavoti, Mahaputu, Mahavutu,
Mavatutota, I,Iahapatana and Nfatota, and in Tamil, M5tctttam. It is
novv a truly buried city, i1e ruins iying in the great mouncl at Mantli
fronr rvhich rises the Hindu temple of. Tiywh.\iuayatn. Like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva, l{ahatittlia was a lr'alled city. The main
export products of Ceylon, pearls, precious stones, cinnanron, spices
ancl elephants, passcd out

of the country cliiefly through this famous

harbour. Ptolemf's exceptional account of Cevion, written in the

middle of the znd ccntury, names it Modouttou. In the 6t1-r century
Cevlon attained rlreat commercial importance as the centre and
entrepot of sea trade in the Indian Ocean: Persian and Axumite sliips

and the sailors of Adrrlis frorn the West, the shipping of India, anrl the

t. I1.6.
30-44,

47 | 7. 40, 4r, 8, 23, l+: 8. 4 : rr. zo-26, 3E,39 : 19. l-4 ; D.

aj conectcd at C.rl.S. (G) I. rr, rz ; Puj. r; Ilaj. 16.
.5

g"

JOtiltNAL, tt.A.Sl. iOlilYJ,ON)

Neu;

fieriet, lrol' Vl, '9pecial i\jurn'ber

nlariners ancl ncrchants o{ china and other {ar-Eastern countries,

met in the harbour of X'Iahatittha.2
There is eviclence of strong Hindu influence at Mahntittha.

"lJr. Paranavitana has referred to the statement in the Dathavarirsa

lmt ttr"t" r,vas a Hinclu shrine at Maha,tittha in the reign of Sirimegha'famil

,;rid

(3or-328), and

to the Te'aram h'nns in rvhich the

sings the praises oJ Siva rn'ho had hi*c abode

i1,.r", t." alhrdes also to a Common inrprecation in Sinhaiese inscriPtions of the gth ancl roth centuries lvhich reacls, 'may he ivho "'iolatcs
this eclict incur the sins of a killer of colvs at l'{ahavutu'. r\11 this
oI the placc arld tlrc revclcllce I,ai'1 tt'
.t,r,t'r^ai-"* thc Hinrlu {cnctitV
t l,'v snrhalese Bucldliists. 'lhe population of l ahatittha. u''ouid have

;;#:"N;t#mbanda.,

includecl a Jarge number of loreign_merchants, most of ri'hom must

Indi:rn: hence the pre-dominance of the Hindu element
t,r.." U
"'-r
)nrons the non-liirrldlrirt resitlcrits fln(l lloaiillg Iopulaiion. -\ltlrtrug,h
for.r"i"t.. ancl trlclc r."'ere largelv in foreign hanrls, tlie Sinhalese

inicriptions speali of 1he sinhalese l<irrg's.offlccrs bSirvhom

tb.e piace rvas

:rcimiiisterecl' 11-,s c6*rtoms clucs 1','6111d [31is ]'ielcled a considerable

u.r,"..," anrf, no cloubt, aclequate achninistraiive rnacilinery was set
rrp to sccr.rre its collection on the kins's behall'3
The Chronicles mention }[ahdtittira mainly in contrection r'r'ith
in-,rasions: as the liev port it natura-ih'trlacl to be capturcd first trl
tio.ctrr:
f"ufri. ;t"t,, lte rtse,:l a.s tire main i,,as.e {or suppiying thc ini'acling
lvith their honrelancl. l'he 11rst
commr;nications
-ui"t"ining
of the Paf dr ar.princess
"rr,r,-t".""-.., as alrEacly stateC, is to 1he lancling
fllie trtain6th_cent'ry^n.c:.
the
in
traditionally
\riiaya,
of
i; ih;r"il"
that the Cola co-11clueror,
.,"fli-, i"ii*t-, is: iiequently inaccurate, statest'ith
hi,s arm)' at l\fahavalpia*.'""ii" in the z'rJ century n.c., lancled
at tlrr: rnotr th oI tl re -] 1al,r; ',i! i Co i::t,
i,ii.'i *fii;f.r it crroneously lochtesthe
correctly rvith _Ir'tahtrtittha.
;;i; . t"i.t passage it equalesarrir-cclplacc
in Ceylo_n in lr.c.-rfir underllie
iii" iof" reinforcem6nts n-i'riclr
pushecl
."rt"t.f'nn"ffulia to give aicl to Elara, landed at Mailatittha and to'
late
their intervention *,as
;;;;il ioir"ra to Anuradhaplra,in b1t
deprived
jS.:19)3.
Ilana,ga_
battle.
slain
been
fr"Aalreaclv
-lf.i""e
".'nur'.r
b5' 1L" I'.ambaka4nas, -embar:ked at ltahntittha on his
ri irir
kingdom r'vhere h.e stayed 3 years before. he was
Iie'rala
fi*irf t" li*
Though the Chronicle does
;;i;;";";i,;n and regain"the sovereignity.
say so, it is very probable^ that the Sinhalese prince,
"ni.ipr.r*y wh-o macle trvo invasions of Ceylon in Pallava ships and
l,Inna.;ammi,
o"itn p"t|"rr^ armies proviclecl by the Pallava kings, NaraSirirhayarman

first attentpt to secure

I ar:rd II, lanclecl each time at I'Iahdtittha: his aJter
he had capturerl
abandoned
to
be
had
Ce1'lon
of
ih" tL',rr-r"
the Pallava

troops
Anurarlhapura and victorlz was in sight because
jllness
serious
of
their
to
the
owing
*"r. ,"culi.d to their orvn country

2. See Bibliography at end of Chapter I'

3. E.Z-I.245: II' 23.5: III' r33, I35' 225'

}IISTO]],ICALToPoGIir\PHYOI.ANC]IENTAND}IEDIEVAI,cl'YLON77

king, but the seconclinvasion u,as entirely success{ul arnd }'Id,navamma

porvcr of
il..?i""i.i"g o1 C"yto" in 684. 'brom about the year 77-5, the
;h; P;4ayai t.it gdo* continued to expand r;rPrdlv, and^an in'a-'ion o{
C"r,'tri nrjp"ar-" to have been apprelrenaia A tn-e reign of Agg-+odhi VII
(ri 77jj'b"cause the prince lfahinda was stationed at n'Iahatittha
I
ir'rl ttr.'il.it n'r orders. Tire invasion actually came in the reign of Sena

llalr[ts.r-tlS;,),"rrrtl ilie Prrn,.l1'ans, a{ter lauclirrg presrrmablv at

provlnce
northcrn
thc
laid
rvastc
trrst
ports,
northcrn
othcr
iid
titiira
(ttlt"r.iri'f,a), bcing joirri'.J b1'nranr Darnilas rvlto \verc rc.ident in
var.iouc plact,r in tlrit'region :-ir i. .l,eci Iicall) )txic(l 1l.riii tlri' local
reinforcehent gave substantial aid to the irivarleLs. Ihe Srnilalese
uip:r r.rfi.t.cl a"crustring clefcal altl tl're hing abandoned AnrLrS,Chaprlra
and flecl inlancl. Anuratllaltiira was sacl;e,i, and Se.a I r'vas conrpelle<1
a'd
to mahe a humiiiatjng c:|pit*latiot-r, irarving a. itcar,5'- trihute
i"a."i"it_", in acldition"to i'rrerclering. ti're lttire ro','ai r-egalia^and
of Sena
lt."*t.,'to tegaitt the throne. In tle -t'-car Si;z (the qth 1''eali1i-ti:eatecl
becn
It of C";vto"), iiie Pral{Van princ-c, \rarilgrLua, *'ho haclr'vho
hacl in'adetl
Cv trisfithei,'king Srim'era Srir.allabla (t1e nonarch
;r1.i;"bj;g.iecl ieylon in the reign of Sena I), came to Ce'io' ancl
invokecL the armed assistance of the Sinhalese king to secure the
P,inclyan throne. At this time the Pa4dyans rvere under attacl< by
the'iiliar.,as ancl the moment \xras favourable for a Sinhalcse counterinvasion to elase thc clisgrace of the earlier defeat and to recover the
r-uv;rl reealia. Scna II tiierefore assembled a large expeditionary force
.rt'-ijutie'ttttna for the invasion of Pfl,ndya and personally supervised
: the
Its embarkation. The expeclition gained complete success
F;'avuu armv was .lefeated ancl the Pdrlcllran king, thoggh he cscaped
+.rm'tne latilefielcl, clied o{ his wounds: Maclhura rvas saclied, the
Sl"tiut"r. regalia ancl tleasures recovercd and Varaguna II co'secratcxl
as king of P"e4c1ya. The victorious Sinhalese almy returned to l{aharvho had remained
titthaXnd were ieceivecl rvith honour iry their king'Ihe
cofa powef was
at the port lvhilehis troops rvere abscnt abroad.
guitrittg the ascenclincy in South India and in,grJ inflicted a
"oru
.maror"defeai on the Pa,lciyan army' The P5ldyan king- sent urgent
*"lr^g.s and gilts to the Sinlralt'sc lting {KassaPu .V' lt'1-qz3),
rc.lues"ting rniliiary aid in lris rlesperatc struggle wjth the Cr'las" A
Sinlralese""rmv .hbnrkecl at llalritittlra antl landed in Prtr.r,.lyan
,territory : in the decisive battie of veljfir rvhich follorved, the combined
P5gclyan and Sinhalese armies were de{eated bythe-Col5 1ft-er t]qtg
.rrd'#n"t" struggle. The Culavarhsa states that tlie Sinhalese king
recalled his armjzlo its own country because there r,vas an outbreak of
plague among th-e troops, but tle defeat at VellyL-r was the more probable
i""ior for th"eir withdiawal. In the reign o{ Udaya iII (935-938) the
Faldyan king, Rajasirirha, abandoned his kingdom to the Colas' took
ship'"and taided at X[ahatittha and souglrt the protection. of the
Sinhalese monarch. An attempt to organise an expeditionary
force in his support failed because the Sinhalese -nobility and^generals
tvere opposed io such an enterprise, and the Par:dyan ruler leJt Ceylon

7fl JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

Neut Seties. Irot.

l'1,

Speci,at Nunitx:,r

for the 5."Iu1? kingdom, Leaving his diaclem and regalia in tiie custody
of tlre Sinhalese king. In 946 ot g17, Parintaka I, the Cola king,
demanded of the Sintralcse king, Udaya IV, the slurrender of thi
Pr,nclyan regalia, ancl recei'ing a refusal, invaded Cevlon ancl defeatecl
the ,Sinhalese
Sinhalese arny. Udaya
Udaya, IV took refuge
refu(e in Rohana
iRohana n'ith
u'jtiL the
the
Palclyan regalia but tlie Cola forces made no determined cffort to seel<
seek
him there ancl returned to South lndia.a
Tndie a
9-93 th: great Cola king, IR[jarija I, conquered ancl occupied
Riijarattha, that is, all of the northern half of CeyJon. Chaotic
conciitions in the Isiand facilitated this conquest. R[jarattha became
_a.prorrince of t1-rc Cola Empire and the COler king's \/iceroy established
his seat at Polonnarut'a. Rajarattha itself ancl important place-s
l'vere given Cola names. A Cola ofhcer named Tdli Kumararr built
a tcrnpl,e,called ItdjarejdSvara at n'Iatottam (l{ahdtittha) rvhich r.vas
renamecl Rajarnjapura. In tozT , Rajcncira I , the son ancl successor of
Rejaraja I. completed the conquest of Ceylon by subjugating Rohar.ra:
the.Sinhalesq kilC (l'Iahinda V) and his family: rl'ho-hicl taiien reluge
in that principality u'ere taken prisoner and ser-rt to the Cola country,
and ali the royal regalia and treasures were capturecl. it was not
until ro55/56, r,vhen Vijayabdhu I assumed ilre forrnal rulcrship of
Rohana, that resolute resistance to Cola rule bcgan to bc organisecl in
Rohaqa. In ro65 the preparations for war beirig macle byThe forces
of liberation had reached an advanced stage and a premiture revolt
broke out in Rdjarattha : the cola king despatched a p-r,verful reinforcement rvhich landed at Mahatittha and proceecled to suppress the
rebellion witli savage ferocity. In the following year Vijayabdhu rvon
a great victory over the C61a general in Ceylon, pursued the fleeing
C6la army and captured Polonnarurra. The Cola monarch organised.
r'r'ith great speed the embarkation of strong forces for Ceylon tdaiti his

viceroy

they landed at Mahatittha and, whilc adr ancing to Anuradlia-

pura, were intercepted by thc Sinhalese army upon r,vhom the-y.

inflicted a paraly.sing defeat. In ro7o, after Cola rule over Ceyion hai1.
lastecl 77 years, Vijayabairu deliverecl the tr,r'o-pronged attack u-hich,

at long last, brought deiir.erance ancl freedorn once more to the

Sinhalese. f)ne column advancecl through lIrc Kuruniigala and

Anuradhapura districts u'ith I'Iahdtittha a.s its objective, ivhile the"

other column moved up the east coast and turncd inland to lay sicge
to the Cola seat of go\iernment at Polonnarur-a. The u.esterr. colurnn
captured Mahitittha, thus scvering tlte communications of the Cariits
uitlL llreir lromclarrrl, tlt.prir irrg llrem of tlreir main bass, xn4 crLtting
off tire escape of the main body of the Cola army at Polonnarur.;1.
I'olonnaruva fell, no aid carrre from Sor-rth lnclia ancl the Cola frtrccs
r|erc annilrjlaterl. ln roS5 Vijal.abalru I rlcsplrclred ru.o jiuirir,,*
one to llahatittha and the other to anothcr northerir port, to embarle

}IISTOI'i,ICAL T0 POGIiAI'HY OF ANCTENT AND ]\TEDIEVAL CE\'T,ON 7$

on a punitir.e expeclition against the Colas, but the Velakkara tlivision

ol the army, largely Colas ancl other South Indians, rcr.oltcd Lrccause
they u,ere unrviiling to parlicipate in opslzfions against their olr'n
countrymcn, ancl the expedition hacl to be callecl off . In rtoo/or there
appears to havc been a thrcat of a Cola inr.asion because Vijilyabiihu
I nrarchecl r,r'ith his army to the seairort (ptesunrabll' l'Iahdtittha) ancl
"stayecl there sonrc tinre ai'r'aiting tire Ccila lancling : but no attack
rmatcrialisccl.;

About rrrrfrz, Viradeva,

.to .Nlarinara (X,Iar,u.tir)

_+: nI.,2S. iq:

3.5. 2.5 :_4S.

8r : 5o. 12-43: 5r.

27-47

53.

5,g,

.,

lta.i_ :3.
Sastr:i,

'a \\'arrior,

lorc1

of tiie

to light him

br.rt 'nvas clefeatecl : \"iradeva pursuecl

tl-rc rctrcating Sinhalcsc {orces beyoncl }tolonnaruva, but u'as thcre

trarpped into fighting in a srvampy rvilclcrness, defeatecl ancl slaitr.(i

In 1169, the rbth l-ear of Parakkamabahu I, a rer.olt rvhich brokc

out in thc district around Malrntittha \vas suppressecl by military action :
the causes of disalTcction rvltich gave rise to the rcvolt atre not knou'n.
In the sanre ycar, Paral<kamabahu's army, commanded by the Senapati
Lank:r,pura, embarl<cd at Mahatittha on its invasion of P5,ni.h,'6.,
reached the P[ndy:rn coast in 2:[ hours, and lanc'lcrl :rt the roadstead
Taladilla. A Cola inscription of the year rr78 states tltat nervs n'as
received in the Cola kingdorn that Parakkamab5,hu I u,as building
ships and assembling troops at l[Stottam (Mah:rtittha) and other
ports in Ceylon in orclcr to make a fresh invasion of the Clola cotlntry
and that, to countcract this, the Cola king organised an expedition,
placing at its heacl prince Srivallabha of Ceylon (a nepherv of
.Parakkanrabahu I), u'hich lancled in Ceylon, capturecl and dcstroved
several places, including Nl5,tottam, and retllrnedto the Citla kingdorl
with much bootv. Nissanka I'ialla (rr87-r196) built an Ahns Hall at
Mahaputupa (X'Iahritittha). Bctrvc'en rr88 and r2oo tho Colas landecl
on two occasions at nlavatu (Mahitittha) and penetrated as far as
AnurS,dhapura before they were crpciled. In rz6.3, Candabhanu ancl
his Javakas rnade a second incursion upon Ceylon, lancled at I'lahiitittha

and occupied the northcrn plain: ther invaders were defeated at

Strbhagiri (Yapahwt;a). For aborrt 20 years from rz83 Ccylon {ormed

a part of the PS,lclyan Enrpire and once again \ ahatittha u'ould have
becorne the invasion base of the conquerors. There is no doubt that
there were lanclings lty invaders at Maliritittha, othet than those
r:ecountecl above, rvirich har.e gone unrecorded in the Chronicles and
inscript ions.:

5.
6.
7.

r'll. Caps. 55 to 60; "l'he Ccllas' by

172, t73,

lo-17
4z; E.Z. )/-:--to3--I97; 'A-History' of South lndia, br. ft. ,t. Niiat<:rnta
15r. r5.1 ; "l'he Colas'by I(. A. Nilaii:rnta S2rstrj, r:,r-i13.

clescribccl as

-Ariya countr1,'ancl sole sovereign of Palandipa', lancled u'ith an inr-ad:ing arm.r' art l'Iah:itittha. Vikliamabahtr, rutrcr of lttajaratttra, aclr'-:rucecl

rSj, r8b, r9r.

n'1. 6t. 36-q6.

X/t. 76.

7,8s:

38;; 'Tlre Ctllas',

88. 63: 9o. t-totl',

3tr6-372,

37E,379; 'A

Ii. A. Nilal<anta

S:rstri, 168, 169,

:.

Ii.Z.IL 73; J.11.,4.5-.' iC. ll.) XXXI,

llistot'y o{ South India ', ^:otr-:o$.

JOUI{NAL, R.A.S. (OEYLON) Neu

rgerie.s, l:oL. l,

I,

Sytccial

Nttnber

Apart from the foreign, comnercial colony at }lahdtittha, the

south Indian element there and in the surrounding countryside must
have, from time to time, increased consiclerably in numberi in consequence of the port being repeatedly used as an invasion base, particularly
during the prolonged Cdla conquest in the rrth centuiy ancl the
Pdndyan conquest in the r3th century. The late H. W. Codrington
wrote :-' There was a steady stream of immigration from South Inciia
through the port of lfahatittha, with the result that the neigirbouri*g
country became entirely Tamil. trt is note.,vorthy that, u-lii1e many
Sinhalese place-names rernain lnore or less ciisgirised in the
Jufi-na
peninsula and in t]'.'e Eastern, prouir,r,ce, norv Tamii, this is not thc, iase

in the country behind Mannav; there tliese names are purely Tanril '.8
Kohala. tank, also called Ilehala ancl I{ehala,
J\la1i:rtittha"
'car
was constructed by Vasabha (67-ur): it is not nor,r. identifiablc.$

Picinadipa

r,vas

an island north'l'ard of 1,,{ahatittha to'ovhicir krng

(.243-2471 r-rsed to resort to eat jarnbu (S. lt:lclan) fmits"

lg+Shatissa
vexed by these
the peoole of the island poisonecl trre fruit,. and
'isits,
the king died there
after eating tl-re poisoned. fruit" Ttre name {'east
island') indicates that it r,vas the mo,st easterlV of tu,o or inol.e islancls
and it rnay be present Iranailtaw Soull.r..rIr
inscription of Kassapay (g:r4-gz3) at Mtintaa recorc'ls a grant
-An
made
to the l3ahadurasen Meditation Halr in trre \{ah[r,ihaia at

Anuraclhapura of the three follor,i'ing village-r, ali situated i' the

Kuclakaclavukd cli'ision of uturul<aia (tire northern province) :(i) Pepodatuda; (ii) Iiurnbalhala; anci (iii) Tumpokon. - Among the
imrnunities grantecl to these three rrillages, it is stited that the ofr."r.
in charge of n airaputu (l{a}ratittha) and those who reside at the
follorving vihdras shall not enter :
-(r) N.{-vehera : therc are literary
references to a Naga or Ndgarnaha \riliara in the north ; and (ii) Raka*
: 'Ioggallana III (614-619) built a t-etiva tcrnple id Rakkha
'ehera
vihara
and vija1''abdhu I (ro55-rrro) restorecl Raki<liicetiyapabbata

vihara" Anoth.r inscription of Kassapa v refers to tiie piace

samadritiva in }{ahavoti (L{ahatittlia) a'd to inmunities granted to
the viilage Sennarugama. The 4 r,illages and the: vilr:rras inentioiied.
in these tr,vo inscriptions were in the vicinit5; of Mahdtittha.lr
The anrrir.nt northern province, r,vhich included the present
Mati,nay district, was cailed Uttararattha or Uttarapassa or Utto.o.
desa in the P5,li chronicles, the Sinhalese equivalents in rnedieval
8. Unpr;1,ii.h ed.
9. XlI.35. n;t; D. zz.7-tt; M.T.653,27.
ro. M" 36.7o-7t; M.7.653.27.
rr. fuL 4y. 1r: 6o. 5E ; Rsa. :167 ; E.Z.III.

ro.5 :

I\i.

z5z.

I{ISTOI],IOAL IIOPOGITAPI{Y 0I' ANCTENT AND !TEDII'\-A L CEYLON 8I

inscriptions being utarapasa, uturpasa and uturukard (the northern

coast). Aninscription__of. Ifassap_a IV (898-9r4,) mentions the village-.
Ga4agami, situated in Valvit in Uturpasa.l2
- tr{ahapatan-jrl, mentioned in the Sigiri Graffiti, means t}re island
of Manndr. Mannara or I anna.ram (present x[au,trLr) rr.". u oiti"g*
near Mahatittha and ramil invaclers held su,a1. there in the reig'or
Parakkamabnhu II (r236-tz7r).13

llanamatta, also called Md'ndmatu and Mdnar.atu, *,as the name

of a tanl< a'd a district. The construction of the tanlc is asc.ibeli to
D_hdtusena (+SS-+2il. parakkamabahu I (rr53-rrg6) restorec!
l\{ahdndmamatthaka tanl<. In the t3tir centurv lon,it inr,,aders
occupied tliis district. l'Ian:lmatta tank rvas proba-bl-r' present c;itt.,
Tanl;.74

An inscriptio* of I'Iahinda I\r (956-97z) grants to Issarasamana

vihara at Anuradhapura fields at pahargarna^ panagamu or lrarar",ucltma tanl( rvas f11il1 bi- Dlrutuscna (+55-47J t air"l re'tore.l b\
Parakkamabahu

(1153-1186)

: tiris is the ta'k no*-

lincu,n

as

antatn itt M tintoi Divi sicn.t:,

'fhe M annar coast opposite the pearl Banks
rvas callecl lfuttii,l<ara :
here Parakliamab5,h*'s forces lought tr,r'o nar-al actious ancl brought
uttararattha (the northern province) under subjection. To retain
P rinatth

liis
hold on this region Parakkamabahu hari a fortress built at the place
Pilar asu.lo

I,Iadhr.rpddapatittha or n{ipdtota u.as a landin{ piace occupie,,l by

Tarnil inveders in the rJtl] cerrtur\': tlle narne nla\. be preserr.ed irr
rnodern llht'pahadaual. other landing places on the north-rvest or
north coast whose location is rrncertain rvere :--(i) Ilattiktr,r,iitatittha ;
and (ii) Pulacceri or Pulaicceri.rt
'rhere are four or Ii'e references in the inscriptions
of the rst to
3rd centuries to the place )Iagana-nakara, rvhich is identical u,iilr
Ptolemv's Margana (south of his l{odouttou. r,vhich is r{ahdtittha) ancl
with llagalava ancl lfagun of the later Sigiri Grafhti. Magunadanavva r,vas west of Anuradhapura. Fiom Ptolerny's map and ihe
inscription of Kanittha Tissa (r67-rE6) at occtt,pu Kailu, tn ititpauu it
is clear that Nlagapa \\ras on the rvest coast in the neighbourliood of

v.

,1,1..35.^59:-4I. .3:48:83, 95, rr2, r55:50. 14 :7o.63; E.Z.I"

ro5, 276; Sig. Graff. I, App. C.
13. Sig. Graff. I, App. C; M. 6r.39: 83. t6 ; puj.4z ; N.S. 23.
14. M. 75, lS: 83. 16 ; Puj. 27,42 ; N.5. 23.
r 5. E.2. I. 39 ; Pwj. z7 ; Xt[ . 7s. 36.

16. M" 7o.63,93"

17. M. 6o. 3q: 83. t7 ; N.S. z3 : Puj. 42.

zq6:IIl.

J.0URNAL, R.A.S. (CFIYI,ON)

the moutlr ci tlte lt6deragam Aru'; ancl, in all probability, the burierl
town, whose surface remains are stiil clearll'r'isible at Mulliliukt'nt', on
tlre nortlr bank ancl af- the mouth of the Xludera.",atrt -4rir, r-as lhe
ancient I'lagana. 'Ihe Cuciataka tank n'as in VevaLamitiSra in Magananakara. Near Maguna was the fishing village llahadiilgama.l8
A thirci buriecl tou,n exists in the XIant'tiiv clistrict on lfam'ir
islancl on the seashorc about half u'ay between Pitsalai andTalairttatttttlv :
tlrere are mouncls and surface rermains estenrling a littie inlancl {ronr
the shore, but part of the tor,vn appcars to have been submergecl by tire
sea. Nothing is l<nor'vn zrbout the liistorr/ o{ tLris ancjcnt site'

Some stone pillars rnark the site of a meclieval shrine at

u,t &kki, bet rvcen l" i ti at aI! a tt' ant1. I I I u l> a a at; ai.
l>
At the rock-outcroit l;nou'n as 7-onihallu, (r milcs itom F'eriltthr.t'i't'
tihulatn, off the Akattirutu'ippw road, there are tr'vo mutilated inscriptions of the zncl cent[ry iu u'hich relerences to grants of fie]cls zrncl of
K

nt

money can be reaci

tlris

wa-c

/,:

d,

an ancieut rnonasterv.

CHAPTER X

THE JAFFNA DISTRICT

The

ancl ilre mainlan<l,.

-Ja.fna d'istrict"compris_es trre peninsula
bv lhe Ele1tfi6yl p,rss lagoon. I-r jne oll
tlrc r'e'r coast of tlre peninsrrlr
r.,r"r"l islarids. "tfn" *1,'oi"-i_ o
"r.rirrers of any
flat, semi-.arid region : ihere are no
size ancl ,rorr" oi1h.*
is perennjal. I.rrigation works are fer,v ancl generariv of .m"u ilr",
separated Irom caclr othcr

althougir IranaimarJu, is a large tank.

. . \-agadipa, the Jaffna pcninsrrra, is firsr menrione(] in connectiorr
rvrth tiic storv of the Buddha's visits to ceylon. The inhabitants are
-3"ia
namgcl Nagas and the ruling t"mitv ir
to have been relatecl

to tlre.r'uling N[ga family at xaty'ani (Kritani^ta). The Budclha

salct to have consecrated a site for worstrip and to have
plarrtetl on it a
_R:rjayar,arra lKiripaltr)_tree. Blrrti'karissa (tqj-rrt7\

rs

brritt

t,lrc Palrr-da-gf

at rhe foot of tlre l{iriparu trec in Negaclipa: tirc

Pairr-d;r gF an(l rlre Rnjaya{anadhfltu Vilrdra are one ani 1 1t," sa-".
(szr-Q%) piesented tlie unnaromaghara drvelline i" lrr"
*ssabodhi IJ

Raj.Srratanadhatu
Cetiva.l

vihara, as rvell as an trmbiella for the'Amala

Jamb*kola r.vas the port which the envoys of l)evinarirpiya Tissa

to the Ma*ryan Emperor, Asolia, set sail from as lnzell as retiirierl to in
the-vear Br.;217.. (They took-rr clays to r:each'ldinaiitti (TAmhh)
at tlie month of the Ga,ges, and rz days for the retrirn ..oyug". Fa_
Hsien (4rr-4r3) also embarked at Tiitnrwk for ceylon and iris' voyage
took 14 days). The landing of the Ilocihi'rree in e.c. z4(t took praie at
Jambrikola, n'hich codrington identifies as modern .San.tbiltuylai, near
Kankr:santt.t'vai. on the spot lr,here king f)evanarhpiya Tissa arvaited
the coming ashore of the Bodiri rrec, the Samudcla panasala was built.
A sapling of the tree was plantecl at .]ambukola in the Jarnbukola
vihara lr*ilt brz the kirg. one of the monasteries, if noitire whole
Jambukola \riliara, r,vas called Valike Vihara. Vijai,abahu I (ro55_

rrro)

restored Jambukola Viirara.2

De'ir,nariipiya Tissa built Tissamah5vihara in N:r,gadipa, at or

verv close to Jambul<ola. Kanittha Tissa (167-rg6) repaircd its
Cetir,-aghara or Vata-dd-ge, ancl Voharika lissa- (zog z:rj ef{ected
improventents to the Vihara"3

\<; ;l,.ii;.'1.1.(
\rih&ra tablcts; Sig. (irrli. i. .'\Pp. C).
rS.

./.11..'i.'s. lC.Ii.)

.u

o; t'.odringtr)n,

Cofur.s,

r93; Dakkiri4a

t1.

t. ]1. r. 1q-/-o i 12.62; Puj. 3z; Ra.j. 49.

z. ).1. tr..z3, z8 : 19. :j-26, 60:20.25: 60. 6<: ; L.tLB. rrz;
:. J1. zo. z5:

36.

g, 36.

Short History,

8.1 JOUII,NAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON) )leu; Series, ltotr' V I'

'bv

Special Nunr'ber

PacinarSrnavihara,inorjustoutsicle.]arnbul;ola,wasalsobuilt
I)evanarirpiya Tissa.a

An irrscription on gold plate-founcl at-Vallipltrum, neat Point

i, Jatetl in rhe ieign'o[ \'asaltha. (,)7-II1) arrd rccords that
pir-aeulia 'li.a l,uilt a .rll,"rc at lladai<ara lprcsttttlabi^y.- ptesettt
1'al!i'burnttt\, riliile rlre llinister, lsigirava' \\'as governor ol -\akadtva
rviLlr Pivangudipa. or
1\ngi"dipa).' Pjyagul;a, rvhich i.; iderrticalliave resided, is moclern
to

prdyo',

i;.ri-?"n.14i"" ."t,*.E tz,ooc monks are said

Near Niigadipa rras the islancl Ahidipzr rvhose nante rvas later

it

is stated that there were

an obviousllz impossible {jgure' DirS'tusena

rhc \ihLra. I rr a.sociatiort rvith Jlarigana \-iir;rra i'
r'i..1]r,
Kcla>a or l(olasa Vilrara.;
"iii'ri,i#.t
tr{ing Nlaliallaka Na,ga foundecl Salipabbata vihara in Nngadipa."

t there,
i;o.ooo ,iottt
-r.=ior..r

IlrAtota (modern /{o,i'ls) in mentionetl in thc Itnjdvaiiva as early

as the ieign of Par.rdur-isucleYa i1 t!9 5th ccntiiry u'c' The fir-qt
i"fiut,i" t"tirence, hoir,;ever, is to the landing of a \''alla-Lrha expeditionary
Hurdto.ta, in thc reign of
f;;;;;t thl-, port, also called S[karatittha andKrlr.r?
III, the-Ristrakr-ita
il;ili;t lY'(g5(rg7 z) : the' \rallabha' u'as
from severai
tribute
extorted
that
he
ilscription
i-n
an
r.;"n. *fro claliis
oJ the 3th 5e,rr
ii,iil, i".r,t,f ing rlrc liing ol Ceylorr. r\ Cola in.cription
,,f ltii'iif.lir"ia'll rncntiols tile preparations niade at [-raiturai arttl
to rnake
ir"il, in'\orrh Ccylon by Paral<kattabalrrt [ {it53-rrst,) taken
to
"if*,
tlrc
countcr-rIlea)ures
an'l
lndia
oI
S,ruth
; :.;";A iirva.ion
tfrr.rriif* Sinhaiese king's plans. In the r3th centur5z, Sfrliaratittha
rvas under occupation by invaders'lr
Bhaliatittha was a port in the noriti : so was Deberapatan or
pehera-p4,,il. 'l'lre cola _inscription mentioned in tlrc. p_re,:ctling
\/allikarnam (I,,al,iketmant) anr1 Mattivnl
i"i"Srlri; nalues also
Ceylon rvhere Parakiiamabahu ri'as
north
in
ports
{Uoitrilt) as
invasion.lo
for
preparing
DlrS,tusena 1455-47:) founded two viharas in the north, Thfipavi-tthi and Dhatrrscna.ll
4.
5.
(t.

7.
E.

l\tl. zo" 26.

XI. zq. z5:25. ro+'. 32. 52, 55 ;T'hu.

E.H.B. ttz.
Xt.32. 53: 38.
X,I. 3a. r2I.

g. lltj. :z;

,18

,'U, 5.+

the leign of l)alakkarrr:ibihu

ztj; E Z' IIl'

II

(r2, 16-rzzr)

probably the same

place.

at

Vdligam is mentioned in the Sigiri g.affiti.r,

r1r"
ports
of
the
Jafna peninst'Lla u'ere les-s irnportant comnrercialiy
.
in arrcient times than llahatittha \Mnntai), but ihel' u'ere frerlur:ntljz
rrserl l;1, South Jndian and otlrer invadcrs for mal<ing rlreir laiitliugs.
'lhe

)IiniTr

inscription states tl-rat in the sth year"of I(alr-anayati

great host of l)ernalas clcscended ,pon Ceylon, o,,,crran the

lr'l'iole Isiand and destroyed the entire social stiuctrire arrd. tlie r-cligious
organisatioir. A Pand,van prince invacled cc1'lon rvith a pan?lvan

ancl rutecl at polonnar.*.. o,

lrm-I, took possession o{ the country
-rzt4.
P_arakkamapa4c.lu II from rzrr to
He w-as onstecl by the

K*linga,^Mr,rgha, and his-I{erala troops : },iagha r'lecl for zr i.eais, trre

Period of greatest tribulation u-hicli the Siihalese people irar.e ever
r-rndergone. They u'ere sorel1' persecuted by tori*re, irir.Ltilation,
expropriation.of property_and ei'erlt,form oJ o1>pressiorr uictr pillage.
tLre J5r'aka canclabli5n* (identifiecl ai-sri Dr,ar',.',.ar,-ria or
ln
-l
',45
aruhaii'ga,r
Ligor), in.aded cc5:lon aud'e1 ainerl lris lroltl o,i ti,,.

afltta pc'in:rla for 18 years. 'lhen canre pa,f clyan jnrrasions anr,l a
conqriest, follorving a {amine in ceylon, r'r,hich lastld for 2o
from
lhis gornpleted the Tamilisation of the ,f n.ftt,t '"'ears
lj33:,
lx.nrnrula.
Paralil<amabihu I (rr53-rtSri) uncloubtecltr.,r hacl coniplete control over
the J-affna peninsula and district, althougir the Tamil eleme'r in tire
population there u'as probablv preclomiriant as the scquel to earlier
rnr.asions and^conquests, particularly 11," Coia conquest riticir lastecl
f-gt Z.Z 5iears from gg3 to roTo: his inscripiion ai Xloi,ir,atttz is in
Tarrril. .Tlre peated ramii iir'a.ions 2n1r oc'cupations '.i lricir r,ceair irr
't
rzcr; and continued
till r3o3, a period of nearly a centrir.l:, Lro.ieht a
perrnanent termination to Sinha.lese donrination -of tbe uffin peirir:srrla:
J
;!he "ranrils took possession of that territor:y ancl rctaindd ii ttrdreaf
ter.r"
-t

237'

; E.H.B.67.

rz: 83. t7; I'uj.4z ; N.S. z3; Itaj'

53, 62,

64; '

-lhe

Colas', 366-j7:' 373' 379'

ro. Xt.36. 13;Ptrj. 1z;N.S.23.

rr. M. 38. 4t.

Tarnil invaders

helc.l srn'a\z in V:r,likaganra or Vriligomu (rnoclern Val,,iha,ntuwt, see above) :

a fer'v- years later invaders r.vere ivont to land
Kirudclav5ligdma,

(r_?o.q/_rg) a

.PwnquStttr'aw."

,ilranged to Kiradipa, present l{a",'ts.'i

Mangana viliara rva-. in the north and

IIIST()RICAL TOPOGI-i,APHY 0!'ANCI]'NT AND III'DIEVAL CEYLON 8i

rz. M. 83. 17 : 88. :3 ; Puj. 4.2.; Sig. Graff. I, App.

13. M. Caps. [Jo and 8r ; E.Z. \'. t56"

C.

I{ISI'OR ICAL'IOPOIII:i,AP}IY

!'

NCI tl

r\T AND lIIl DI UVAL C trYL{

87

in Kurnndi-rattlia, an area corresponding to prescnt l{nyihattuniu,loi

SowtJt. Dit'ision of l/aad,niya l)istrict.' the ancir:nt name is prtserved

CHAPTI]II Xtr

THE VAVUNIYA DISTRICT

Tlre prescnt Vaawtitta District includes the eariier X,Iullaitti'tr
I)istritt u,hich fronted the north-east coast. It is a dry zone region.

sonrervhat nrore elerzated inland, well provicletl u'ith irrigation I'vorlis

though not oI great size or elal;oration.

One of the eariiest and largest pre-Christian cat'e rtonasteries in
Ceylon r,vas that at Perltai5uliyanhwlanr'-tnalai, a rocky hill about
7 miles north-east oI Ilaaun.iya. Within a mile is a smailer cave monastery at L,rufoluna, artd lr'ithin trvo milcs a third monasterv al Maha'
kaccathorli (Stnh. Titlat,iilhaia). It is not irnpr-obable that these
three groups of ruins fornred one, great rnonasterv in ancient times.
The inscribed cave.; ;111er,rnt to 38 at Periyapu'liyat'tltu'lam,, tz at
Erwpotana and 5 at X'[altakaccathodi. Tlie principal clonor u'as,ther
prirrcess Anuradi, the daughtcr of king Naga ancl the rvife of king Uti ;
itrese royal personages are not identifiable iu tlie Chronicles, and thev
rlav have been local rulers of the late 3rc1 or earh' znd centuries n.c:.
The viiiage'labakara i-q mentionecl in one inscription at Periyapulivankulatn,.7

Another site with pre-Christian carve inscriptions is Vedultunaritnalai, aboat 4 rniles southr,r'arcl oI l{edwnhini.2
PelivapikagSma or Pelivdpigama rvas 7 yojanas (55 to 65 miles)
northward bf Anurddhapura, and gems are saicl to have been found
in a carre there in the reign of I)utthagd'mali Abiraya (e.c. 16r-137).
Parker proposes to identify this tank u''ith rnoclern Yaawnik-Kul'nnt,
but it is-very unlikely that a tanli of this large size u'as constructed at
this early period.3
I{hallatanaga (n.c .rro-ro3) {ounded l(urundavti,soka ViharaTlrere u,as a Parivcla narned Kurundacullal<a. The Kurundi Attha'lire Village Kurundal<a
katha rvas composed at I{uruncliveiu vihara.
I (57r-6o4) is creditccl
Aggabodhi
the
Commentaties.
in
is mentioned
rviilr the building of Kurr,rnda \rihlra (tlie Sinhalese Chronicles call it
Kurunclu tank), around rvhich he planted a coconut planta.tion said to
have been 3 \'ojanas (25 to 3o urilcs) in extent" A minister of Aggaboclhi lV (667-683) built a pdsEda in l(urundapillaka Vilidra. \''ijayabahu l (ro55-rrro) restored Kuruindiva Vihara' It is verlr probable
that all these are variant names o{ o1e and the -sa111e nronastery situateci

t. A.5.C.'1.lt, r9o5, 43-,19 : U C'R' \:III, No. u, rz4"

2. d.S.C.-{.1i., r9o-5, 43-.19.
-1. r11. zE. 39 ; I'hu. r53.

in the ru.ins at moclcrn li'r.ti'ut,ttan-Lh,. The Kumncli clistrict rias uncler

'famil ciornination in the reign of Parakliamabalru II (r235-rz7r) and
was la.tcr occupiecl bv the invader Canclabhanu. Near Krinrncla,
Aggabodhi

buiLr Ambilapassava Vihdra.a

Tlre rr:ins al Tortigala, about 6 miles frorn Vau'ur.tiyLr on the

Horoaafotorta roac\, arc narncd Yahisapar.ata Vihara in a-n inscriotiou
there of Sirimegharr-anna (3or-328). l'he village' I{aclubala is also
mentiorrecl.5

ltajamittalia, on the bounclar.; of L'|ttaraclesa (ihe northcrn

irrovince) rvas the scene ol a battle. So r.vas X'Ial-ratalitaglrua, ilirere
the army of Sena I r,i'as dcleatetl by the Panc'lyans: llahltalitagama
may be idcntical lvith llatalagama mentioneci in a. pre-Christian
inscription at H aiulagola l/ihr1.ru, near l{ribittigolldra.(
The place Kokcli mentionecl in tire Sigiri Graffiti is naoclern
Kokhilay.T
M5,mar'luva tanl<, 8 miles north-east of l/auuniya, is calleri \'Iarhida
vd"rra in a gth century inscription in situ and is icientical ri'ith

l\Iahindatalal:a tank restored b]' I'aralikarnabahu I (rrS3-t 186).E

A roth century inscription at Bwd,d,hanahela, abotl 7 miles north
of. Padariya, close to the bounclary lretween the \/a'uu1tiya and
Anurd,dhapura districts, gives the name oI the site as Ntr,girigala sitr.rated
in I)anadakadara division r'i,hich, at tliat tinre, mr.rst have extendecl or"er
parts of botlt T/aauniya and t\nurtr,dhapura districts. To the vih:r,ra
rvas assigned the village Nannam : Ninnar-u may be equivalent to
Nakanakara (P. Nega-nagara), a place rnentioned in tr,vo earlv

inscriptions.l) In a paper to be published shortly, Profe,csor

Paranavitana iclentifles Danadakadara as the district arouncl the
.main channel issuing from l)hanavdpi or Danav:iva, iater cailed
Padivapi , modern Poduui-t'a.

_ 1. II. 3j.

3'z : 42. r5,

t7 ; 46. zr :

Raj. 56; E.LI.t3. 2, ro-r2,23, 8r,

.5.
0.
7.
8.
.).

6o. 6o : 83. 16 : 88.64

rzz"

E.Z. ilI" r78"

.lt. 4q. 7: : 50. r.t.

Sig.Graff. I, App. C.
C../.s. (G) II ; III ; IL 7s. z8-37.
E.Z. I. .t95.

Puj. :3, 4z ; N.S. 23,.

trITSTOI],IC.{], TOPOLlII,AI'HY Oh'

CHAPTER XII

THE PUTTALAM DISTRICT

'lhe Pwttalant District to the rrorth of Chilaw is in the dry zone
u'hile tha.t portion of it to the south of. Ch,ilazo is in the rvet zone. Ihe
ViLpatt'n, region (betu,een the l{atra Olta and tlrc Xfoderagatn Aru) of.
Pwtta!.ant, District, except for its southernrnost sector around PontparippLt, is an area of nunterous, shallorv, natural lakes (S. viLa; T. ar:Llu)
separated by forest and scrub: there are large extents of near-desert
formations and stretclies of bare land. The soil is infertile and there
arc no ruins, irrigation r'r'orks or other vestiges of the settleureirt of
civiliseci man in the region, but there are abunclant remains, in chert
and quartz tools, implements and other artefacts, of the existence of
pre-historic man. During tlie historical period of some z5 centuries,
l]ae V il!,tt area has been an abocle of wild life. South of the l{alii, Ova.
the lancl is flat near the coast, but inland there are manv rocli-groups
and lorv hiiis. It u.as rvell provided rvith irrigation facilities in ancient
time-q"

'l}vo of the oldest inscriptions in Ceylon are inscribcd on caves at

Picca,ndiytTva, a large rock1. liill 9 miles south-east of the 9th rnile on
tTte Pwltalanr-Anuraclhapura road" The donor in botli case-s u.as the
Brdhm;Lna Gobuti r'r'ho was both teacher ancl phl,sician oI i\"latrar-aja
Devanapi.ya Gamili TiSa r'r'ho, tlrere is little reason to doubt, is identical
r,vith ttrre first Budclhist king of Ceylon, Der,Snarirpiva Tissa (.s.c.. zq72oj1. This hill has numerous, drip-ledged caves in scattered groups
at al,l levels" Acljoining it are trvo othe r hills, ilIottam,alai, r'vhich has
very ferv rtrins, and Mu,lligam,akanda, ttbich has caves, a thfrp.a and
other buildings at its foot and a group of caves on its summit. It
is very probable that the three hills originally forrned one large
mona"ster1z.l

Best l<norvn, hor,r.ever, of the pre-Christian inscription," in the

Ptattalanr District are the trvo long and large epigraphs on the rock
callecl Tr)rcigala, near thc agttr mile on lht: ,Kut'u,n,dgala-Pu,ttalaut road.
'fhis rock is an extension of tlie main and much loftier rock-grouu
called Pura.nr,dkand.a rvhich lies to the northrvard, on rvhicli are caves
and other ruins. In the inscriptions this rock-grorip is calletl AcagirikatiSapavata (P. Acchagirikatis-.apabbata), and tlvo torvn-ships are

mentioned, Acanagara and Taviril<iya-na.eara.'l'he tank (un-narned)

donated to the vihara by the inscription is the small tank, still fr:nctioning, below Touigala. The inscription is dated in the reign of Devana-

piya Maharaja Gami4i Abaya, very probably Dutthagarna4i Abhaya

(r.c. r6r-r37).2

r.

A.I.C. 84; U.C.R. VII, No. 4, zqt, note

2. A"I.C. t,

3z

; A.LC.

83"

.\\CIENT AND }IEDIE\TAI, CEYI,ON

tig

A third extensirre pre-Christian monasterl with caves, tiurpas and

stone-pillared ruins scattered over several lor,v, rocky hills is that at
Vi,ratr,daqocla, about 5 miles north-west of the r8th mile on the PuttalanoAnnradhapura road. One inscription of the 2nd $ lst s.c. rccords
'the rlonation of a cave by the Nakaravudika (P. Nagaraguttil;a),
the high offrcial rvho hacl charge of the capital, Anurddhapura. trn a

later inscription crJ }lahinda i (Z:o-l::) at this sitc, the r.ilitrra is

named Salv:1,nfi, Vehera situated at Nadunnanr in liesisamu-bim
sub-clistrict.3

Otlrer pre-Christian sites in the Puttalant. District are:-(i)

q miles east of the r3th miie on the Puttalant; (ii) Konuriuahanda, z ruiies east of tlie r3th
mile on tlre same roacl ; (ii) Viragala or PataliEhanda, T miles ea*qt
crf tlre rotlr mile on the sanre road ; (w) Ldbugala \riirara, near the

.liinugalr,oaiiualwncla,
Anuraclhai-,ura road

5t1r mile on the AnarnaQuzta-(J saiiatt roacl ; ancl a fet' othcrs, atri bearing
epigraphical er.idencc of their antirluitlz.a
KAlivepi, also called Kelivas5, K:ilivasa, Kaiivnsama, ancl Kelavdsa, is attributed both to Vasabl-ra ({r7-rrr) ancl to Diratusena
(+S.r-+i:). Parakharnal-.ahu restorecl Kdlivtr,pi in Dakkhila.desa rvhicJLr
Codrington has iclentified a:: I{aliyat,aclattit in Pitigal Koral.5
Urur.ela, a landing place on the rvestern coast, also called, doubtless spuri.xsly, I{ahavd"iigama, was founded, according to one tradition,
bv a minister of Vijaya, and, according to another, by a brother-in-law
of Pandur'5sudeva, ancl rvas one of the earliest Indo-Aryan settlements
in Ceylon. It rvas 5 yojanas or 20 ga\r (4o to 5o utiles) to rvest of
Anuraclhapura, and pearls are said to have beeir found cn the shore

therc in the reign of Dutthagarnarti Abhaya (e.c. r6t-r3,7). Like

Tambapanrli and nfagar.ra. it r'vas a pearling port. Near Uruvela,
King Sublia (6o-6f) founded Valli or Villa Vih5,ra, recently identifiecl
by an epigraph as a grouD of ruins close to the zrst mile on the
Ptdtal,ant-Pontparip,pu, track. Uruvela was, therefore, at or near the
nrouth ol the Kald, Oya.6
'fo Pucchdrama Vihdra, Udaya I (797-Bot) granted the rich
village of llssd,navillhi : there is a rnodern Uhanpiliya, 8 miles east
of l3attulu Oya.?
Ll GalgE Vihd,ya, about 8 miles south-east of Pomfarippw, a
rst century inscription on a cave mentions Ka{ahalaka tank, the
3.

A.S.C.A.R., rgrr-r2,69-7r; U"C.R. VIII, No. z, rrE; E.Z.Y. rz3.

4.

A.I.C.8z.

5.
6.

M. lS.gS: 68. 45 : X,L7-. 6y; Pwj. zr, z7 ; Ilaj. 47.

D. zr. 47; M.7. 45: 9.9: 28. 36: 35, 58; Puj. z; TItu. t63.

,7-

14. 49.28.

1i0 JOIIRNAL, If .A.S. (CIjYLON

New Series. I:oI. I, Special

11

Nu,m,ber

rrrins. Lt Patti-eliyd, a few rniles north rr{

Galgi l;ihat,a, there is a roth centurv pillar inscription containing an
immunity grant.s
Tabba-rattha was the nlost westerly {rontier district of Parakkarnabdhu's rzth century principalitv of Dakl<hiTadesa : it was the
area arouncl present 7.-abboaa-aciaa, comprising Rajauanni, Pattwva
and tlre acljaccnt territory south of the l(alc1 Oya as far as the sea
(Coclrington). Parakkamabahu I restorecl Tabbavapi, present
breaclrecl tank near the

T abborc.-t tha..tt

An inscription of the 3rd century at X[alastL,esala, abaal 5 niies

from the rTth rnile on the Puttatrant-Anurir,dhapura road, records the
grant of the field belorv'fisaviya tank at Jayagama in the market-touar
(nivanratana) of Kaledigevi to the Vihara at the site. The name
Kalecligevi is doubtlcss associatecl rvith the Kala-nacii (KaId Oya).
The old name of lhala Pulilanknlatn, z miles north-west of the
nrile onth.e Puttalam-Antradhapura road, is given in an inscription
of the reign of Parakkamabahu I as Md,ranhella: the inscription is
attestecl b), th. governor of Mdya, which means tirat this locaiitV rva-q
r7t-1r

in the principaiity of }Id,va at that time.r0

J{allavaiana was a coastal district in tTte Puttalara region where.
(iajabdhu II had a strong fortress in the rzth century : it r,l'as nortlr
of ParakkamabShu's frontier post of Valikd,khetta rvhich Codringtonr

HISTOI],IOA L'I'OPOC R,APH Y

F .{NC]I}'NT A ND

}TEDIEVAL

thc foreboclings of his

to its impernranence apparently came tme r,vithin :r {er,v
years. The .Songal O;1ta tn all probability represents the canal r,,.hich
once bore the waters r'vhich the Kotthabaddha dam held back. If this
engineers as

identification is correct, the area betr,veen the llattambala Oya ancl ttie
I)cidurw Oj,a was tlie I{otthabaddha district of Parakkamabahu's
time.r:l

Kiri,r'iipi in Dal<kliinadesa u'as restored bv Paral<kamabiihu and

has been identified btr Codrington as Kiruatit:a, abart ro miles east
r>f Chilazrt. Paral<kamabahu ilso restorecl in Dakkhinadesa :-(i)
Sirkaraggama tanli, presctrL l-'rufotla,3 rniles norrh ol Rin{ri-1,a

(Coclrington) ; (ii) Karavittlravilatta, iclentiiiecl li]' Co6ttn*rotr

"t
Karauita ancl Vilattdt'a tanks, near Bingiri,ya; ancl (iii) Vilattek-

hattcla

1a,gi1.ra

n'lalavalli or I'falavalliya tanh, probably present nfahyauelliya,

near Chilaw, u'as restored by Parakkamabahn.ls
Between rrSB ancl r2oo the Colas landed at Salavattota, present
Ilalaaatta or Chilaw, and penetrated as far as Sripura, near modern

Hirifitiya.la

modern

I(alPitiya.tz

One of Parakkanrabahu's great irrigation projccts on the

Jajjara-nadi (Drid.wru Or,,a) was tire Kotthabaddha scheme. 'lhis rvas
an olc1 u,orl< in ruin and its maintenance had created diffrculties for
{ormer kings. ParakkamabElhu's engineers were reluctant to underit would endure,
but the prince was more confi.lent and directed that the rvork be
proceedecl rvith. First, a canal rvas constructed from the dam site
to tire llattakira district and then the Kotthabaddha,dam was built
very carefullv and solicllv. 'fhe water diverted by the darn n'as
discharged through the canal to the sea, irrigating a i'ast nerv stretcli
of ficlc1s en rqute. The entire .area was named liotthabaddha after
the dan. No ruins survir.e of the great Kolfliabadclha dam : it needc.cl
take its restoration because thev were doubtful rvhetl-rer

3. ,1.,S.C.1.R., r896. 6 : r95.1. 3E.

{). ,11. 63. ,13 : 69. 8-ru.
ro. J.R.A.S. (C.B.) xxx, z7e.
rr. Jf.7o.6o.6z.
Sig. Graff. I, App. C.

YLON

repairs during Paralikamabahu's reign and

has iclentilied as present Velldaela, near Batlwlu Olta.rt

Kalapiti-Kuli mentionecl in the Sigiri graffrti, is

CE

t3. ,11. 63. 16-3r : 79. 66, 67 ; Cc"y. }:lisl. Jottrrtttl,I\r, .53, 56.
14. 11. 68. 4.5, 43 : 7r;l 28.37.
{5. lt.7o.67.
!u. J.1r..1..J. (t'.It.). \\\1, 3x5.

HISTOIi,IC.\L'I0f]OGIdAPETY OF ANCIENT AND ITEDIE\-AL C!:YLON

CHAPTEIT

Hattirikucclii Vihara is described in the P51i Commentaries as a

well-knorvn monastery in ancient times, and Buddhaghosa says that otl
Hatthikucchi-pabbhara \.'as a cave suited for meditation. Aggabodlii
I (57r5a$ erectecl a pasdda in the Vihara, and so ditl Aggaboclhi VT I
OZz-ZZZ). Aggabodhi IX (B3r-ti33) rebuilt a ruined.pasada. ,\ znti

XIII

centtrr_vj inscription at the extensive ruins at Ra'iangane, --j rnilcs

rvcst c,f the 45th mile on the Kurun[igala-Lmvadhapura road, ]lames

THE KuRuN,i,ce.la DISTRICT

(A). Vanni Hatf,attu

Tlre lr{role of Vantti Hatt:attw is in t}re clry zone ancl it is situated
betu'een the Kalti Oya and the I)tid,uyr.t OJ,a; through it flou's tlie
Ilh, O1a. It rvas n-ell provided in ancient times u'ith irrigation facilities,
inclnding river-diversion clams, canals, large rcservoirs and nllmerous
r.iilage tanks. 'fhere are many rock-outcrops and several scattered

rocliy lrills.

Giribii,-rattha rvas the frontier district of Dakl<hinadesa immecli*

atelv to east of Tabba-rattha, and it l'as the area around moclern
GiribAz,a, mainly Mn-1-t'eti'Ego,!tt Ifurali (coclrington). Its northerrr
bounc.larv rvas the Kala Ova, Parakkamabahu's general in this
clistrict threrv a long, solid bridge across the rirrer and crossecl to
Arigamn on the opposite bank. At VFragala Vihara, a consiclerable
rock oi imposing appearance in the modem village of Giri,bciito, there
is a pre-Christian cave inscription.l
Gallena Viluira, z rniles west of tire4Tth mile on the Kunut,dgaLaAnuradhapura road, was an important monastery in pre-Christian
times. Its Iouncler, according to the cave inscriptions there, u'as the
prince Tisa-va, the son o{ Devanapiya Maharaja Gama4i Abaya u'ho, in
all probability, was Vattaglnrati Abhaya (e.c. 89-77). A rst century
inscription at this sitc mentions:-(i) Aba-atasa dam ; (ii) Avulada,
tract of hel<ls ; and (iii) Golapana, a village ; Golapanugdma, also
called Golagam and Golagam, rvas granted to the Mahdvihara by
Buddhadasa (:SZ-:[S) : Golagam is mentioned in the Siqiri graffiti
and Goluggamu in a roth century inscription.2
King \rankan5sikatissa (rrr-rr4) built the Mahd,mangala \rihara
on the banks of the Gota-nadi (Kald, Oya). At KtiQigala, a picturesque
rock rising from the south bank of the river, about 3] nriles northrvest of the 4gth mile on the Kwrund,eala-Anurs,dhapura road, ttrere is
an inscription of the mother o{ Vankanasil<atissa, and the ruins irere are,

most probably, those of the ancient l{ahdmarigala

Vihdra. Thc rock

is mounted by flig'hts of over 4oo rock-cut steps, rvith thrlpas at foot

and summit and other thrlpas at mediate levels.'|

the site Atiku(ci)ira

.The\iihara: this was, therefore, the ancient Hatthicar.e referrecl to blr Ssd6lhaghosa rnust be thc'
kucclii Vihara.
summit cave on the southern hill : it has a pool o{ rvater insicle it.
In other irrscriptions of the 5tir to Tth centuries al Riljangan|, the folloivoccur :-(i) Sahala ; (ii) Vilagama; (iii) {agalava;
ing place-names
-Manirasagagama
(ir')
; ancl (r.) Huragama. In the Chronicle,
\rairadipa Vihnra is mentioned t.,vice along u'ith Hattirii<trcchi Vltrtrra
the Sigiri graffiti rnention Valiacliva and Vahadii. Uclaya I (797-8_or)
built in Vahadipa \rihira tlre Senaggaboclhipabbata pa.s,ada. l'he
irr'5,sa, Vahadir, is mentioned in the inscriptiorr of Kassapa \/ (9r3-qz3)
rt Abhalagiri Yilr,rra l
At Tdni-tagala.
anrl Pa(igala, r mile south ancl 3 miies souLh-u-est
:

re-spectively

of the 6th mile on the

ther:e are ruins rvittr inscriptions

Grt'lgatn'wt:a-Nclnlteriya _ road,

of the rst cetlturv r.t:" ancl tl-rc rsi

ccrr t rtr-t .r.r'.

Toratta XfaviLdt,a Vili5ra, a remote anc] attractive site abotlt

z nriles sontir of the Tth nrile on the Galgantuta-Ndtmdriyn roacl, has
se.,,eral inscribed cat'es, tlo thirpas, many pokulas and some ancient
stonework. As the cave inscriptions attest the \''ihira was founcled iu
the znd century r].c. One cave inscription is a grant by the bojika of
Bamaqaga(ri), another is by the owner of Punapetika tank, and a
third is by the hing'-q Treasurer. A mutilated rock inscription oi tlie
znd century is clatecl in the 4th year of a king u'hose nante is obliterated:
-lisapavata Vihara anil records tire grant to it ot

it names the site

shares in : - (i) 'l'isavi-va;

(ii) Rataviya; (iii)

Damaviva

(ir') l{atuka.5

3. II.35. rrz-rr4; A.5.C.A.R.,1895. 8; C."f.S. (G), II.

rz3.

ancl

Sangahpdlahanila, 3 miles north of the 6th mile on the

Galgatnwaa-l{annltriya road, a zud century inscription recorcls the
tlonation of shares in Narivigamaka tank to Garimalalia Vihara.'i

Anuriirama in lfahadevarattakurava \''ihiira in Kasikhalda u'as

restored by l'{ahan5,ga (S6g-SZr). There is a ntodern Kasiketta,
z miles north oi Antltanllola, but no ruins in its vicinity.i
App.c.

51; A.I.C. z ; A.S.C.A.R., 1935, ro; E.Z.

Lt

4'

r.

M.7o. rz3-r3t.
2. M. 37. r7Z ; Plr.j. 24, z5; Raj.
I. 4z; Sig. Grafi. I, App.C.

9iJ

A.S.C.A.R., :.grr-7'2.,

rrg;

5.
6.

A.S.C.A. R., rgrr-r2., r9.

7.

NI.4r. rot.

U.C.R.

\'III,

No. z, rz:

j{IS'IOR,IC,\L TOPOGITAPHI 0F ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON 95

JOURNAL, R,..\.S. (CEYI,ON)

Nloravapi,wats a frontier district of Dakkliinadesa immediatcly

Giriba-rattha : it \\ras bounded on the north lry
thc l{ala Oya and was an area extending ovcr Hatatispahe Koraia
West and the southern portion oI l,Idgarn.ltaha Korale. i{orar,Ipi is

to east of

rrentioncd in the ist century and is probably the large. brejchecl

reservoir south of the Kala Oya in the north-wcst comer ol X dga;tt f aha

Koyala.

Dhammaramma

iank built bv

Mahasena

is

alsio callecl

Ilorakaparaka: the tanks Bilora, Paraka and liloravapi arc rnentioueci

in association-_ I'Ioriya-rattiia was, judging bv its name, tire original
home of the Moriva clan, but in Parakkamabaim's time in thc 1zilr
century fir'e Lambakar,'rla chieftains and their follor','ers lived in Uorjvarattha. Parakkamabahu restored }ilorar'dpi tank.s
. At !a|i.pancd,ua, z miles east of the 44th mile on the Ktmrnligala-

Anuradhapura road, there are car-es with a pre-Christian inscription,

.and at Ltholavriaa, z miles east of the 48th rrrile on the samc roacl,
there are ruins u'ith an inscription of l\{ahSsena {275-ior).1,

Parakkamabahu restored Girisigd,mukavApi, present Galutnruua

tank. An inscription of a king styled Itaja Abala in

cliaracters of

thc rst century above the dripJedge of a collapsed car.e near tlie tank,

mentions Vaelamana village.ttl

Mahandga (S6S-SZI) granted Tintir:ikagama to the ]Iatr:ri.iliil,ra.
At this place Aggabodiri III (oz8) u'as dcfeated in battle. paralikamabahu restored Tintinigama tank. f intirligama village and tank have

been iclentified bv Codrington as present Siyanr,halaganLulta, r

of the 44th miie on t}re Klwrundgila-Anuradnapura''roac1.r 1

nile

east

The rebel lfoggallana in the reign of Samghatissa (6r,1) ach'ancecl

{rom Rohana and occupied an arrned camp at l{ahigalla, present

I{ihauurcitiya. Then he advanced towards Anuri,dhapura and took
!T
-a po-.iUon at Rattiviha,ra: the decisive battle u.as fought art
Kadaiinivata, between Rattivjhira and Anuridhapura.12
Donagiyi Vihaya, 4 rniles south-east oI Galgarn,tt,,a, is calied
Sitavahanaka Vihara in a znd century inscription rir -.ilrr : ulso
,mentjoned is the village davahaeama.ls

Inscriptions of the znd century at Birhpol,:w,na Vihdra, 5 nriles

u.est-south-west oI Galgamw:a, mention :

Nitileviti tanli

there

-(i) (see ncxt paragraph)

village inthis vicinity nor,v called liitalaaa
and (ii) Cataha tank.la

is

a_

8. M.Zl. +8: 38. 13:69. r3 ; E.M.3Z.

9. A.S.C"A.It., rE9-5, r3 : rgrr-rz, rr8.

ro.
r r.
12.
rj.
,r+.

,11.68.49; C.J.S.(Cl) II.23.

A.L 4t. 96 : +4. r2J : 63. q7.

M. ++. l-6.
A.I.C.53.
A.I.C. 8o; C./"S. (G), II.

zz.

47; trl.7-.6t6;8.11.-13. .13

$-;.

At I'Jillahganla,, r:reat Nitalaua (see iast paragraph), are the nrins.

o{ a l,3odhighara r.vhose stcxrervork carries exquisite ornamentation.
An inscription of the 8th or e;th centurl'there records the gift of tcn:
of the sculptrred elephants on the fricze bv a resident of Monoragal.t5
,At ttre AsuritLlutua ruins, zl nriics east oI Arnbatiltola, inscriptions of the znd centr,Lry by a c1r-reen ancl a king's daughter give ttre
iLncient nanlc of the site as Nakaragana Nunnery. This is most
prolrablf ideritical u'ith thc Nagarangana Vihara in the southerra
clivision oI the Anr.raclhapura kingdom foundecl by Suratissa early
in the znd century e.c,:. Also mcntionecl i.n tlie inscriptions are.(1) Taciganta; and (ii) l{atrakodapatiya.lG
Parakkarnabalur restorecl Mandika tank, iclentifiecl by Codrington
as presrent Mcid,iyuua tanlt betr,vcen Muhcj artd Antltanbola.l;

In the reign of the Kilinga

occupation

of this locaiity. Vijayabdhu III (r4z.tz36) fixec1

Salagalkanclura as the boundary between his territorv and tire enemy in

occupation of the northcrn plain and ordered liis sons not to go beyond
it. Vijayzrbahu IY (rz7r-r273) stationed his son at Subhapabbata

to guarri the northcrn plain

against inr.aclers. Yupahwva rvas the.

scene of the defeat of the Jdvaka invader, Candabhanu (Sri Dhanrma-

raja of 'lambalinga or Ligor). Thcreafter, Vijayabahu I\r improved

the fortifications, built a rampart and a palace and stationecl his.
vounger brother ther:e. Bhuvanekabdhu I (tz7j-rz\$ transferrecl
his capital from Dam,badenlto to Ya.pulruua and greatly improved the
fortress. ThePalclyanscaptured ancl plundered it and carrieclofi all the
roval treasures, including the Tooth Relic : Parakkamabnhu III
(rz.\.1-rzgr) recovered tlie Relic by negotiation. Yapahwva was
abancioned after its capture by the Palclyans. Several centuries.
before it was turned into a fortress, thelou'er slopesof 1'olakwualorrrrcrl
a Budilhist rnonastery. 1'he pre-sent ruins of the fortrcss-capitai ol
Bhuvanekabahu I preserve its rvalls and moat and the sculpturec'l
stonelvork 'rf the third staircase.ls
At {ioihutala l'ih,aya, r| miies sotith of the r3l mile on the,
X[nhti-Niha,-civa road, there are inscriptions of tlie rst century E"cand of the rst and znd centuries
1i.

invader l{agha jzr4-r235) a

Sinhalese chieftain built a fortress at Subhapabbata, also calleci

Sun,larapabbata, Subhacala ancl Subhagiripura ; it is present Yapahuua,
neat lfdho. From the fortress, forays were made on the invaders in

r6"

.1.cr.11)

A.S.C"A.Il., r95+ 25.

it!. zr. q; XI .7" 4zq, 5.

r7"

.i/.

,,S.

-l

rS"

lr1. .!r.

.1

.LC.

+.

: 88. z:-:6, 6i-78 : 9o. 5, 31, 3.5, q3-55; Pu.j. :g

r3"

Dft JOLII-iN.\L, R,.-{.S. (CIIYLON)

IIISTOII,ICAT, TOPOGR,APHY 0F ANCIENT AND ],IEDIEVAL CEYLON 97

zl miles north of the r3th mile on the

there aie inscriptions of tlie zncl and btlr

,g3Tp .!- Itahd,_galla. Vijayabfi,hu in roTo captured the C,jla fort

at
Yahagalla- .Whe' Parakliamabahu built the canal ,ror,, kro*r, ,r,
Ridr-Btindi-A_1a. Malragalla iank was cnrar.gecl. ln a 'l'amil inscripiior"r
at .Buduntuttdt'a,near.iikararriril'a, thepla"cr.iscallerl llagala, reninied
Vikkirama ('xla,pFgapura.:'

Vol.

VI,

Ralgalli,gama \rihara,

-,\t
lldlti-!{ika,cizta
_

Speci.al Nutti.ber

,Nerr: Se.r,ios,

yo.Ld,

nicrlturies.2o

r nrile south of the r8th nrile on the

is an impressive rocl< nearly as large as
Yitfalu,tt'ct. It rvas a nonastc'y Jou'clecl in pre-christian times"as its
r.llair\'.cave--inscl.iptions rt':ti[y. Jn lrr in.i'ri;itiou iiz. si/r2,,I kirrg
Diyabiitta Vihirra,

llaho-_Ni/t&"uii.ta road,

llaIrallaku Naga(r3r,-r_13) tlrt,inonestcrf is crlletl li lianakaVilrar-r ,rn,I

tire Punal<oclal<a tank is rnentionecl.2l

rniles \vest of the zzncl rlile on the Hirirbitittu,, ,,]}f l{aranfic,3l,
Polfitt:gama
road, tl'rere are inscriptiors oJ the 6tji centurv rvhich
nl

ei'r

tioir I( aclaragamaya.

anc'l Cah an'agam

ayi.

.Ir.r.t'tttlturiaa. .3 rniles south of the r,1ilr rnile

ol

tbc Ma,ltrj-A*iltat:ti.ua

r,atl, is an aband'r'iecl site of rhich scarcclv anv remains

exist. -r\ zncl

,:.lltt,lty i'..eription there
(i)' I{'lataha tank, a'cl (ii)
ra{1rryav1\'1.'r'j
'nentions
.f
cctrtLrrv..iuscriptior at I)ikgala, ne'ar .l'i,ntbiriyi--a, z rnlles
.-..--",:\
rr(irtlI 01"t:1
thc- 6th mile o' tlte ririhauarr,iii,,,a-l,Ic1hri roac-I, is irn'sr-rar in its
s'bj.ct-rlattcr: it reads, ;tir. lnrrp"-"lirr."rotr, Ilratyeka (prirrate)
I

ilnclclha'.:;t

\t

H cilarrtbagala

Ylhira, 8'riles north_east of Nihaaart,itiya,

a st
ct'ntury inscription nrentions Utara tank.ra
3.1r, centxry inscrjptiorr aL Runtl,nig0lta, 5 rrri.les cast_rrorth_cast
ur. .\tRai'ot,ttttva.
nrentiorrs:_(i) )Jahapiragaina; (ii) Abavarikr;
.r rrd (iii) I(a,.taguraka tanl<.r;
K5savSgama is. meirtionecl
near N ikat ay titiy a.)tt

in a rotrr century i'scriptio' at ltriua,

built Sulugalu or Sugutuva tank, present

....,.1!]llt..la (:25-3.or)
rirtugarra-aa.a,
5 miles north-north-east oJ )ii-hauariitiya. Sulugahi

i)cclrrs in a roth century inscription.uz

In

devel_oping

tlic resources of his principality oI Dakkhiladesa,

Parakl<anrabfilru lrarnessed thc r,vaters oTihe.yallara-narli(Dtidr,wwolta)',

by damming-the ri'er at three points. The rowtst clam, Kotthauaaana,
has alreacly been desc-ribed. Highest up the river was the'stlkaranijjhara clam at the conflue'ce of tiie two iributaries, Sankha'aciJr,"rlanal<a.(Halnatuna 01a) ancl Kumbhilavana (Kintbutuana Oyai. The
spot is nou' known as Dcm,odeva and the rui's of thc dam are'still to be
seen. The waters impounded by the DEutodeva clam l'ere conrfuctecl

to .l'ilagullaka tanl<, identiliecl by coclri'gton as

chet.l Tatagattit'ciu,anrt rhc
pri."Ji,
lf":]"n,t,,b":u
of tirat tarrk and down the stream nciu' "ii"r.
"iii,"'r]_,ilirr..,.
known as the Tala.gaili-cila
to
rejoin the Dciduru oya a.t Ebaualapitiya. Here u'as the'second or
mrddle danr. called the noradattika dam. From this dam, a canal,
now restorecl and called the Rid.r-bcinal ilo, conclucted the u'ater to
Mahdgalla tank at l{ihat,t,,itiya,. the bund of }Iahdgalla tank was
strengthe'ed ancl a larger spillway built to enable it To contain ancl
discharge the additionai volume o-f r,vater brought down bv the ner,r,,
feeder canal. In the modern restoration, the Ridr-bandi-dta takes off',
not from tlre old dam site at Ebarala/>itiya,bot from a new clam built
alon5;

channel

z.L miles upslream.rc

Parakkamabahu restored the_folloi,ving tanks in the r{ikaaariitiya

:-Ji ) f il agulla tank, present. Ia l a g alt a,iouth of M aho (Co clringt oi ;
919a.
)
(ii ),{f ltly*1, t an k. prescnt V a si yau ai near \u i h au a r ritrya (Coarin[ton j ;
(iii) MahEkiralatanl<.present Ma-lrugirilla.5nrilesnorih'oll,,liharafrilya;
and (iy) Ambala tank, present ArnbcTle,-near the 3rst mile on -the

.K wr un d gal a-P utt al anc

road (Coclringt on ) .'ro

Habugolu'a, present Halb|. in thc sub-district yaeula_kuliva. is

l'Iahigalla tank, also cailed lld,galu a'cl l,Iahaluva, is present

mentioned in an inscription of Kassapa \r (898-914)

nortlr-n'r-st ol A' i hat'ariitlya (Paranar.it"n";.'r'

__t-h.
Aggabodhi III (629-639). The
rebel }loggallana, in ihe reigr of
samgiratissa (614) adva'cecl frorn Rorrani-and occupiecl
a"rmed

(B)" Hiriydla Hatpattu

Hiriyala Hatfattw falls lvitirin the clry zone.

tllugallattriaa at Nikaaarcitiya, ancl ,""i boilt by Mahisena

1275_3,o4.
-Xlahagalla rvas granted. to
I,Iahallaraja practising H"*J ly

"n

ro. '1.1.C. (:q"

2r. A.I.C. g; U.C.R., VIII, No. z, r:3.
2). .4.5.C.,1.R, tgrr-rz, rr8.
23. C./.S. (G), lI. ror, r.26"
24. C./.S. (G), II. r9:, r93.
:5. /1 .5.C.4.R., rqrr-rz, rr8.
26. E.Z. III, t43.
27" Pr.tj. z4; Ilaj. 5z; E.Z. 1II. 3oo.

tl Hall,;,8hite.

lt is a hilly ancl

picturesque area, numerous rocky ranges, rome over r,ooo feei high,
interrupting the level ground. There were numerous
taiks
'illage r.ery
irrigati'g the flat, valleyJands, but reservoirs of large size
'riere
tvas i\t
{"_":. In early tinres t}re southern part of Hiriyata"Hatfattt,t
Malaya.

u8. M.
29.
3o.

3r.

i75-D

q4. t.rg, r2o ; +5. z7

37. qB: 58. 4+;

puj. 2l; Rttj.

M. 68. 3z-38 : 68. 43, 41 ; C.H.J.IV, 5+, 5S.

M. 58.$: 68. 43-47.

C./.s. (c), II. r92.

52.;

E.Z. III. 3rz.

98 JOUR,NAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON) New Series' VoI. VI,

Speci'al Nuntber

}lalrlpala-rattha, a name connected u'ith

tlne ME Oyq' wys a

boundary district'of Dakkhiladesa and extended on both sides of the
upper reaches of ttrre Mr' Oya, embracing Hata|isltahe Korale East,
N i k av a g atn p aha K or alE and D ia i g an d aha K rir ala't32

Tatntnand,,-a Vil'tr:tra at Katwgamfolagama, c3 miles west of the

6th rnile on the Krihiyava-I{al,uariaa road, is called Arakipipala vihara.
in a 5th century inscriPtion.:r3
Sciss\rwaa Vihara was one of the largest pre-Christian cave monasteries but its ancient narne is not knolvn. It stands on the boundary
of the present Anuradha.pura and Kurwt'dgala districts, 8 miles northeast of-the Sth mile on the Galgatnu'tta-Nikauaiaa road, and the summit
of the lrigher lntll (Mahaltanda) is 1146 feet high- t)f tle "Yq".I9os
cave inscr'iptions, one is bv the daughter of a l<ing u'ho, in all probabiLity,
rvas \ratt'agamani Abliaya (r.c' 8rl-ZZ) t the princes.s was married to
a chieftairi (parumaka) ancl this suggests that the king received some
invaluable uirl {ro* the chieftain's family when he was in exile. some
long inscriptions of thc rst century are no\,v mutiiated and appear once,
to liave coitainecl the Vihara's ancient name' Conspicuous among the
monuments here lvhich have survir.ed is a colossal Image of the Buddha
in stone, 39 feet 3 inches high. lhe Jollorving piace-names occur in

the pre-C'irristian and rst century ilscriptions:-(i) -Yava tank;

(ii) Punadagama ; (iii) Haligama ; (ir') Kadalagama,.probably present

kanctwlugaitutta, near'N dgatna; (v) Bama4agama , (vi ) P-adehina tank ;

(vii) Maiavila; (viii) Vajlkavaranaka; and (ix) Eraka.3a

'fissa
The ancient Vessagiri Vihara founded by I)evanarhpiya
(v.c. 247-zo7) is certainly not the cave monastery in the southern parl
of e"riiaanupura whicli now bears this narne: inscriptions in- situ
iclentify modirn Vessagiriya with the ancient Issarasamana Vihdra.
Historically, too, the situation of Vessagiri could be i'ferred to be"
several miies south of Anuradtrapura, because VattagS,mani Abhaya"
fleeing after his clefeat in the northern suburbs o{ the city,. took refuge
in thJVessagiri forest : and modern Vessagir,iya or its vicinity was no.
pt"l" of reftrte for a king fleeing from an e""my in occupation of his

VeJsagiri was so named because 5oo Vessas who received the'

pu'UUu1a came iron the village Girigama. Giri Vihara, also called
'Glrigaittt
Vihara, existed in Kutakafna Tissa's time (n'c. 44-22\' ^nd

iapital.

was verv probably iclentical with vessagiri. Mahagirigama ancL

Giriganraka4na are probably synonymous r,r'ith Girigama. Giriyavapi,
restorecl by Farakkamabahu. has been identified by codrington with
present Gilgiriyata tank near the gtli mile on lhe Galgamuua-Nikauriaa;
ioaci. Pabbatarama, built by a minister of Vattagamaqi Abhaya, was

f]ISTOI],ICAL'I'OPOCIIAP}IY OF ANCII'NT AND MEDIEVAL CI]YLON

99

to the south of vessagiri ancl close to siLl,sobbliakarlclaka, ancl near

the. boundary of l'fala3ia. vessagiri anci Girigama'appear to have
llre.ir- rranrcs l)rescr\ed in tlre ran.-.ge of Irills now called Golgiriyiua
extends from tlie rzth mile-.on the Galqatttuua Nihauii'ua'road
'i4rich
for
ro miles to the north as far as Srissa.ruaakind,a; there are (t or
separate,groups of caves ancl ruins on this range. Near Giri vihara7
pafrcaggilalena. I'Ioggaltana I
1i,e19 {a1lfu-angana ancl also, probably,
pabbatarama

b'ilt

Pabbata

viliara.

and Siiasobbhakandi?"

-ost
lrave beeir situatecl on tu'o of the many hilrs to southwarcl of'Galgiriyava
'orr wlrich ancient sites e_xist, namely, the rocl; groups arotnd'poi
lritigd.r.td, f,[(7--cliya. nekandaaala, Hangantuta., ,lrinhciia. Dcluhanda,'etc.

llrs sorrthern part of Hiriyula Harfartu rras thercfore in Malaya in

'early times. At the foot of Gatgiriyaaa-handa, near Kad.r,r,iz,ciua,
zJ miles north-east of the Sth mi6 on the Garsanut a-N/haurh'a
it a.group of caves and other ruins w.ith inscriptions from pre19"{,
christian tirles to the r,st century. 'I'he forlon'ing pt"." r"m., oi.o.

il.,t!S

inscriptions

:-(i)

; (ii) Mayahala" br Mayihalaraka

;
Pehakara tink i' ihe sub-clistrict'Bidas;r,a{iii) Kataka-nakara ; (iv) -Gafika
kaniya ; (v) Irata tanli : (vi) Datar il<a ; an,1 1r.ii; Kara javil<a.ii''
At Gan\handa vihara, 3 miles north-north-east of porpitigam,a,
there are inscriptions of the rst century e.c. and of the rst'anl znil

'centuries

e.c.

These inscriptions give the foilowing place-names

(i) Gokalegama:

:-

Ttir century inicription at Am\agasaciua, 6 iiles

tonorth-west, contains thc nanre Guka'a ; (ii) Sidaviya i (iii) Tanegarur;
(i") $qi*tl, (v) Naval-aka ; (i-i) Tutataratisa ; (vii) i<"1r"Ui-t"au?"Lu;

,ancl

a.

(viii) Kanavaka.'r6

Vijayabahu in roTo captured the Cola fort at Malclagaila, and,

later, he restored }fapdavaf,aka tank; furthermore, he'gianteci the
village of Sirimandagalagame to the sangria. These
all stanci
{or present ltalryngrtragala, a _breached iank on the 'am"es
Mi Oya ab,ott
z miles north of PoQtitigama (Codrington).8?
. In-an inscription oJ Amendagamani Abhaya $g-zg) at Akurwketw_
gala, t! miles r'r'est n{
1!. z4th-mile on the'Ibbizgaiiaa-potpitigatna
road, the site js named Bhatavabi Vihara at Simiiitit<a.:;s
Parakkamabahu restored :-(i) Sediyaggama tank, present Hati_

gamuaa Mahaaciua. near Pol.pitigana.Rakadnau riaa, neat M or agoll iigama.tr\l

---

De.galaturu-birn was

.K6v6176.t'rt

(lij tiikkhamana iank,

sub-district, probably

in

present

Diuigandahe

15 : 33. 1E,_oo: 3c)._:+r :1r. :: 68. qj-5o;8.I,1.22.25; M.T.6rO;

_ .?5: ^M.20.
t3: r935, ro, para43 ;U.C.R.
F.4
P_.8a,, rzz, rz3,,.\pp..IB_; J.,S.C.,t.1t., t8q;.
VII, No. 4, 243, note,19 : \''III, No. z, r19, r.:3. "
A.I.C.
36.
39, roo ; U.C.1l. VIII, No. z, rzz.
37. M. 58. ++: bo. 49, 68.
38. C./..s. (c), II. r.26.
39. k1.68. 44 46.
40. E.Z.IV, zo8.

VI'

Special Number

HISTOR,ICAL TOPOGI],APHY O}' ANCIENT AND MEDIIIVAL CEYLON TOI

Vijayabdhu I (ro.5.5-rr ro) r9slo1lt] . Pal hina Vil?t?t., P:"t:nt

a prc-Chliflil.tll:^
Pctiyagaia Vihnra, 3
" miies south ol Polpitigarra,

.fujogala js.a l^a1Se but not vcry lolty rock on Neriyaaa estate,
2 mrles rvest of tlre fltlr mile on the lbbugamuaa-pol.pitigana road, with
caves, a thupa on its summit and remains of ancient- stotr"*o.k. A
long inscription of the 4th century has been engraved close to the

100 JOUIT,NAL, Ii.A'S. (CIE\aLON)

Neu; Series' Vol'

in this vicinity are

Other pre-Christian t .-,,1". with insiriptions
Vihara.a 1
li a s oll a Vihara'a1
7' n h i ti.ir
n. Vihara
Vih ara and Nagolla
T'alpitiyaua
'fire village Kihapuya is nrentioned in a 6th century inscription
Ciiiit;yoginto, 4 miles souttr-south-west of Polpitigam'a'
"t Kannikaragalla
tank lvas restored by Parakkamabahu and is
6
pr"rii i ttongitto, miles south-south-west of Polpitigama' - On the
i..iv nifr ab&e u-as a monasterv, now abandoned' {ounded in prer7,'i

Christian times.a2

Inalstccnturvirrscriptiorrattlrclairlyextensive,ruilts;r"t

Kollulalttilfiiyuta, b milcs nortli oI Hiripitiya, the place lvlablrlgarna

* t"T:rr""1iJ,ro,',
o, the rst centurv-at Eriy(taanames the old temple
Vihara' l{aholagqyl Vl}tara'..near n)riyd'ua ' ald 4 miles
th*; I;i;i;;G
''imba,hfota, is called.Na,galla vihara in a r3th
centurv

"i
"".i
inscription.aa

At Dagawta, near the l5th mile-on .the. Ibbd'gantu.lta-Poll>,itigarna

,oua, ifr.r"L a ver,,,- large cive ca11ed KribriLl,aLe'na. tvith prc-Christian
inscriptions.a

i'

built }Ialiaeli tank Vijavabal-ru 1 (roisthe same as lfahaeli, and identical with
lf!fri6"iiiank,
,tooj-r=ri.i.J
,,."sdnt X[aeliya-rtiua, ncar the rzth mile on the- IbbcT,ga'tnuu.a-Pol'pitiytt.t'in"l.attna.ua
!'r,r) i"ra. irr an inscri'tion oI Sena II (E53-x87) at3 pre-.( hrlstlan
'vilnya
Jlat'li-arama:
at .Ilneli-t'a the site is called
Dlratusena

(+SS-+ZS)

i".".ipti"" at the'same place-nanres the hi.ll Ayibara-pavata.aii

AlPatuHangatl.lul'la,r]mileseastoftherrt]rmileonthe
rvith caves'
fl,/,r1pu,tnuta-Pol'bitiganta roacliis an extensit'e ancient site'

much stonervork. 'Ihe inscriptions at tLe, site

."",i-. . ti.rrpul "iia

iu ii"'+ti to 6th centuries
t;i;; 'fanrala.r;

and one ot them contains the place-

n:rrnc

AtTittatleLa,neal.tlreT}nlileorrtltelbbdgalnuua-PoLpilig.anm
ro"a, tf."r. is a iock1, hiil with cat'es antl pre-Christian inscriptions,
rvho, *'as qlopaply
;;;;i ti,tti.lt it claiecl in the reign of a-king
rn'itlr pre-Christian
i'icinity
tlris
sites-in
Other
Ablrala.
Vat,taeatnani 'l'olnrgo*irza
Ioth miie' and
Vihlra,
ri
41, miles east o[ tlre
il;rfil;;;
'j<lriilr:ril
same
road.t^
rlLc
on
rnile
uth
j
rhe
of
nest
miie
riia...
41.
4',2.

43.

.11. 6o. 5E ; '[.LC. 37, +r; C./.S'

,U. 68. 45 ; C../.'S' (G)

A.LC.

46

4+.

A.I .C. p (a).

rz4.
lVl. 6o. 4E ; Puj. z7 ;

46.
48.

C./.s. (G) II.

II'

1932, 9.

C. J .S. (G)
A.S.C.A.R., r93r-32, r r.

_..,Rattagir!!:

At.M-ridiriya Vih{1q and Aragarna, rrear the zncl ancl 3rd miles
respectively on the l-bbagatnwua-Polpitigatna road, there ""." pr"Clrrisl ian inscriptions.i'r
PeriyakaQu Vihdra at lt{tilaaa,3 miles north of the
7th mile on the
Kuru_ndgala-Dambulla road. is called Ekaclorika or'Ekadoriya or
Ekadora Rajamahavihara in inscriptions of the znd, 3rd
6tn,
centuries in sitw. Place-names mentioned in these inscriftions"rrh
are:(i) TuJahaka tank; (ii) Cigaravaliya tank; (iii) Talahapa; and (iv)
Tanada. A pre-christian-inscript-ion on a cave is'preiedecl by itre
symbol of a cross, probably the emblem of the astrologers' guil6.lz
. 4" inscription of the rst century at Maharnukalanyaya, mear
^
Dolwkandu,
mentions Puba-ga-nakara.l,'i

$SSabodni.. I (57t-6o4) bqlt Sirivaclclhamana tank, present

Siradwnna,3 miles north-east of Vcillaaa.r,a
_ Utu_rupar:rzVihara, r mile north of the rzth mile on theKurwnd,galaDa*,r,bwlla road, and I,{issole.na Vihara, near the r6th mile on the iame
road, havc caves rvith pre-Christian inscriptions.5s
Sangam,u,

-4.5.C.A.R., 1933, r4, 17; U.C.R.

VII, No' 4,238, notc 5'

r[ miles east of the r4th mile on

wiih many

the

caves, a

ruine.d thrlpa-, rock-cut steps, stone ponds, ancient stoneivork, anct

inscriptions 5]at-ing from znd s.c. to the r2th century. Dhatusena

@SS-+Z1) built Sarlgamu tank, the tank now called. Mciddakcitiyabelow
the Vihara. The - Sigiri graffiti mention Sangamu and 'S"angamu_
kelvala-arama. The 6th
inscriptions ir"ention (i) Gon"agiri;
-c-entury

(ii)-Itahavalagama: Mahaval is mentioned in the Sigi.l g".":ffiti.

lld
The rzth century treaty bertween Gajabahu II and parakkimaEahu is

cngraved at this Vihara.lt{i

50.

5r.
53.

II.

VihAla,

Kwrundgala-Daw,bul,Ia roacl, is an extensive site

52.
t z3, r:'1'

?d! Vihira, r mile west of the 5j mile on the

I.bbd,gatnrta'Pol/>itigama road, has caves with pr"-ih".irtirn inscriptions: one r.nentions Abaya-nakara, and in anothir the donor was the
daughter of a prince Uti.Bo

+9.

r25'

II, roz, tz5, tz6'

: A.S.C.A.lt',

+5'

(C;),

thirpa.ae

A.I.C. g; C.I.S. (G), II r9r.

C./..S. (G), II. rer.
C./.S. (G), lI. zz6.
A.I.C. E; C./..S. (c), II. 223. 224; E.Z. IV. zz5 ; Sig. Graff. I, App. CA. S.C. A.

R.,

r9.5.1, 39.

55.

M. 42.8.
c./.s. (c), II. ry4.

56.

Puj. z7 ; C..I.S. (c),

54.

II.

zz3, 224: E.Z.

lY.

zz5 ; Sig. Graff.

I, App.

C"

t02 .IOUI],NAl,. li.A.S. (CEYLON)

The ruins at Rattagiri, near l)at'agiriya, 3* milcs north-rvest
of tlre rTth rnile on t1,e Kurundgala-Dottl,ulla road, cxtend over a hill
ancl inclucle several caves, one oI n'l-rich is serni-circular and very large
\vhile anotl-rer prcserves a portion of its moulded wal1, thirpas at foot
ttot.r"."n.k. 'lhere are several inscriptions Jrom the
ancl summit,
"t]d
to the 7th ccntury. In the later inscriptions .the
s.c.
century
zncl
follor'ving i1"..-t-,utl,".t are mentioned-:-(i) Kagacla; (ii) \latila;
(iii) Agavaiura, and (ir') Navagamiya.5i
Mahascna (27.5-3oi) built Kumbelaka tanh, also cailccl
Kimbulvana. 'fiii-.riav' be the same as Kumbhilasobbhalia tank
restorecl by both vijayabShu I ancl Parakkamabahu, ancl perhaps
iclentical *,ith th. laige, brcachecl reservoir on tl-re Kirnbuh'dnn Ovtt.
no',v knoln as liirumulla.i'g
It rvas 5 gar, (about 15 r-niles) froiu sankhand,tliatthali (identiliecl
by paranar,itina as p."rd"rt P4radetti-,nu,La!,1, 5 miles north-east of
i,i,l1gorto in Kdgatti clistrict) to lladalatthala, present Batalttgo,Qa.
On tiie oooy .o,eo" Pilim'atthri and Padarrarasuiifr.akanclr- -Bacialatthala-pacieia comprisecl lhala Visideka Koyale a]nd Htitaha;vA l{ovala
(Coilrington). Vijayab5hu
I fought a battle at Baclalattlala.
-oi
at BatalagoQa, the place is
Kalyu,navati
in an iiscription Queen
called Rada'lagocla alias Nlangalapur:a in the Madhyaclesa clivision
of tire l,{aya kingclorn: the inscription goes on to statc " that
the Seneviritliriver.ra in Baclalagocla r,r,as restorecl and the village
Sotemuna, preient Hatantw'nE, neat Galet;ela, granted to it'51)
Siriyela rvas a place betwcen Ratnlagoda and L[cinih.drza isouth of
Dambulla).t:tr

(C).

Devamddi HatPattu
De.uantiidi Hatfattu Jalls rvithin the dry zone ancl lies to,*outh of
t:ne I)iiduyw oya. 'lhere are nlanv hill ranges and no large rivcrs :
large irrigation schemes t'l'ere not feasible.
,Ar-naragalaka tarlk is mentioned in an inscription oi .\-asabha
(57-t.r) ai' Galau1a \/ihara, near MaQa"rtala, z t^nl7es nortS of the
5f mile on the Kwru,niigala-llurantalla road. ln a later Jth centur:1i
inscription there the site is named Megagalaka Vihara'61
Galuciaa vih[ra, r mile north of thc r4th rnile on the l,-uriyafoLa.^
chitaw roacl, is a lor,v rock-outcrop u,'ith a cavc, on which there is :r
rst century inscription, and a ruineci thupa close to which is a secourl
57.

II,

.r /.s-.

59.
6o.

br.

c./.s.

(G)

ToPo

Gli,APfdY oF,q'NcrENT' AND IIEDTE v,A,L cE]Ir- oN I 03

inscription r,vliich mentions (i) Bamarahagama tank, and

(ii; -\ladahata rank.,ir
Yakkhacltr'sa nountain, prcsent yahdesdgara, g miles north-northrvest of l{wrwn[igala, is mentioned in a r3th century pali poenr.o]
Giri Vihara in Dakkliinadesa was built in the rcign of Aeeabodhi J
$7r-6o$. In a roth ce't*ry i'scription at )Irid,.tgctina Vihil?, , iil",
soutlr of the zoth rnile on the vuriyapola-chilaza roacl, the site is called
Giri Vehera, but here Giri rnay sin4rly mean ,rock ; : moreover, the
site lrus a prt'-('hrisiian inscriPlion t,'hich proves tlrat its founrlation
cannot be ascribed to Aggahodhi I. In inscriptions of the
7th to
centuries at the sanre piace, it is namecl Kurnbmugama Vihara.6a 9th
Irr a roth century inscription at Gonn[it'a, z mires north of the
Sth nrile on the Kurundgala-NuranLtnala roacl, revenucs from a lancl
in thc snb-district Mahaminila-bim (the area arouncl Gonnd,ua) were
grantecl to the Nlah5,r'ihdra.i':,
_ At l{uhunnaru, Vijay,abahu I (ro55-rrro) fought a battle.
ParakkamabS,hu I restored Munaru tank" An inscriptioi of Kassapa V
Qt+-rl4 at l{uuarakiilet, z milcs sout}r-east of llittipota, ,r"m"r't}r.
g5:lt_q.y-

place l{uhunnaru.ti6
I{fllagallaka rvas betu'een Dambadeniya and ya,paltwaa and is
lrresent Kalugalla, 3 miles south of the Kolantuna Oio and close to
.l{atul>ota. Beiween Kalagallaka and, yd.fahu?Jrr \,\ras ih" Xolabl,irrrra_
nacli, prcsent Kolatnwtta Oya.67

'fhe sub-district around Vtillagala, ncar the

4th mile on tire
L'iri1,6ps7.-Ilirifi{,iya road, is callerl Panahapahal.'a, , the district of
5o hills', in an inscription there of the rst century.6TA
A llinister of Vattagamati'At
Abhaya (n.c. 89-77) built Tissardma or
LTttaratissara,ma monastiry.
Nwaoyikandrr, i hif",
GanF.u-tdla, there was a very extensive cave monastery in ""ilh-;.if
"f
pre-Christian
times, anr-l one of the ca'e inscriptions records the ioundation of the
monastery,^ which _is cailed Tisapavata Mahavihara, by Kanati6a, a
N{inister of Pita }faharaja (Vattagdmani Ab}raya). "Olher places
in the many inscriptions at this :;ite, ranging from tst n.c. to
1am,ec]
the 6tir century, are-:-r'i) Mukalugama; (ii) Digairalika; (iii) IfalagaX,_[alagane, 3 mites to the north-r,vest; 'and (j")
l"^t.r, present One
ol the donors of the caves \\.as a prince
l[aclarar-ilaya.

Dr-rhita.(is

c."r.s.

II. ztr.

II
II

: :5.

r'r. 37 45 : 6o. 50 : 79. 33 ; I'u.i. '24; Ilu.j. 5z

4z-44: (;4. 9: 65. 1; E.Z. IV.8o-82.
x[.66. r9.

r lJ.

Hrsl' oR'rcAL

$.2. I\-.

Cttipe,
135

II- rz6.
,,11.

i3. 9r

No. z.

104 JOURNAL,

R,.A.S.

(CEYLON)

New Series, Vot"

VI,

Special Num'ber

Gane Yihara and Pataham.ull.a' Y1hd,ta, at the Sth and roth miles
respectively on the Vd.riyapola-Hiripi{iya road, were founded il pt"Ct iirti"" times as the inJcriptions .t these two temples testify'ti0

At Sripura, present Malasne, near Hiripifrya, Nissanka llalla

(rra!_lrn61 buiit Ln Alms Hall. Acc,ording to a pralirit test of the
rrgo and rzoo
i.i"lr, S"ipu." u,as in the Ratnd,saya districi : between
penetrzrted as
and
Chilau-,
present
at Salavattota,
ifr" Col.t iancled 'l'he
-fhe place
Siripu'a.
me'tion
Graffiti
Sigiri
nr'Sripura.
i"i
century'?O
rzth
appa-rentlyjhacl some imp6rtance in the
Se,ruttciua Vihara, a picturesque rock-tenrple situated high up on
.steps, is^4 miies south of tlre [rth mile on the
the hill and mounted by
Vn;yiiii niripi.tiya "roacl ancl *,as cstablisired in pre-Christian
timei oi the evirtence of its tr'r'o cave inscriPtions'?1
Nutagana Viliirra, r nrile west of the 7!'.nrile on llle K-urttndgala.
Variyilri'o roarl, r,vas also founrlerl in pre-Christian timcs'?2
Mayaluvuta \/iha,ra, z miles north of the z5th nrile on the liandltKwriiAgata roacl, is attained by a steep climb over rock' There are
eariiest one
i"r".iptil"r there of the 3rd to ihe 7th cent*ries antl in thesane
llame
Rata,iahanaka-mahanakara and a vihAra of the
mentioned'71
are
inscription)
the
tpi"t"m"frfy the site of
' (D).

Katugampola HatPattu
I{a1ugantpola Hotltallu is, in its noftlrcrn. portiorr, itr,the rln zotte,
part falls within an internrerliate z.onc bctu'ecn tlre dry
6ut iir rl,ltne'rn 'It
suitable for
*"t ,o"es. is not hilly but it is not clirnaticallytanks'
""a
it
has
few
hence
and
irrigition'
rrnder
p"AaV cultivation
Palclavapi or Panclavdva, the breached resen'oir norv known as
p an{,aa ai-nuiarau riua,' 3 miles from H e-tti.t' ola, was restored by Vijaya-

ili; i (ro55-rrro).' 11 was considerablv enlarged by ofP-arakkan:abahu

Qakkhinad_esa
,"rt Jt ft;"" pt^"'of dcvelopment of his principality Bd"na
or Fldna
",
*rri *.u, r.he lirst Parakkamasamudda. also callcdfounded
his nerv
Par-a5.lcamab6hu
close
by
(Paranavitana).
s"*"ar" 'DakkSinadesawhjch
he called Paraktamapura, the present
orpiiuf of
purpose of
,"il. .t panil,wtt^{-nuuaya. There is little cloubt tliat ther'vas
to..gi'e
*"f""ti"g thii piace in the dry,zone as his ner'v capital
t'
facilitate
and
projecls
de'eloprnent
and
irrigation
1is
to
;;"h;rir
tlreir supervision. The ruins at Parakkanlaptlra have nott'bet'n
excavated and conservecl.?a

6s. A.I .C. 44,45 ; C.-f.'S. (G) II. r9z'

.,o. E.Z. U.. r78; C../.'S. (G) II. rer; ./'n'"'1 S' (C'll'), XXXI,
Sig. Graff. I, APP. C'Ir" A.1.C.38; ,4.'S.C-.-{..1?., 1933' 17'
jz. C./.S. (G) 11. zzt.
73. C./.S. (G) II. ztz.
74. M.6o.48:68. .39-42 ; Puj.34'. E.Z.II" tt6'

3E5-386;

HIS'T()FI,IT]AL TOPOGII,APfIY 0I'ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON TO5

Settirivapi, restorecl by Parakkan'rabdhr"r, is the present tank at

Hetti ?oh.r5

(E). Dambadeliya Hatpattu

Dambadeniya Hatfa.ttr,t falls entirely within the intermediate and

wet zones ancl hacl vcrv fel'v tanks for: the cultivation of fields uncrer"
irrig:rtion. ,But jt r,va.s poprrlated fronr pre-Christian times.
*-_ Therr- tll.Sgoot_of pre-Clristian rock temples in tire triangle
NtTt'uttttttula-Giriullu--llau:a, all bearing contemporarv inscriptions.
They are :-(1) Pwhula \,'ihtr,ra at Aturuztaln., r mile froni the zoth mile
on the Kurundgala-Giriwlla road; (ii) Madauala Vihnra, r mile fronr

tlic 5th nrile on the Giriulla-Alautta roacl; (iii) Hwntbotruzte vihdra,

near tlrc 5-: mile on the sarne road (iv) Hcibbitihanda, 1 mile east

of tlre znd mile on the Alavua-1,{a,raitntata road; (v) ntriilyangoro.

\rilrara, near the r6tli mile on tlie Kururdgala-Giriuita road. i, u
rst centurS'. inscriptio' at the last-mentioned site, the monastery is
named Mati Vihara ancl a grant is made to it of Kaclanaka tank ind
fields at Salaviya.Tu

At Jambuddoni, also called Jlmbldroni and Dambadeqriya,

prelgnj D_anr,bad-enirtrr,
Vijayabahu IV (rz7r-rzl3) establishecl his
capital. He built ttre vijayasunclara vihdra-there *#hich parakkanrab5,htt II cmbellished. The distance from Dambadeniya to polonnaruva
is.given as 5 yojanas, and Vijayabahu IV improvecl the roacl: the actual
clistance is about 75 miies. Bhuvanekabeh; I $z.3-rz14) transferred
yapahiaa'."

Sirivaddhana or
$g ca_pital from Dambadeniya to
Sirivardhanapura,, the birthplace of parakkarnabd,hu II, was j a
yojana from Dambacie{riya: h large Vihd.ra was built there.T?

(F.) Vdudavili Hatpattu

VduQadli Hat.pattot, Iorms one section of the foothills of the
central mountain rnassi{ and lies wittrin the wet and interrnediate zones.
Its northern area is fairly flat but isb_roken by nunrerous rock outcrops'fhe uppe-r reaches of the Dcidwyw-Oya
flr,ti through it an<l the large
Batalagoda tank was formed by damming this riv"er.
At Hatthiglripura, also called Hastisailapura and KurunAgalpaya,
-

modern Kwrundsala, Parakkamab5hu II {t2j6-rz7rl built a"Vihara.

Vijayabehu IY (tz7t-t273) built a rampart
mbui roundthe town,

"trd " Rhuvanekabahu II

and a large Image House in the Vihara.

(tzgr-tjoz) made the town his capital, and his successor, parakkanra_
bdhu IV, also ruled there ancl built a Tooth Relic Ternple. At
Vapinagara, identified by Coclrington as present Ventwwuiua, just

4o;

25. M.68. q.
76" C./.S. (G) II. r9r, 2oc), 2ro.
7L. .M. 8r. 15, 5r : 85. r, 4,9 : 89. 13, t4i
Raj.63.

go. 34, 35: N.S. zz, z3;

puj.

37,

f06 JOLTRNAL.

R,.A.S.

(CEYLON) ,Veu ,Serie.s, Vol. lI, Special

outside the tou'n, Vijayabalru.

I Iought a succcssful

NuTn.ber

action against thc

Colas.73

T/ilttu Y1lnra, closc

to l{nrunligala, has a prc-Clrristiirn

cave

inscription.;r'

Vijal'abihri I fled to Villikirb[-ratt]ra aiter ]ris

this is probably prescnl- I; iiu,ilauili Hatfiatl,t,r'.E\l

rleft',:rt by'

tlie Cdlas :

Iiing Mahacrlli Mahdtissa (n.c. 77-(4) laborred at a suear mill in

Sontagiri jn Arnbatthakola-j anapada,' th6 clistrict arouncl R;); Vihara :
Sonnagiri is probablv identical with solagiri at tlre foot of wrrich rn'as
Prtncala JlalrAr ihAra or Paceli Vilrara on Pipplrali Vihara. Sonnagiri
or Sonagiri -was _probablv presenl. Ranthodagalla. l{oggallanJ I
(49r-5oti)
collectcd troops

clistri ct.36

The DcratiyrTua Satrnas;l oi Nissanka X{all;r (rr87-r196) nalrcs the

-3 nriles south-east of Kurun,fiqala, Doratir''irva or

Suchkariiiaclipana-I)orat,iydva in ttrc l\'{rl-r''a, kingd,rrn. ancl hrcs its
bounclaries aifollolvs :- (i) on thc e ;rst, II anr:lvalu.ia, prcsetft Xt rl.ndolu,att

place, rvlrich

HISI'ORICAI,'IOT?0GR,APIdY OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAI, CEYLON I07

is

(Codrington); 1ii) on the south, trliravalttgo.ia; (iii) oIr tlte r,rrest,

Govipala, present I{om,poln (Corlrington); anrl (ir') on tlte north,
Minileva.8l
I)ilagarna is ruentionccl

in a roth ccnturf irr:crilttion at 4lazula,

6 miles eirst oI Kwrut,n.dgola.E2
At tlie Ambatthakola cave in l\Ialaya, S 1'-ojanas (6o to 75 ruiles)
south oi Anuraclhapura, si'iver is sajcl to have been founcl in thc r:eign of
Dutthaganrali Abhaya (n"c. r6r-r37). Flere, Anra.ndaganrarlj Abhaya
$9-zc1) buiit llajatalerra Vihir,ra, pre-sent Ridi \rihara. l'ltcre arc
sel'eral inscriptions at this r.vell-l<nown tcmple, daling lrorn zrlcl li.(. to
the Sth centurv, ancl the place-names melrtionecL in thcrn ilre'-

(i) Relagarna; (ii) Ilaraqamal<a; (iii) Pagamal<a t:rr:rli; (i")

at Kuthar-i Vihara ;n

. -The pre-Christian sites in this locality mark the early route into
tlre lorver montane basin of the Mahaurili Garigaaround l(ancly, namery
thc

Ridi,gam a- M olagod a-T eldery,iy

a pass.

... *J)"o inscriptions, circa rzoo, atKottange,near Dela,ita, mention:(i) Kalama viiiage, present KottangE, inCl'ding the fielcl pilikumbura in
the middle of Villi ancl bounded onlhe east by-Kappalagoda, granted to
general for defeating the Colas; (ii) Udus"ala .,itiogebeiotr[ing to the
!l-'re
Vilgammula fraternity; ancl (iii) Gamb:lvastava, als"o belong"in{to the
same fraternity, present Dambiila-Alla (paranavitana).8?
An inscription dated n7o at n[cidagama,4 miles nort]r-east of
L[avatagama at the r8th mile on the Kandy-Kwrwnd.gararoad, mentions
Sugaiavativasa hermitage, the site of the inscriptidn.s8
_. ,.Diyavehera,is mentioned

in a roth

Palle'gama, near vdrQa, ancl cakora tank

at

Yatia,ila, also near ,rduda.8n

in

Kumburuleya., near the qth mile on tht. RatnbodugaLlu toat7. was

doubtless a part of tlte RidE Vihara cntourage. 'l'lvo oJ the inscriptions
on thc caves there are bv the comnlancler o.f thc palanqtiin-bearers
Abhaya

(n.c.89-77).*a
Sitcs rvith pre-Clrristian inscriptions bctrvccn Rldi Vihhra an,1 the.
termination ol the Raml.totlagolla roacl are:-(i) Ilugala VihiLra, r:ear
tlre rz] mile, (ii) Ilc\oru,xa Vih:r,ra, ncar the 14* mile', (iii) PitiyEgcdttra,
close to the last-narned; (iv) Iia.ttd.agad,era. ncetr the r5th mile;
and (r') Delvita, on l)cli;i,tn cstate, near tlre t4th mile. At the lastnamecl group of caves, thc inscripticins ntcntion tlre villages Nelagama

and Abatota.s5

78. JlI.58.

qz-4q: ll.;. {i:, b.j: Sli. .53-0.};9ll.

C"/.S. (G)

2J8.

C..J

.5. (G) II. zrz.

Il. trz.

7s.
8o. n'l" 58. 29.
8r. .I.R.A.S. (C.ll.) -\X1x,
82. C.J.S. (G) 1I. :rr.
83, M.28.

{ttt

zo-75: 35.

4;

32.

O.J..S. (())

lI.

r79, rc13, .z18: Ll.L:.R.

,!4. C../.S- (G) tI. ic,)'t ; L,-.(l.ll., \'IIT, No. z, rz:.

35. C./.S. (G) [I' : r rr-: t S.

VII, \o"

E7.

M. l+. +: 39. 2r ; M.'f . 624,

E.Z. T\ . us-go.

E8.

(-./.S. (G) Lt. zrz.

d9.

Ibid., z t9, 2:o.

E6.
8.

zo ;

century inscription at

a znd. century inicription

Catanagarnaka; and (v) Patagalaya.s']

of Maharaja Ganrani Abaya, probably \iattaga,rnani

tmbatthakola

E.H.B. rz4.

T1IST OllTCAL'TOPO(.I

CHAPTtrR XIV

THE MATALE DISTRICT

Tlre norttrern ancl eastcrn parts of thc MrTtala District fall rvithin
the dry zone, while the rest of tlie district is in the mouutainous r'vet
zone. 'l-lne -,1m,ban Gaitga flous through it. Much of tlie area within
the clry zone is hiily, but tlne Matal| North Diaisiora contains scveral
tanks as r'vell as the headwork-s of some of the great irrigation projects
which conveyecl watcr to the va^st extents of lields in Rajarattha'
Pilavitthika or Pillavi!,fhi-rattha, bordering Kalavapi-ratd'ia, was
a frontier district of the principality of l)akkhiladesa, ancl includecl,
approxinrately, present Kiralaa a and l{and af alla K or alas (Codrington).
Pilavit is mentionecl in a roth century inscription. Encounters

between Parakkamabahu's forces in Pilavitthika district ancl

Gajabihu's forces in Kalar.'5pi district took place at:(i) Kasellaka, u'hich rvasin Parakkamabahu's territory because he
restorecl the tank there: it is modern l{ahd,lla, r mile west of

Andiyagala on the GalEvela-Kalaaciua road;

be modern 7'alakirb'agaraa at the 3rst
mile on the Kurundgala,-Dambwl'l,a toad',

(ii) Talavdpika, which may

(iii) Jambukola, present

Dantbu,lla: Viiayab:rhu

(ro55-rrro)

restored Janrbukolale4a Vihara : Nissanka Maila (rr87-r196)

rebuilt and embellished the Vihara and his inscnption in, siltt.
'states that he gilded 73 Images at Dambulu-lena and re-

the cave l{angiri Dambulla or Suvarnagiri-guha;

Dam,bull'a Vihara has numerous caves and pre-Christian
inscriptions and rnas founded in znd s.c., ancl among the
place-names mentionecl in the early inscriptions- are:-(a)

namecl

Nlatukagama; (b) Rakitagamiya; (c) Uparikada: there was a

Vihara named Uparimandala in Malaya in earll'times; (d)
Nakodavika; and (e) Vatimasa;

r(iv) Vajiravapi;

(v) NanclivaPi;
(vi) PallikavaPi;

(vii)

Kalalahallika, where there was a fort: the tank at-this place was

restored by \rijayabihu I and by Parakkamabdhu I:

Kalalahailika rvas in Dakkhil_adesa and a suitable place for
launching an attack on the Ahsara (Alahtira) district, and
may be modern LtaQahapola, 5 miles north of the r6th mile
on the Kurund.gala-Datnbulla road. Between Kalalahallika
and Ahsararvere.-(a) Nand5,mtlakagdma: to lvest of Nandfr,m.ilakagd,ma and betrveen it and lambukola (Danobu,l,la) was

IIAPH Y ().I' ANCII]N'I AND ]\IEDIEVAL CE\' LON IO9

Navagamapura, whic.h name aPpears to be preserved in

modein Naaagolla Ala; and (b) Karavalagiri, present
l{ av ar ila h.Ena. near !'l ur.tla..1
Velarigavitthika Vihira r'vas built by Saddhatissa (u'c' r37-rr9).
A tank of-thc .same nanle was constructed by l\{ahasena (275-3or).
M5tuvelariga ancl Matularigana (for tlie latter, sec belou') ,appear
to be a c&nposite of Matu and Velangtrvitthika: perhaps the two
Viharas u'ere close together and merged at a later date. Matuvelanga
was near Samagalla, afterwards called Moragalla, and r'vas in l'Ialaya:
there is a modern Moragalla, near rvhich there are early ruins and a
rst century inscription, 6 miles trorth-r'vest of the zTth mile on the
I{urwcdgala-Datnbulla road. In early times this region was in
Valaya.:
In inscriptions of the znd century at GciranCisal4, 3 ililes north
of Galaaela w[ich is at thc z5th mile on the Kurundgaltt-Dantbulla road,
the foliowing are named:-(i) Kadavataka tank; (ii) Tadapara tank;
(iii) Hubiligamika; (iv) Pajinigamaka; and (v) Talakaclanaka tank.
In a later inscriptitxr of Kassapa III (724-73o) at the same place, the
villages named Mahabodeliya ancl Nlihinnariya are mcntionccl.'i
Dubalagama is mentioned in a rst century inscription at i{ilagatna,
of l'Ioggaliana I
5 niles north-r'vest of. GalEuela. In an inscription
(SSr-SSr) at tliis place, t}'re temple is callecl 'lisa-arami at Nilagarna
r{the modern name has therefore come down unchanged Jor at least
14 centuries) ancl the liberation of slaves lrom the follori-ing I'illages

is recorded:--(i) Hilisela; (ii) Gala-araki; and (iii)

l3a-eli.a

Ifahabalisa is mentioned in a 7th century inscription al Silattatgala

Vihd,ra, 3 miles north of the z5th mile on the Kuru,nfrgcla-Dambwlla

road.

There are pre-Christian inscriptions on caves at l{andalanla, r'ear

Damhulla, and at Atu,bcindiuiiua a miies north-north-r'r'est of the .;gtlr
mile on the Kandv-I)ambu.Lla roacl. The donors of some of the caves
at,4tabtindiuiiaa were'.-(i) prince'fisa, the son of lRaja Abava and
srandson of Pacina Raja; (ii) prince Tisa, the son of Pacina Raja; and
(iii) princess ltaki, the wile of (ii). Pacina lRaja literally means 'King
of the East', but no ruler bearirag this title is l<norvn from the
historical Ctironicles.i'
Aggabodhi II (6o4-614) built Iitdragalu tank ancl Vijayabihu I
(ro55-rrro) restored Erandegala tank, the same as Endirragalu. In
.an inscription of Nissanka Malla at Polonnaruva, it is statecl that the

Fuj.

,'1,I. 69. t-rz: 6o. +E, 6o: 70. Zr-73, 163, trJ4: 7-t. 13I-r4o: 8o
ZS: Ilaj. 6o ; E.H.B. 68; E.Z.I. r35 : II. r73 : IIT. ro5.
2. .[1. 33. 8. 9 : 35. rrb : 37. 4t ; M.7.6t6,9; .1 .5.C.,1.R., rslr-I2,

r.

3. Ii.Z.III. r98.
t. A.I .C. 7s ; Ii.Z. IY. zsi.
5. A.S.C"A.R., i955, 35 ; A.I.C. 3q;

tJ.C"R.

VII, No. "1, 2,1o.

ll0

Jou]:tNAL, r1.A.S. (CEYLON)

FTTSTOR,ICAL'r'OPOGIiAPHY

rock on which the inscription was engraved lyas brouglrt from En<leragala, doubtless the rocky hill of that narnc at thc loth mile on the
Dantbulla-Habayama

ar k.d

toad. The tank is

'ou.

knout as

In1,ntaluxu

(898-913) at the ruinecl thupaabout

- nii]e.-we{ Srgiyiya, the site IV
is named Mahanepar,,u Vih5ia. 'fhe
I
9f
.:

.J" an inscription of Kassapa

Graffrti rnention lllalianaparru and Mahanavuta. Mahandpavu

liSli
P.. lfahan5,gapabbata.
4ggabodhi I (57r-6o4) built ]tahanaguiihara,
also called llandrada or.Manapav or Mani,-piiivela. lt l,voilcl appear
tr{irgasenapati Vihdra was re-named Mahanaga Vihari: to
1lrlt
Mugasenapati Vihara was assigned
the village Lajjika, aicl to }lahanaga

Vihnra the villages Matulangala and Odrimbaiingana.i

I{assapa I (+f S-+rtr) built his palace on Sihagiri (Sigiri) in inritation
of^ Alakamanda, the residence of 1he gocl Kuve"ra, ind dwelt there as
a.goci-king. _trn his paper, 'Sigiri, the abocle of a god-king', I)r. paranahas clealt exhaustively rvith this
alspect of sigiri.
''itana NiyyantiPark at Sihagiri the king all-jmportant
Tn.the
buill Ihe tsodhi-Uppalavairna

\.ihara. rrarnetI alter his dauglrters, and presenrerl it to tlre Dliammairrci

sect together r,vith a park to the nortli of it. The vihdras namecl I)alha
and Ddthakonclaflia on Sihagiri rn'ere granted by Xtoggallena I (4gr-5og)
to the Dhammaruci and Sigali monks. Sihafiri .va-s the scei," oith"
cxecution of
Samghatissa, his son and his Minister: moggallina
III (614-619).King
who u'as responsible for this executio. rn'as himie'if srain
near Sihagiri. The low.er slopes of Sigiri were a pre-Christian cave..
monastery and one of the early inscriptions on the caves mentions the.
place Abaia'i. Sihigiri-bim, the sub-district arouncl sigiri, is mentioned,
in a_n inscription of Sena II (853-887) at Vi,yawlpota, 6 hiles north-west
of Sigiri: the site of the inscription is called-S5,ngunii-palsala. The
gralfiti on the_ gallery rvall at sigiri corrtain nu'reroui place-names,
ther homes of the authors of the verses incisecl there.s
_ The Sigiri Graffiti mention Kivisi, probably present Kibissa, near
Srgiriya.\t

Jt . pre-Christian inscription at Piduriigala, r mile ftom S,tgiriva,

the follor'ving place-names occur:-(i) Garadida; and (ri) Kolagama.
Paranavitana is of opinion that the thupa at this monaster5i x,as.
probably built over the funeral pyre of Kassapa I.10
Close tcr ancl south of the 4gth mile on the Dan,tbwlla-Tyincomalec.
road, as u'ell as at Diganpataho, ! rnile south of the 56th mile on the
sante road, there are caves lr,ith pre-Christian inscriptions.ll
(:. M.6o. qg; Puj. z8; D.Z. II. t3qT. M. 42. 23, 24 i 11. gZ ; A.S.C"A.IL, rgrr-rz, ro8.
_
. E. M. 3g..,3, r,+, 15, 4r i ql. 3z-(to; 8.2.IV. r7e ; I"R.A.S. (C.8.), Ncrr
Series, I, rz9; Sigiri Grai{Iiti, by S. I,aranavitan:r, 2 vuLf.
9. Sig. Grafi., I, App. C.
ro. A.S.C.A.R., rs5r, 21 : C.J.S. (G) II. zz7"
rr. A.S.C"A.R., r894, 8.

OF ANCITINT AND

MEIIIEVAL C.tl\-LON IrI

Dakkhinagiri Vihdra u'as built by Sadclhatissa (r.c. r37-rrg).

Dh[,tusena (+SS-+ZS) is also creclited with it:; constmction. Aggabodhi

ch
I (57 fiia 4) bui l t an Uposatha l-trouse in Dakkhil agiri da.lha Vihdra
"r'hi
may be a cliffcrent monasterl'. Kassapa V (914-923) granted a viilage

to Dakkhitagiri \/ihara.. 'lhi: identitv of Dal<khinagiri \iihara i:

settlcrl by tlic inscriptions of S-.na II (8.53-8E7) and Sena IV (95,1-956)

at KaLw,Jiya Pohutr,a, ncar l{untltukhttndanaela,6 miles south of Slgiri.vu,
in which thc site is callecl I)akinigiri Vehera. Thc Sigiri (lraffiti
also nanrc Dakiligiri Vehera. The inscriptions give the lollowing piace-

names: (i) liagama, (ii) Navapahangama; (lii) Panagama; (i")

f3ogarniya; (r') ]'{aliamand; (vi) ValamS,la; (vii) VSliirungonu; ancl
(viii) Sirirburbamara,.I!

I'lereliya-vagga or ],Ierukandara-rattha was a district r.vhich often

a place of refr.rge. It u.as thc mountainous region of
Vagapanalta Pallasi,,-tt Pattu, Cangala Pallasiya Pattw and Gongala
(.Id,asiya t'attu. In it r,r'as the village \rricar.A,taka, modern Vhalattira,
5 milcs south-east of. Sigiriya. -Betrveen Vacavdtaka and Polonnarurra
lvas the villagc N5la.1;r
Ruclcihaganra-rattha, an area corresponding to present Iiaga,t'anah,aPttllasiyaPathr, (Storey), lvas a boundary district of Dakkhinadesa. l3uddhaganra Vihnra rvas enclou'ecl by Sena II (t153-887). In
the Sigiri (iraliti the piace is callecl Budgamiya and Buclgamu. A
roth cerrtury inscription al Mtinikdena, z miles r'vest of the 4oth mile on
the Mital7-Dam,bttlla roacl, rccords thc p;rant by a resident of Koboyateli1.2 61 fields at l{ahat-lena to l3uclhgam Vehera (present M:inih,lcna
ruins) at Anr.bamri. Vijayabahu I captured thc Cola fort at Buddhagdma. ParakkamabShu I made Buddhagama his first headquarters
in his campaign against Gajabnhu II arncl restorecl the clam there.
Near lluclclhagima r,vas the Siricler.i mountain, identified b), Storey and
iservc(1 as

Coclringtorr a.s Nih,ulcThanda, also known as Hiyi:leuofr,ti.ra

Pallavavala rvas in (iajabahu's territory and rvt:li east ol Buddba-

ganra. Iirom Polonnaruva, Ma,ndbharafa aclrranced to Pallavavala

;rncl tirerc concentrated his forces for attack on Buddhagama
distri

ct.1

Ambavana-ratlha or -paclesa was the area betrvecn NAlanda and

Alahtiya on both'bairks of the Arnban Ganga: it is still known as
Autbayta. Its northern portion or the area adjacent to and nor:tli o{ it
rva.s cailcd Sura-amb:rvana-rattha (Geiger). In Arnb:n'ana district

t'cst of l{aLttntla; (ii) Navagirisa, in a cool, hillv region,

2. fI. 13. 7 : .;ii. 4{r : 42. 17 : .52. 6r ; li.Z. IlI. t66"
r3. '.I-his clistrir:t rvas in \lalava. )[. 39..15 : .lr. r9:

present

7o. z9z,2g5, )9(r.

.r4. ,11,1. .5r" ;4 : .j8. +3 : Lr{i. t9 : trS. 4;

rgo8, r.5; Sig. Graff. I, .\14r. C.
15. il[" 72.

r7E, t.zo.

'. t.r9.

+4.

9 | 70. 3rr : 7:

:8:
r

-17.

75

:7. 58, 5q

; .l..S.C.l.1?""

112 JOUIINAL, fi.A.S' (CEYLON) Ne'|, Serie$, l'ol' I/I'

'Specia'l

Number

Nriugala, near Yataaatta; (iii) tsubbula, Present Bibile, 2 miles

norti-north-west oi Nawla (Codrington) ; and (iv) Porog_lhdlikhar.rda,
bet.veen Nd'agirisa ancl .ianapada, either prescnt KaLogaha-tila,
6 rnilcs north-east of. Lenadoia, oi Porekaragama, 3 miles north-west of

(iii)

in Gajabahu's territory-of Rajaratlha

and

immJaiatety to east of Sura-amtravana-rattha. It lvas an area itr

M.gg-allina
Gahgala (Iiasiya
- Pattu an<I is hrst me'tionecl in t1e reig' oJ
iit iOra-Oro)" Itt it \vere :-(i) Dohafapabbata. betr'vecn Janapadaand
Sigiii ; (ri) llangalabegirna, callecl 1tr.galamS in the -Sigiri Grafftti,
orr" tir. .luit.r'r d.,rrn,lai1' of .f anapada, iclentified by Codrington as
an<\ Koniluru,aa on tlle
prcsent
-AlaltivaMahul-cbC, bettvlen Pur.taltgaha-ulpota

, atttl (iii) Yrrgitli:r.r;

Alisara-rattha, the area arounrj. ,tilahiira ,in Gangala PallasiS'n
pali rr. (Rell) rris in Gairrb[,lrrr's rerritorv. In Alittra-ratllra wcre :(i) Talatthala.or taiakatthali, present Talagoda, -near the gth mile
in lhe'I{ciuta-Alah'rira roacl (Codrington) ; (ii) Ahgama, a stronghold'
by the river, present A1agantwv^ r mile south of the Sth mile on the'
same roacl; liii; Kaciclhiagd,ma, (ir') Kirati, present Hr'rali Oya,
probabiy ihe
3 rrriles north of ltlahtira (Codrington) ; (v) Vil5na,
(vi)
l{attikd,vdpi,
Codrington;
Iu*. o, lliltr'akhetta,' as suggested..by
canal

possibly Kfrl m,ritiya,r milc south of Alagamu'va : {vii) Uddhakuramgama ;

iviii) Aanoturamgarna; ancl (ix) Nasi'na. Tle great Afisara canal,

ihe most importani feature in tlie Alisara district, will

be

dealt with under

Manihira (X[mnEriYa\ tank.18

An examination of the several acccunts of the batties between the
rival forces of Parakkamab5,hu and Gajabahu 1I irr the rztir century
cliscloses that the routes fro*r Ambavana, Alisara and Janapada,
clistricts to Pulatthinagara (Polonnaruva) were as follor'vs :(i

a (II a kwl - eb a) - Demeliyagdma-r9-+y. :ountry"

which must be the Su,du'kanda range of hills-Khajjirravadclhamanaka tank, the same as Kadduravaddhamd'naka tank'
to rvhich a canal led from Girifula tank--Polonnaruva;10

Man galabegtint

(ii) Itangalabegama-Hatt:rnna (? present Attatr,aha(,auala h111,

.rlil str""m, 4 iniles south of Koraduruua'1-Khanciigdma pass,
cloubtlessapassoverthesudwkandarangeofhills_}Iasiviyala-Polonnaru\ra

;20

r6.

M.66.85, gz: 48.25:69. g'. 70.87.1)g,7gr,3rr :72' t78'

17.

lli|.

App.c.

t
87, 95, 9'7, ro3 ; Sig' Graff'
41. 55-6r : 66. r ro ; 67. 25, 52, 53 | 70. 5,

r8.
r9.

II. 3;.

20.

)l[.

84

: 6o. r4 : 7o. to6-ttz:. 70. rr3' t65-t74'

X4.67.32-53.
7o. 297-299.

Nalanda (prescnt
Khaqdigama pass

Ndlanda.l(,

Janartacla-rattha rvas

I{tS'f OI{IOAL TOPOGI{APHY OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON TI:}

I,

\it'alntttla)--{Lahulla
/ \ Hattanna (sec above) f-

(see above)

2l
-Koddtraneulikakeddra-Sikaabove)
viyala (associ ated with l\fasiviyala
;
-Polonnarurra
(iv) Maigalabegama Mihiranabibbila--Konduruva (present Kr)zdulwta\' .Raj atakcd:lra Polonnaruva ;i2
(v) Taletthali (present'1'alrigod,a)-RajakanatasambS,dha (\ada''
t,ela, 4 miles n'est of Talo'goQa ?)-Milanakhetta

(probably the same as r'rilana above)---Daraaga --X{angalabegdma (ht ahul-

eb a1.t'"'

Kyanagama lvas north or north-rvest of Nlangalabegama (Makwl'

in the Payikwlam-V4ttalaucit)o. area: theroutc from Kydnagi,ma to Polonnarur.a passed through Mihira4abibbila (see above)
ilhose position couid be approxirnaLteiy fixed. Vikkamapura,rvas to
r-est of KyS,nagama and was usecl as a tvar headquarters by Parakkamabahn : it was probably situated in tl're vicinity of Nuuaragal'handa,
S miles south-south-east of Sigiri. Nalanda, present Ndlanda, was
ebe) anc1."as

Parakkamabahu's headquarter,*

during the greater part of

the

ci:mpaign.2a

Panavali, present fuIrid'a-wlpota,

miles south-east

of"

Alithcira, is

mentioned in a roth century inscription there.26

Melandura and Hinabi villages are mentioned in an inscription of
Gajabihu II at Ka'puruaeda-ova, r]. miles east of Moragaha Ul'pota
in Laggala Pallesiya Pattu: they were in Pihiti-rata. The name
l{elandura is still used locally f.or '[/ilgantwua-t'&stma.26
At the Kum,bwkkand,ana r:uins, g miles north-north-east of the z8th
rnile on tine Alahcira-Pallagama road, there are several inscriptions of
the 4th to the Tth centuries. The village Tabaraya is named as the
seat of the district chieftain.2i
Bodhigamavara-rattha comprised, approximately, Matale Palle'
siya Pattw (Codrington). The name is retained in modern Bogambara,
near Rattota. The Sigiri Graffiti rnention Boyigam.28
At the Demada Oya gorge, r] miles west of the 3z"l mile on
tlte l{anly-Datnbuiia road, there is an inscription oJ ist D.c. in verse

2r. M. 7o. zt4-237, 297-29q.

22. M. 72. zzo-272,
23. M. 7o. 174-178.
24. M. 7o. 167 : 72. r47, 263.
25. E.Z. IY. 57.
26. J.R.A.S. (C.8.), XxvI, 5e: XXIX, 63'
27, A.S.C"A.R., rg3z, ro.
28. M.66" 78 2 6s. s; Sig. Graff. I, App. C.

.1

11

JOLT1.i,NAT,,

II.A.S. (ClUYLON)

r'vhich says that the je"vellcrs of 1<ing itlacutli (l,Iahdcrlli Jla"hiitissa.

B.c. 77-63) rvho camc there for stonc brichs r'r,ent to tiieir cle:rtir.:I1

In Mahlthala, Mflnavamma (684-7t8) built

of

CHAPTER XV

Iia<litrrrbagontr

Vihara :l{ahatirala is the sarnc as n'lahatila-padesa, the clistrict aroullcl

Matah; (Gcigcr). In the reign of Vattag:rmani Abhav:r (n.c.89-77)
5oo monks untler the protection of a clricftain assemblecl at Alokalcna
or Alulena, prcscnt ALwuiJtdra, anrl rcciucerl the Tipitaha to nritirrg:
there arc pre-Christian inscriptions on solne oJ the caves at -Ilutihuru.
In Mairatila ciistrict r'r,as Saraigri,ma, prcsent Selagatna;-i nriles north
Yalaaatia.t\o

THE KAh{DY AI{D NUVARA PLIYA, DISTRICTS

'rbe Kandy and Nurara Eliya clisrricts
are the most mo*ntain,us
regions in the r,vet zone of ceylon. Flat lancls of more tlian a few acres
in ex,tent are absent: pldqy iultir-ation is practisecr. in the valleys ancl
on Irill slopes in terraced helds.

Otlier pre-Christian sitcs rvith inscriptions in this r,icinit.r; ir.re:-

'(1) Ne,hr,vahancla, 3] niles east of tlre r(-rth rnile ou tiit' Iitu'ulviVIafula roacl ; (ii) Gttnegedera Vihir,ra, at thc zTth mile on tht: l:'altr,pataela-Dotlangaslanda roacl ; (iii) Ilusiganttt. r rnilc rvest of the zTtir mile
on tlre MAfuIC-Gola,lela rctad. Thcrt: lvas tlu:refore in anciettt tinres a
rotrte fronr l{iril,ola Ilatfattu, ir lirlruniigu,la clistrict into the irills
.;t

rolrn al

,l I

flt al

t'

Lariliagiri clistrictof Lank:r,pabba.ta-desa wirs an :LrezL corrcrlronding

to Laggala (Irl,asiya Pattu lGeigc,r). in it u'as tlie r-illagc Itanarutrtura,
preserrt llattamuri, g miles south oJ l)oll.igtutLu lL.ocir-ington).:lr
Kant.akapetaka-rattlia was an area inclurlirlg portions ol .\[r1,talE
Uclasiya Pattw and Lttggnla Iidosiya Patlrt tn il,:tQtaLe clistrict anrl Palis

h Uda Drlnrbava ((icigcr).'ij

Girihelil<a or (lirisiilil<a rnonasten'. in the inla.r'r<1 corurtn', was
founcled by l ahellaka Naga (r-j6-r.13).'t'r
Nlanclalardm'rka llahlvjhiira u'as in Iiu,lal<ilgama, also called
.Kalavela and I{allagam:r-janaparia : tlris u':rs rvherc the renon'ned
thera, Malayadeva, stuciied in rst r;.c. ancl it rvas presriniably in
Pattu, West

Mala5ra.sr

(A).

The Kandy Disrrict

The lorver montane valley of the Mahaacili Gan,ga arounci Gantfola..

Iiandy ancl T-eldeniya was populated in pre-( hristian times as' the
inscriptions oJ that periocl at i) arnbar agala' \' ibara (T eltl e niy a\ .- H uyuganta, Dulaala, VEgiriva (nea:r Gam.pola) and )Iolugodtr lti.ri
Tire
rillage Kolagama is nrentionecl in on-e oJ the Bantbaragala inscriptions"
llhe two passes by u'hich this morrntainous region rvas attained'"t tni*
early- time are marl<ecl by tr'vo,ascending-serie.s of contemporary

?nrl tlre1. werc : (i r .lyani"n',.tka-Gtun f,ola,

Ritligauta-Runtbodagallrr-.1[olagodu.t '

inscr-iptions.

3o.

Ezl.

/./?.1.S. ((l.li.), x\\!"I, No. 9s; Sig. GriLif [, r]

33. roo. ror :,pS. 3:66.7r: ;N.S. ro; Pal

r1,1"

M. 66. 8o : 7o" SS ;
M.69. s.

I.

r36.

C./.S. (c) IL r5o, notc r

I.

r93.i,

Grafi. I, 1r.ii; 1.5'.C.1.R..

l o.

\rIII, No. z,

2.

tI.C.R.

3.

l[.

33.

1.

)f . 7o. tc:-t3.

34.

5"

3I.

(ii)

Yanlela, knolvn by t-he same name toclay, .is so namecl in a r4th

centurf inscription,near the r3th mile on the'I{and,y-Kurun6gala road..
l-hc're. is a pre-christian- inscription there. Ai Gatatau7 iiGru"
r } rniles south of the r6th rnile on rhe Kandy-Kurwndgala road, are
car-e inscriptions of the rst century.2
L)umbara-rattha, present LIrJa Du,tnbara, \''as in pihiti in the rztle
century and later in l{aya.3
\-a-tlhikand.-rattha, a district jn ucra Dutnbara exterrcli's over
, !:'I-elcle4,iya
the
ancl ilIadr-tgoQa areas, s,ere: (i) i"l"tnlli.";"tiil
' 'qiiil Suvaq4aaoii,
Nagapabbata; present lttupana
_(Coclrington) ;
(ir') Rimuccliuvallika,, present Rambuka'iilla,'
near'Temenlya ;- ana
(r') Deraatthaladatthali.^ Dha''i illika is prese't Dttnuti'1i,
5'*it."
sout lr-east o[ Trldeni.t,a (Codrington,l.
.._ 1i"ii.1i*a-.\agg-a. the rlisrricr arorrrr,l .liriliuaka irr Ganthaha
llttt 4!r-. I dor l)ttnrin /rd, \vas in Filriii at llre beginn:ng oI the 'r3rir
crnlrrr\',lcodringron). Jrr an r"'iriflir" Lr i^n"ri.*.ii?
irr"" ,1;rl
rt Iin'ulg,rttf,4 miics soirrlr of the -zrrtlr nrile on tlte Iiottdy-.ttahiia,,g_urya road, there is a reference to the lancl Vrilimada
ip.Jrumubil:
K et u.lE a nta) in l'l:indiviik, prcsent ]VI tidit: ak a.b
"t
r

29.

.nd

7o.

8; ]1.2. il1.

)1. 7o. z,r ; D.Z.III

I\'

1l6 .tOt'RN.\L, ll.A.s. 1t'91'1,tt\)

JIISTOTiICAL TOPOG}I,APHY O!'ANCIENT ANI) }TEDIEVAL C]EYI,ON I I7

ViLpiv[taka-padesa \vas a large area, I)robably betu'een Nilagrn

and Nlaj jhimavagga districts. Rerupalliiia-rattha ancl I{o-savagga were
areas adjacent or close to Nlajjhimavagga: in Kosavagga u'as the place
Sisacchinnakabodhi. (i
\rij ayabirliu IY (tz7 r-t273 ) restorecl the Nigalnagglnr:r-pasr-rc1a,
present Niyan,gam'faya, I rnilc Irom Gatn,poLu. At Sindhuravtlna the
samc king built \"anaggama-pasircla ancl Abhayar['ja-parivcna.i
In the reign of Vijayabihu I (ro55-rrro), tirrce routcs to Sumanakittt (Atlant's f'ca/t) are specifiecl: (i) the route pasl (iiLimalaya
(Gil'rmala in Ratnafnra r.listrjct) ; (ii) thc ltajarattha route past

occurs thcre. \Iarco Polo, about 1286, mentions the chains on ilre
pilgrinr -paF 9n the mountain. Parakkamabfi,hu II e46-rz7r)
vis.ited the Peak ar-rcl granted to it the lancl for zo girvutas (the prij:l'valiya
vdrrJd says
)dJr ro
au gar')
around it
rr .: he
rte ilIlprOVC(I
improved the
roads. fel)alfed
roacls,
Llle rOaOS,
repaired bric1
bricl'es
Dftdges
Edv,/ druulrLr
and causer'vays, rebuilt the parapet rvall on the sumnit, constructcci a
rnallclapa
rnalclapa over the footprint
footprint ancL securecl the structure
strrrctrrre r,r.ifh
lr.ith clrrins
char'ns r^
to
iron posts, ancl set up-in the courtl'ard of the Cetiya an Image of tlie gocl
Strrnan ; the ro'te taken,by the king r,vas : (r) iiangasiripirra. preient
Gam,pola, (ii) Rodhitala or lii6talo, u,hcre a bridge of 35- cubits
(52 fcet)
.was built ; (iii) Khajjota-nacli or Katamzicliri-iroyi, rvtrere
,also a bridgc of 3o cubits (45 fect) r,vas built ; (iv) Ullapannaganra,
present Ulapane; and (v) Ambaggama, present ,li,tbaganitrt,a.n'

J{adaligiirna, present Kehelgamuaa; and (iii) the path from Hhva

(Ilva). il'he king improvercl all thc routes ancl proviclecl sheltcr: ancl
nccessitics fcrr monks ancl pilgrims. His inscription at Autbegatnuua,
near tlre 6th mile on the lVaual,a'fi,tiya-Hattoto roacl, confirns the
Clrronicle. In it he states that he provicled dunasala, on thc Rtrjarata
roacl to Samanola rock : that he trad a net put over the sacrecl footprint, enclosed the topmost terrace r'vith a great wall in u-hich there
rvere gatervays, ancl built a lorver terrace fronr rvhich people of lor'v caste
could vier,v tl're footprint : and that ire grantecl lancls in the follc-rrving
localities for the benefit of the footprirrt
(r) In Vilba district, an area in Arnb\gantuuaKltrale to south ancl
:

south-east ol Cinigd,ttintoa : (a) Kelagamlrva, present l{eldganttt'rntt.

(b)'l'iniyagal, present'I'iniyag&la ;
{c) Soragocla, present Horahadu.:
{d) The Badulla forest ;
(e) Liyavala; and

(/) Udu-h6.
In Kalangavela district, thc trrea around
'pitiya and AmbEgantwaa
(a) Mal.rulumuia;
(z)

(B). The Nuvara Eliya District

It is improbable that tirere rvere permanent setileme^ts in the

arpper montane zone, above about "4,ooo feet, prior to the

No earlier rernains exist.

roth century.

A rotir
inscrip,tion at Harasblidda in Vala,fanE Diais,ion
mentio's:- 9g"!g-ry
(i) Iilasara in Kohombagama; (ii) Ambrinora; ancl (iii)
".lalagama.e

, . _ Kakavanla Tissa's son, the prince Gi,nrani Abhal.a, rvent intr:

hiciing in the znd cent,ry B.c. in the clistrict called Kottarnalava or
Kottharnalaya. It is not at all certain that this nane refers to m6clern
I{otmala- In the time of the inr-ader Magha $zt4-r45) the Tooth and
Borvl ltelics rvere concealed at I(otthumara or lioimaid'in Mavarattha,
rnodern Kotmal,E,l'0.

ULapane, !{rluala'

Ambe.gamwaa,' here, at Ambagganra,

a bridge of 3,1 cubits (5r feet) u'as later built ;

(b) Ambagamur.a, Irresent

(r') Vriligampola, present l1 tiligautfola, near l{d,rtalapitit'a ; and

(rl) Ulapana,, present Ulal>an|: iater, at Ullapannagima, also
called Ku1apa4a, a briclge of 36 to 4o cubits (about 5i feet)
in'as built.
Nissanka Malla (rrE7-rr96) maclc a pilgrimage to the mountain and
left tu'o inscriptions belolr'the summit. An Arabic inscription of the
rzth or r3th century containing praises of Allatr and Mohamet aiso

5. 11" 7o. 'zr-zg.

7. t}/. 88. +8-;2.

t,

E.Z. II.

e.

xo.

-l1.bo.r,a-trn:ho.,24:S.;...rrJ-r2r:Jo. t..i Jtt;ptrr JJ,.lb.4g: t(aj.oo;

-^'' c.J.S. (G) tl. rL;.SirnBu:ro; \i,i", itrr.,, poj,j" ll.'2':(,.
J.R.A.S. (C.8.) xxvl, 64.
M.32. zg; 8r. 18 ; X,I.T. q6z, t.ct; puj.3g; .Ilaj. e.

zr;;

HISTOfiICAL ].'OPOCIIi,APTIY Or' .dNCIEN'| AND II IJDIIIVAL CI.I\:LON r l9

CHAPTER XVI

THE KAI.UTAR.A AND COLOMBO DISTR.ICTS

(A). The Kalutara District

'lb,e Kalwtara district is in the u'et zone and has a hear''y rainfall"
The tcrrain becomes triily n'ithin a fe'uv miles of the coast, rising to a
consiclerable height in the sor-rth-eastern part of the district. To north
c:I the Kalu Gaiga the Kalwtara district poijsesses a few remains dating
back to the eariy centuries A.C., but to south of the river there is
notlring so ancient : the interior, as r,ve are told in the Culavarhsa,
rvas largely wilderness ti11 the rzth century.
Kanha-nacli or Kala-nacli is the present Kalu Ganga, Kalatittlia,
Dresent Kalwtara u'as the seat for one year (ro47) of Vikkamapar]clu,
bne of the rulers oJ trtohala during the Cola conquest from 993 lo ra7o.

He hacl left Cevlon through' fear durinq the lifetime of his father,
Mahalanakitti, who was also ruler of ftoha4a. When his father was
vanquished in battle with the Cofas, he returned frori abroad to assume
the rulership of Rohana but took up residence not in the productive
ancl populated part of his principality but at its rentote western
extremiiy. After ruling for a year, he rv4s defeated ancl slain by an
adventuier, Jagatipdla of Kanauj.l
Parakkamabihu II (:^46-tz7t) is stated to have'laid out a coconut
olantation, one Voiana broad, trom KaLutara to Bentota. The King's
i{i',irt". built a bridge 86 cubits (rz9 feet) long at the nrouth of tlie
rirrer, called Kalahomuvadora, n'hile another bridge roo staves (75o
feet) in lensth r,r'as constructed at Kadalisenagima or Klsenirva
or (ehciscniva, moclcrn KehelhF'natta, a feu' miles up the river.2
In a 5th century inscription at Diyagama,3 miles up river-from
Kalutara,"the site, notv bereft of ail ancient relnains above ground level,
is namecl Kalaka Mahavjjrara : this r,vas the ancient vihirra at Kalwtara,
and not the modcrn Residency, as is popularly believed' The
inst:riotion also mentions the nrarket-ton'n of Kaliliya (present
I(,Itaiiya): in early timesthis areato northoithe,Kalw Canga belonged
to the- oi.l dirrisiott of Kalyafi-desa, originally the Kingdcm of
l(atYanr."
Pahanbhunu-clanaviya is mentionecl in an inscription-oJ Sena III
{ocE_oab) at vrilntilla.near Poltr4\ttttLita, and is identified by tsaranaa,prorimately present Panadrua Totarnwna and the adjacent

"ii"""'as

r. ,41. 53. :u : 56. r :.

z. .11. Eb. 4 r, 41 : Ptr1. +o.
I A.l-C'45

portion of Rayigam, Korale: in it rvas Arungamlelavaga whicli Paranavitana suggcsts is moclern Aruggod,a,4 miles from tr/lilmilla.a
Poltunau'ita Vihara at the 9] mile on the PrTnadwya-IIorana road
is an ancient tcmple: there is a fragmentary inscription there datedin
tlre reign of Meghavai'rftubliaya (3oz-3zz).5
Paflcayoja.na-ratttrra or Pasyodun-\raga, presenl Pasdutr, Koralas,
rn-as, prior to Parakkamabahu's rulership of Dakkhiladesa in the rzth
ccntury, a part of ftohana. The region \\.as a \rast, s\,vampy u'ilderness,
and Parakkamablhu clrained the large s\valnps, leacling thc r.vaters into
the rivcrs, and made the lancl cultivablc : he inciuded Paiicayojana in
his enlargecl principality oI Dakkhiladesa and macle the Bentota riyar,
instcad of the l{alu Gairga, the bounclarv betwccn his tcrritory ancl

Itohala.

His troops stationccl in Pafrcayojana district enterecl Rohana

dor,vn tlre coast as well as over the Naua,Jotn and Moyatak KoralAhLls.

Bentota u.as thereaJtcr includecl in Paflcayojana.6

(B). The Colomho District

The Coloncbo district is jn the lorv-country u'et zone and is a rvell
rvateretl region v'rith a comparatively lieavy rainfall. There are large
extents of flat land, hills bcing absent for many miles iniancl.
'lhe Colombo and l{frgalia clistricts and part olthe Kalwtara district
constituted the Kingdom of Kalydni (Iirilaniya) which had an independent or semi-independent existence in the 3rd and znd centuries r.c"
until Dutthagimali Abhaya in n.c. 16r unitecl the whole Islancl into
one kingdom. Uttika-desa or Uttiya-janapada was a sub-clivision of
Kalyd,ni-desa in the very eariy periocl. Inscriptions of princes of the
.Kaly5{ri dynasty exist at Yatahtlepa and LeTr,cgala in ti-re Kagalta
clistrict.

flre Buddha. is said to have visitecl Kalydli, modern KriLan,iya, on

tirc invitation of the locai Naga king (uncie of ttie Ndga king of
NAgadipa), ancl to have consecratecl the spot where the Kalyali Cetiya
irftenvards stood. lhc Sinhalese Chronicles say that Yatalatissa built
KAlani \riltr,ra ancl a Palace and reigned there, but the Pnjdvaliya later
credits Kivantissa of ltuhuna rvitJr the building of the Cetiya. 'fire
Pali Chrotriclcs artr silent about the foundation of Kalyali \iih:ira, but
the Mahavarirsa tradilion that Yatthalal<atissa (\'ata,Jatissa) ruled in
Itohana ancl not at Kalva{ri is confirmed epigraphicallv. 'l'here js ncr
authentic account, therefore, of tire founc'Lation of Iialvdni Vihara"

4. li.Z. 1Il. 3cn.

A- (..i.i. ((;) ll. r,';.
b. l'1 . ;7.1t: {rr. 3.; : i)ii. .jr, iz:72. 57-64: 85. 8r ; E.Z.I\:.
7. -JI. z:.. rz-tq; li.,1l. z:. qq., I.r.C.R.IX, No. r. zo.

zo8.

120 JOURNAJ.,, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

Neu, Serie,,c,

Itol. I/1,

III STOII,ICAL'IOPOGITAPHY

OF ANCIENT

AND ME DIEVAL CEYI,ON

Speci,a,I Num,ber

ThisVrh:rra is said to travc existed rn tire reign of Dutfhag5,rnani A.bhava

(e.c. 16r-137) and to havc been occrlpied by 5oo bhikkhus. A preCliristian inscription at l[anclagaltt in ]Iantbantota di-strtcf coutains a
-fiSa
reference to the farnily oJ
of Kalanika. Kanittha Tissa (r67-tEtr)
built an Uposatlia House in KalyA,lT Vihirra, ancl Voharika Tissir
(zog-4t) erected a parasol on the Cctiya. A 5th ccntury inscriptron
at Diyagama, near liaLutala, mentions the market-town (niyamatana)
of l(alir:iya. The historical Chronicles contain no reference to tiri:
Kaiy;ili Vihara bctween the 4th ancl tht: r3th ccnturies. llut the Pili
Commentaries inform us that the rnouth of tlie rit.er lvas l<norvn as
Kalylni rnukliadvara ancl tliat in Kai)'ani clistrict \\icre: -(i) NSgamaha
\rihirra ; (ii) Kalakacchagama; (iii) Keladighar.ilpidvara Vih:r'ra; ar.rd
(iv) Kaladighagdma. Nissanka I'Ialla (1187-1196) records in his
inscriptions that he l'isitecl Kilani Vihara ancl effected repairs there.

built a new city, an<1 Bhuvanekabihu V (136o-139r) rvas the first king
to make it his capital.l1
Iipigrapirical evidence confirrns tire historical cvidence that the
Colc,m,bo-diitrict was populated from times not later than the znd
century n.c. 'fhere a4e cave inscriptions of pre-Christian date at
I{oratota,Pxlikx;ttuue and. X[udabaaita. 'lhe rarity of suitable rocky
sites Jor excavating caves js the explanation for the paucity of inscriptions: in the adjacent Kd.galltt. district u'hcre such sites are many, the
inscriptions are many.l

port, canbe tracedback historicallyto theyear g,{9

tirere. In thc r4th century it
lvas the seat of a Muhammaclan pirate rvith an Abyssinian garrison.ls
Colotnbo, as a

r,vhen Muhammadan traders were settled

Vijayabalru III (rz3z-n36) restored the Cetiya r'vhich had been

destroyed by the I)amilas ancl repairecl the eastern gate-tower, Image
House, rvall and other structures. Parakkamabahu II Q46-rz7z)

restored the J-storeyed Pd,siLda and the tempJes o{ the Recumbent and
Tivanka Images, pavecl the courtyard of the Cetiya r.vith stone slabs,
and erected in front of the Cetiya a large ma+dapa.S

Hatthar.anagalla, present Attanagalla, is reputed, rvithout historical foundation, to be the place where l{ing Sirisamghabodhi (247-749}
gave up his life : ttre story, witir variations, is narrated in nearll' ali
the Cirr<rnicles. Gothabhaya (z4g-z$) built a Vatta-dhata-gliara
(Vata-da-ge) on the spot rvhere Sirisamghabodhi was cremated. Uputissa II (.5r7-5r8) erected a 5-store5red pasada with a roof of gilded tiies
at the spot. Parakkamabihu II (t46-v7r) repaired the Vata-c16,-ge
making it 3 store-ys high, and built an octagonal Image House, as lvell
as a Cetiya over the spot where his father hacl been cremated in the

Vihara premises.!l

Vijayabdlru lll (rz3z-1236) built the Vijayabdhu Vihara at

Vattalagdma, present Vattala, a ferv miles north of Colornbo. 'fhe
place is also called Mahavattalagama, and Vijayablhu lY (rz7t-r273)
stationed his younger brother there to protect the seaboard.l0
At Jayavaddhanakotta, present Kol;[,e, on the great lake and not
far from the village Danrgama, present Dalwgama, Alagakkonira
x. M. r.b3-76;32. 5r :3b. r;,.J+: Er.5g-or : t{5. o.9-68 ; Puj. t5. rc,,39, '16:
Raj.2.4,62,63; E.H.B. rr3, App. IB; A.I .C.85; E.Z.l. r35: II. trg, r4r,r77;
I.R.A,.S. (C.8.), Nerv Series, \', 7t, note zt.
g. AI. 36. gr-97: 85. 7z-77: 86. rz-r5, 37; E-M. 36. 97; Xtl .T. 67r, 7;:
Puj.23, q6; Raj. 5o.
ro. r1{. 8r. 58 :88. zz; Puj.39.

llr. M.gr. 3-g; N.5-. 25.

12. U.C.R. VII, No. 4, z4o;
,r3. Codrington, S..tJ. 82.

Sig. Grafl.

l,

cx.

CFIAPTER

XVII

THE KX.GALLA AND RAT'N,dPURA DNSTRICTS

(A).

The Kfrgalla District

The l{agalla clistrict is in the lor,v-country wet zone and is a hil1y

region rising eastwards to the foothills of the central mountains.

l3ell's'Report on the Kegalle District' of r8gz is the foundation

rvork for the study of the antitluities of tliis district. In the znd
centruy e.c. it formecl part of the Kingciom of Kalyali (Kcilaniya).
fnscriptions of princes of this clynasty of rulers occur at Yatahaiena
\rihtr,ra and Lenagala. Yatahaletta Vihara is near the 4znd mileonthe
Cok;ntbo-Kandy road and is a very ancient rock-ternple, most probably
identical rvith the YaLthalaya Vihdra of the Chronicles vrhich was in
existence in the reign of Devdnarhpiya Tissa (n.c" 247-zo7). The
inscriptions there name Raja Du6atara,r,vhor,vas the brother of Devanapiya, his son prince Siva, his grandson prince l)uSatara, and his greatgrandson Gamali(..)tiva: and they record the grant to the Vihira of
revenues from :- (i) Upaliganra ; (ii) Duiataragama ; (iii ) Patapagarna ;
(iv) the town (nagara) of Nilaya; (r,) Salivaya; and (vi) Cemagama.
Tlre royal epigraph at Lenagala, rvhich is off the rzth milc on the
Galigani,tna-Rwudnarilla road, is by prince Duhatara, the son of prince
Siva and grandson of princel)uliatara, and is a clonation to the Saigha
of lancls in: (i) Anamagama; and (ii) the tou'n of Bata"1
Other sites in the l{6galla district v,'irere there are pre-Christian
inscriptions are: (i) Hwnwuala Vih:r,ra, rJ miles north of the 3gth
nile on Colombo-Kandy road; (tl) Ranuala, 3 miles north of the 4rst
mile on the same road; (iii) Miml>ita Vihera, * rnile north of the
4r] mile on the same road; (iv) Alwlena, ot Karandupona. estate,
rj-miles south oJ the Jrst mile on the same road; (v) Danagirigala
Viliara, z miles south of the 55th mile on the same road; (vi) Ilinati,ponE,3 mitres south of the 6oth mile on the same road; (vii) Ambalahanda, off the Arartityaha-Nurangolla road; (viii) Pd,d.iyaganopotaltand,a,3 miles north-u'est oI Rambuhkana; (tx) Helapitalena, z miles
east of the 3gth mile on the Ambapwssa-Al&aua road; (x) Salgalua)xaya,

off the

Cal'igamuaa-RuaanuiilLa

road; (ti)

2o2'2o+.

OR,ICAL

OPOGTiA

PH\'

O}'

ANCIENI' AND MHI]IE\TAI,

C]E

YLON I ]3

pre-christian periocl are fairly abunclant, there is no surviving inscription in the clisirict of the rst"to Sth centuries ;r.c. It is not incouceivable that with the opcning up ol large areas of the clry zone unclel:
irrigation in the early cenduri-es ,r.c. the dcscenciants o{ the pioneer
poplilutio', of thc Kigalla antl Colontbo wet zone clistricts migrated in
iarge numbers to thc more prociuctive dry zone.z
In a roth century inscription at PorapE in l{inigoda Kova.la,' the
villages Parape ancl- Vilba (present llilbaru in Hat l{orala) arc
rnentionecl.']

After his clefeat by the Colas about ro67, \'ija1-abnhuJ retired to

vStagiri, prcsent vnkirigata in'Gal,bocla Koyala, antl there fortified the
at bav for 3,. months: again,- when the
rock"antl'kept the
his valuables in the
trc iought
\rolaikkeras revolted,",,"iov
-w tefuge with aii
a. palace on .the
built
same fortress. Vijayabeiiu
6z7r-1273)
summit and stored lii, tr.otot.t thcre fr.,r'safety, fearing an invasion:

built a monastory on the rock.a

virabahu residerl at Funkhagarna as ruler oJ Dakkhinaclesa _and
Parakkamabahu tr lvas born therel on tlie site of the house in which hc
I'r,as born Parakkamabahu afterrvards built the Srltigha"ra cetiya,
rzo cubits (r8o feet) high. Punkhag5,ma has been iclentihed by
paranavitana as present Ilcidiganta; the ruined CetlVa_ is now knorvn as
.Ko;aaehera. In a roth centiir-r, inscription at Dridigama, the place
Biialviti is mentioned.r'
Sankhatthali or Sanhhaniiyakatthali or Sankhanithatatthati rvas
the capital of Dakkhir.raclesa when Kittisirimegha was its ruler: he.rvas
succeeclecl by his nephe'nv, ParakkamabShu l. The place- ras-been
icientified by para'avitana as prescnt Pcyaden.i-nuaala, n'eat Hatnagoda
(thc prc.;enl Si'halese {orrn bf Sankhan5,thatthali) u'hich is 5 'riies
north'-east of. Dridigama. 'L his is a good iliustration ol horv a place of
inrportance in ancient times has acquirecl a ne\\r name, vrhiie tlre original
naine sur'ives in a harniet, s'metimes in the name of a land : it also
jllustrates the large areas of the ancient I'illages' It r'vas 5 gav,(about
ri miles) from Sankhanfl,thatthali lo Batalagoda in Kurundgala dislrict,
tre also

and on the way was the place Pilimvatthu.6

Malraniyyd'ma-rattha lr'as tlie area arounrl hluniya-ngytna, near

,luissaacilla,'"and it extentietl into both Kfrgal'la and Ratna'fura
rlistricts.7

Ambepussa;

(xit) Tinbiripola, o{l the 3znc1 mile on tlne Auissd,uiilla-Dehiottitaroacl;

{xiti) Dnaela,' (xiv) Atwgod,a; and (x:,) Pili,maleTta Ylhdra, near
Kifulgala. These many sites are eviclence of a widespread distributionL
of popnlation in the Kdgalla district in pre-Christian times: some of
them mark an ancient route into tlie hills via Aranayaka lo Camfola.
IJut there is a strange epigraphicai gap. Althor-rgh inscriptions of the
r. NI. zz.6,rr:; C../.S. (G) II. r77,

I S'T'

'2" KegalleRcport,

(x1-7t: ;

A.[.C'87 ; C./.5.

A.S.C.A.Il., tg37, g: r952, lr,17.

(G)

II.

J. Xcgallc lieporl,7:.
4" -L1. 58. 3z : fio. 4o : 88. ,1,1.
5" n/[.6r. z7:62. rE'. j9.61 ; C../."S. (G) 1I. r95.
6" ,l|1. 6:. q3 : 6+. g, zz: 65- 4: L,o. 9 : tt7. 78 95 |
7. L[.72.57

r77, r9o, r95, 2oa, 2o2

75.

5;,4.S.C'-4.re., 1955-

124 'IOIIIiNAL, R.A.S. (C"EYLON)

Nett, 9eri,es, Vol.

VI,

Speci.o,l Nu.anber

Ifalabatuva, iclentilied by Paranavitana as present Lam,bututa,

\,\,'ere granted to the General Kit Nuvaragal (Nagaragiri
I(itti of the Culavarirsa) for his successful expedition to Burma by
an inscription. datecl in the year 1165, of Parakkamabd,hu I at Detanaand Kitsenpavu

gala, 3 miies south-east of Mauancil,l,a.s

Ahunrrgalla

ir

prc:cnt A'vunugala in Payanahuyu licirulE;

mentioned jn a rzth century inscription there.e

it

is

At l3iilasclapabbata or Beligala, present Beligala in Atura Pattuva

of Bel,igal Korala, Vijayabahu III (x4z-r236) built a secure fortress,,
intcncling it to be a place for the sale concealment of tlie Tooth and
I3owl Relics. The eldest son of Paral<kamabahu II (t46,rz7r) buitt
a Parivena there,l('

(B). The R.atnapura District

'fhc Ratnapwra clistrict can be apportionecl betrl:eerr four climatic
zones: -(i) the nrontane wet zone, comprising all the area in the.
Adaur's Peak, region; (ii) the montane clry zone, the irilly country
above Kaltota. ancl the eastern face of the llakvana range; (iii) the
lou-country .uvcl zone, extending over the wholc gem-bearing area,
namely, A h aliy agod a- Ratna f wr a-P rilnt adulla- K ahaa atta ; and 1iv) tlie
lou-countrv ciry zone, comprising the greater part of K.olonna Koyalo.
A more or less levci valley joins the trvo lowlancl zones: but abor-e.
them the monntains rise sheer, forrning a markecl upper peneplain.
'l-he lowland rvet zone has the highcst rainfall in Ceylon.
Fron very early times Ceylon r,vas famecl among the Greeks,
Inclians, Itomans, Clhinese and Arabs as the lanc1 of precious stones.
Today, ancl for some centuriespast, the principal source of Ceylon gems
lras been tlre lowlancl wet zone of the Ratnafura clistrict There is no
evidence that in times gone by another sourcc of gems existed which
has since bccome exhausted. It is strange. therefore, that no remains"
monurnental or epigraphical, earlier than the roth centur\. exist in the

Ratnafwra gem-bearing area. 'Iirere is no lack of those rocky sites.

lr'hicir the ancient Sinhalese sclectecl e\rerywhere else in Ceylon for
bttilding their numcrous monasteries. The route to Atl,ant,'s Peab
through Gilnmala, which traverses the gcnrnring area, is specifically
mentioned in an inscription of the rrth centllrlr: the mountain was
knou'n and visited u'hen the lfah5,r'arhsa was compiied in the 5th
century. A monastery could not exist, since the monks clepended on
alms and the produce of temple lands, where there was no settlecl
population: where there rvere settled populations monasteries werc
cstablished in great number from pre-Christian times, as the numerous.
ruins and epigraphs attest. lhe conclusion appears to be inescapable

E. E.Z. illi.
<).

ro.

325.

Kegalle Report, 76"

r11. 8r. 33 : 85. 53 ; Puj. 38, q6; llai.63"

HIS.IORICAL TOPOGTtrAPTIY

I..ANOI.IIN.I] AND MI]DI].]\IAI, CE\:LON I,25

tlrat, although the llaktal>wra lowland lvet zone was ah'l'ay-'s the
principal soutce of gems -:rncl gcms were a major export p1o{19fthere i.'as no permelnent scttlement in that area. In all probability'
gemming rvas a royal rnonopoly, carried out seasonally under the superi'ision oi tlre King's officers, and to protect the rnonopoly permanent
settlement in the region lvas prohibited.

Sumanakiita or Samanola (Adan't,'s Peah) is not mentioned in the

.Dipavarirsa, the oldest historical Chronicle. 'I'he }lahivarirsa, com-

pilid tlvo or three centuries later,

narrates that the Buddha visited

Sumanakhta and'left the traces of his footprints plain to sight':lie
spent the rest of the day at tlte footof the mountain. It w_ouldappear,
tirerefore, tliat the tradition about the Buddha's visit to Sumanakita
\!as not current rvhen the f)ipavarhsa was compiled. The two children
of Vijaya by the Yakkhini Kuva4la are said to har.e fled to Sumanakiita-and iettlecl in that region: from ttrem sprang the Pulinda,s'
According to the Nlahlvarhsa there \lrcrre goo monks on tie mountain in
tlre reign of Dutthagamali Abhaya (H.c. 16r-47). Akasa Cetiya in
Sumanagiri Vihara is mentioned in thc Commentaries ancl tl.re latter
lias been taken to refer to Sumanakuta. In the reign of Vijayabehu I
(ro55-rrro), three pilgrim routes to the mountain are menlionecl:
(i) tlie routc past Gilimalaya, present Gilnmala; (1i) ttre Rajarata
route past Kadaligama, present l{eh,elgam,uaa, near GilxigLltamtta; and
(iii) th-e path from Hfir'a (Oza). 'lhe king improved all the rorites and
proviclecl shelter ancl necessities for monl<s and pilgrims. His inscription at Aniltegantuaa, beyond Naualapitiya, confirms the Chronicle. hl
it he states that he proviclecl danasuluort the Rajarala road to Samanola
rock: tilat hc hacl a net put over the sacred footprint, enclosed
the topnrost terrar:e lvith a great wall in which there were gatern'ays,
and built a lolvcr terrace from rvhicir people oJ low caste could vie$
tlie footprint: ancl tirat he granted lands in several I'illages for the
benefit of tne footprint. Nissanka Nlalla (1187-1196) made a pilgrinrage to the mountain ancl left tu,o inscriptions below the stlmmit"
An Aiabic inscription of tiie rzth or r3th century containing praises
of Allah ancl }{ohamet also occurs there. Marco Polo, about 1285,

rnentions tlie chains on the piigrinr routc to the mountain.

Parakkarnabahu II (r4(>rz7r) visited tlie Peak and granted to it the

land for zo givutas (the Pfi javaliya salis ro gav) around it: he improvecl
the roads, rcpairecl bridges ancl causervavs, rebuilt the parapet r,vall on
the sunrmit,-constructed a malclapa over the footprint and secured
thc structure rvith chains to iron posts, and set up in the courtl,arcl of
the Cetiy'a an Image of the god Sdman.11

Prc-Christian cave inscriptions occur at the follolving ancient

all in the dry zone section of. Ratnafwra district:-- (r) Safi,kha'
fri.laYihara, irear the tl6j rnile on the ['cilmad'ulla-AnLbala'ntota rrtad;

siLes,

126 JOUIINAI-, R.A.S. (CIJYLON) Liew Se,ies, VoI. VI,

Speci,al Nttnrlter

rz miles south-east of Ralangorla; (ni)

above Kaltota,. (iv) Diyainna,. and ("v) I/ehera-up
god'tilla, near
_Gal'i5aya. oue of the ca'e'i'sciiptious at Kiririakurgotta
is by prince lfaha(iva, son of prince Kera.12
\i])_ Kiritnah.ulgolla, about

Kur.agala, high

Sapara or Saparagamu is present Sabaragantuva. 'lhe ll5,ra

mountains were probably in S ab ar ag&tnxrv e.7,\
In a roth century inscription at Gal,palta, about 6 miles nortir-east
'of the 88th mile on the Prilmarlulle-Anrbalantota roacl, the
(iiri'ame
rn:r4dula occurs and apparently refers to the regiorr arouncl Galpuyn.l+
was the frontier bet'nveeu Vijayabdhu antl
- Cdlas:
^RakkhapasS4atantha
tlre
it is either modern Rahu,na or a place noitli of BttttaLa

district.l5

- -Cunnasatra-janapacla, at the foot of tlie Malaya mountains, u,as

the district around ltru,nuaala, neat PrilmarJwlla (Geiger) ; in the clistrict
was Sarivaggapitthi, present H iri fitiy a, near H wiwt, ala.l(t
Parakkamabahu's troops from the Aaissii,ucillct area ancl f'astlun

KoralA entered and took posSession of Navayojana-rattha, present

in llohana, aird, as pointecl -out by
'!.9d1iirgl_on, a" n.r,uch larger area than it is now, extending over present
Kuhwl l{oralO, Hi.niilum Pattu and Moyaaak KoralC.rT
suppressing the Itohana rebellion, Parakkamabd,hu's troops
at Donivagga,
uor.rrvagga, present
pres-ent t)enaa&k&,
Denaaaha, made Narrayojana
Navayojana clistrict
ciistri tireir next
obiective.
objectiv,e.,
uuJrLLrvc. r.rurtr
Frorn 1\ava-ycl]ana
Navavoia.na. they
thev
ac]van".d to
t. KalaglrlDllan+a,
K;l
From
Navayojana
Lrrey aGvanceo
advanced
to
Kalagiribhanqla,
rvhich Codrington has identified a,s the ancient Kalugalbocla-rata,
the mountainous country of Kuh,wl, Atahalan, Kolottna and Moyat:uk
Natadwn Korale, then a distrjct

KoralEs. In the course of subsequent figliting, actions were for.rgirt

q!:-1i)

Guralatthakaiaflcha, present Atakalan Panrl,E

in

,ltakalan,

Koral (Lodrrngton);
(Codrington); (lt)
Itol&te
(ii) I,hgaclalclaka-dr.dta
Ptrgadaldaka-dr.dta or Pirgadanclir'd
Pirgadanclir'ita,
present Danddaa, between Kahavatta and Oyfanrlhe (Geiger):
(
): (iii)
Tarnbagama,
I anbagama, present
present'I'T-atnbaganr,wua, 8 miles east-south-east of
Mhd-atnpA (Codrington); (ir') Bodhiavatd,, probably Bogah.atela, zl miics
-Binnaganta.

slruth o{ Butkanda; (v) Bhinnalavanagdma, present

near
Buthanda ; a1d (vi) .Antaranddmahabodhikkandha, presenf Btttkonda
,(Codrington).18

r.:.

,
XXXII,

C../.S. (G) 11. tq7;.l.S.C..J.l?., re5:, 42: 1955, 35 ; /.R.,.1.S. (C.R

r.58.

' ,3. l,t. ,18. tzg : 78. 8.

r+. /."R.,4..S. (C.8.) XXXII,

r78.

15. 1/[. 55. zz: 57. 67.

16. M. SZ. +6, St, 57.
17. )1.72. 57-tt:.
r8. LI.7z. 57-62:75.77,36, gr,97,

tqa,.

C}IAPTER XVIII

T['IE CITY OF' ANUR.ANTTEPUN.A

(A). Introduction
The tradition is that Anuradhapura was first founded as a village
settlement in the second halJ of the 6th century s.c. by a Minister
namecl Anuradha of the first, traditional King, Vijaya. Some years.
later a Sakka prince of the same name was overlord there: trre built
a tank, and to south of the tank, a residence. 'Because it had served as
clu'clling to trvo Anur5,dhas and also because it was founded under the
constellation Anuradha, it was called Anuradhapura'. King Pandduki"bhaya is saicl to harre made it his capital in the 4th century n.c"
and to have laid out the tolvn and its suburbs in a planned way.
FIe solernnised his consecration u'ith water from a natural pond there
ancl thereafter deepened the pond and named it Jayavapi: he also
constructed Abhayavdpi or Bayavii.va" (present Basaaak-hulam) and"
Glmirnivapi or Garnalitissavapi (probably present Perwniyanhwlam)"
The king's palace was situated within a walled Citadel or Inner City"
Outsicle the south gate of the Citadel was the Nandana Park, and

further southward, the Mahamegha Park: both afterr,vards became

the don'iain of the Mahavihara.

The embellishment of the town u-ith thflpas and vihS'ras began in
DevS,narhpiya 'lissa (e.c. 247-zo7) bfi these earliest
buildings were neither large nor elaborate. The embellishrnent proper
comnlencecl with King Dutthag5mani Abliaya, who ascended the tirrone
in u.c. rbr, and continued unabated to tire closing years of the roth
century, a period of rr5o years. The City's two main architectural
and art forms, the early and the medieval, u'ere probably exhibited at
their fullest development in the 3rd14th and gth/roth centuries respectivelr'. Tlie Chinese n-ronk, Fa-Hsien, who visited Ceylon from 4rr to
413. has given a description of Anuradhapura as he saw it, ald he says
that 'it rvas full of lay chiefs, dwellings of head-merchants grand, main
streets and side streets levcl and u'ell-kept, and between 5o,ooo ancl
6o,ooo monks in the City': lie mentions also the rich decoration of the
temples, the beautifulworks of art and the great procession of the Tooth,
Itetic. The walied Citadel or Inner City, within which was the Royal
Palace, had an area of about 2oo acres. No traces exist of an outer
r-ing of lr'alls enciosing both Citadel and City, whose area in the roth
century extended to nearly zo square miles.1

the reign of

r. I). g.35: 13. rr-25: 13. 30-34; M.7.$:9. r.r: to.73-78,83 roz: 35.98, r:o ; E.Z.L z56; Pui. z; C..J .5. (G) I. 5z ; Fa-Hsien's Trarvels by H. A. Giles""

128 JOUII,NAL, Ir,.A.S. (CEYLON) New

Series,

Vot.'t/1, Spetiat,

tyuntber

The City of AnurS,dhapura was sacked on at least four occasions

prior to its abandonment as the capital in the last decacle of the roth

century:--

(i) clurhg the civil war in the first half of the Tth centurr;:
the rival princes despoiled the temples and ihrines r,vhen

they had cxhausted the resources of the Statc Treasury;

(ii) about 84o by the invadini Piindyans who 'left the splenclicl
city in er state as if it had been plunclerecl by \.akkiias';
(iii) during the Cola invasion in the reign of Uclaya trV (94{r954); and

(iv) during the Cola conquest iintl occupation lasting Ironl

about r;g3 to roTo: the Colas 'triok -all the treasures of
Lafka for themselves'.

Therc wcre two subsequ.ent periods oJ inrzasion ancl conquest, after

AnurSdhapura had ceaiecl to be the capital, u,l'ren the r,vhoie of lReja-

rat-tha'was g_iven over to

pillage:

(o)

ironr r2r+to

1239, ciuring the

i:lISTOliIC-{L]'OP()cll-{PHY ollAN(-rIEN'I -{ND -\I}lDtltvAI- CEYLON rJ9

the kings returnecl to it r,vhen thc disturbances ceased. The precloruinancc of Anuraclhapura as the lloyat 611U of I-anka began in tlie .1th
century n.c. ancl terminatecl inthe last years of the roth centurv ,r.c.'J
-Several ancient sites

at

Anuradhapura posscs)

an

ar_rthentic

histor,r. lvhich,goes bacl< to pre-Christian timcs, but it r,voulcl be eutirely

erroncolrs to date thc ruins lvhich norv stancl on thosc sites to ther perioil
oJ their original founclation. I3uilc1ings, thcn as nolr,, nccclccl repair ancl
renovation. f'Iorcover, architectural clesign and styie lvere nclt static
but unclerlr,ent chat'rge ancl relinement. rst century styles. n-hich u'e
:nol' call archaic, rvere ecprally arcliaic in thc roth centurv. \\,'tren old
;rnci decayed structures neeclccl renovation, they rvere iebuilt in the
[atcs1. architectura] style ancl frccluentlv lost atl trace of their original
.for-il. I3r-rildings of special sanctitv .nvere not presenecl in origin:rl as
;u'rtiquities, as is tlrc modern practicc: on tlre ,rther han,l, thi latcst

embellishrnents urere appliecl tirst to theru. -f hc r\nurir,clhapura

1rcrioci of nearly 13 centuries r,vitncssecl r'arying phases arrd r:ailicai

,like a scorching fire ut"terly

devastatcd the whole of Lanka"', anci (b) in tz4o by tiie
Javanese
iLvgde1, Caldabhanu, who 'rzrvaged the country'anerv, lavi"ng waste
all Lankl"'.2

t:lr:urgcs iu architecturai anci

rhese depredations r'vere followed by cxtensive restorations in the

reigns of Aggabodhi IV, (oo7-o83), Sena II (853-887), Kassapa V
(gt+-gzi, and Mahinda IV (956-97z). \rijayab'ehu t tiberatea Ciylon
in roTo-from Cola rule rvhich had {asted 77 yeirs, but the task of maling

i.rr nredicval inscriptions) lvas founclecl in s.c. z4b by Dcr,inarhpiJ.ir

'lissa and presentecl to the great Thera,
Mahincla. Its terr-itort' conrp.risecl the Jotivana (previously called Nan,lana) antl llahlmeghii
Parlis. the area to sor-rth and south-east of the citaclcl. In his progress

rule of

good

the_

Kalinga invader,

all the

damage done

M-agha, r,vho,

by plunder ancl pillage was

beyoncl his

clepleted resources, and the restorations made by hiri at Anuradhapura

were superhcial. When Parakkamabahu I ascendedthe throne in rr53
he found that Anuraclhapura'had been utterly destroyecl iu every tay

by the Cola army: the temples were overgrorvn with great trees ancl
,bears and leopards d.,velt

there'.

He restored the great thhpas and

few other important buildings which rverc in ruin. Vijay;bahu I\/

$z7r-rzp) found 'a mighty forest grown up rouncl the sacrecl places in
Anurddhaptrra': he carriecl out some minor restorations. 993 (circa)
was the fateful year oI tliegreat sack of the city: thereafter it ceasecl to
be the capital, its grr:at monasteries werc no lo'ger carecl for, ancl the
jungle tide soon began to overwhelm it. Some attempt u.as ma-de to
restore its principal buildings about r75 .years la.ter : another attempt,
on a smaller scale, was assayt'd somt.zEo vears later. 'lhen its ruins
relapsed again into forest from which the rvork of reclaiming them began
F-rom the 7th century, Pulatthinagara (Polonnarurta) u'as
sometimes used by the kings as a tenrporary seat of government cluring

in r89o.

disturbed times, but Anuradhapura continued to be the capital

2. ful. q4. r3o-t34: 5o. 33-3t1: 53. 4o-4rj: 55. r.2,22

88. 0z-73.

ancl

8o" 54-78: 83. 3b-4S:

'llie

(E).

art forms.

The Mahdvihdra Entourage

I'{ah5,vi1'r[ra, also callccl the Tissard,nra (\lalianrer-nii 'lisariun

through the J'Iahirnreghavana, accompaniccl bv the liing, beiore- the

1cc('ptrllc.'oItlr,'Jlalr,rvilrira.IliLlrinrlalrallt', l:Ltllrr.fulloii irrgspors:
{iJ the pic4a (S. pu1ila) tree on the south sicie of the ro.1,al'-p;1r'ilion,
,,vhere the Ransimalal<a afterr,i'ards stoocl; (ii) a bathing
tatrli, afterrr,ards the Jant:r,ghara; (iii) thc gateu'ay of the liing's pavilion, afteru'ards tire siteoJ the Bodhi rree ; (ir,) tire I'Iahtlmucalamalal<a, tlie sitcr
o$-tlrc later T.ohapasada; (v) the Pafrhambanr:r,1aka, the place u,here
,gifts lvould afterrvards bc clistributed to the Sangha; (vi) the C:rtussaiii,,
after-lr,rards the refectory of the },Iahervihtra; au,l (r'ii) the sitc ol the
trater l{ahathiipa. \\rithin the conlines oJ the J{ahirvih[ra 1av the most
sa.cred sites in the city, the Bodlii Tree, llahathupa, Lohapls;Lda,
ihrlpiLriima and l,laricavatti : 'lhfipardma stood in the Jotivan. lNan,'lana) Park, the others in ltahdmeghavana (l,Iahamevuna or llaha. nevrra).
Tlrc .\lahivihara rias tlre seat of tlre orthodo.r, Hinayana
,iloctrine, but
after tlie foundation in e.c. 89 of the Abhavagiri \.ihara,
rvhich became the centre of the heterodoi, I{ahiiviLna d6ctrine, its
supremacy,was oftenchallenged. TheChronicles (Dipavarhsa, XIahiLvarirsa, Culavarirsa, Nikaya Sangharava, Pnjavahya, etc.) treat the
history of Ceylon {rom the point of view of the }Iahivihara. The
rivalry between these trvo great monastic establishments was frequenily
bitter. In the reign of Mahdsena (z753or) a very serioui crisi_s
3"
ji75-u

1I

.78. g6-to7:

E8. Eo-89

; C.l.S.(G)

II. :4r.

'I

:]i,

.,

otinN-\1, li,.A.S. (0!lY[,c]N)

rlcr-eioperl. 'llre Iiing att. mptecl to clcstrov thc \llirhivihara an(j

forbailc thr: pcoplc to giYe alms to its m0illis : in conserqucttce, tlte,
molriis .o'erc ..,onrjreilcrl to alrancion the \'-ihil,ra for I \tear-* ancl to set:li
_sllstenancc iir tlic mountaiD region (Malava) antl in lloitana. TTre
great builclings of tlie llahiLvihara rverc rlisnrantlt:cl arrcl the rnateriais
iitilir,,,t for r-ri:rv stnrcturcs at Abhal'agiri \rihara l'hiclr 'became ricir
in builrlinS,s ancl $,asrn:rde statelv to see',. A tlrroa-t oi cir.,il rvar stoppt:d
furtiter c1e^spc.,1i:rtion : tlie liing afiectecl repcntanct' ancl macle gcod sr--me
of tlic clanragt: r1one. Iiut soon aftern,:rrc1s hc violated \{aliavihara,
territt.rrl' ancl built the great rnonastery Jetar-ar1lr:r'tna in ttre [otiyar-ra

Park.

{to ltlclAt, TOp()Gu,,-\I'H y

4.

j: 15' r-?5' t74-177'

.D. r3. rr-u 5, 30-34 : r'+ ?'o-42 t7' 39 ; r'l{' r r ' 2'
"
j'.2a. 17'.3-1. 95-(13 : 36. to-r3 : 37. 3-16, rq 39, -5+-61 : 38' 76 ; N'S rr-16 ;

1..2. l. .:; : T\'. r'6.

ttI)IEV.{i, Clt yLoN

insicle it. Aggabocllii II (bo4-{rr4) hacl a rvcil clug besicle iire

IJoclhi 'l-rec Flouse. Dappula (65q) rebuilt thc l\,Iah:r._[.]6_(ir_r.
Scna II (853 sx7; hu,lt lr berrutiful'|enrple besicirr tlrc'['n:e:
presr.unlbly this rvas an aclr-litior.r to the lloclhi lrce lloust:.
The stone h-nirge oI thc lluricllra in thc llocllri lrec Hor_rse
is m:ntioned in a-n inscription oI X,Iahincla i1r (956-r;72) ;ir
1'!c
llocltri 'lrec -lernp1e. Vasabh:r (67-lrr) built thc [-]otlhi
{b)

Trec 'fcmple uirich contirined 4 Images. Voirarilia 'l-issir.

izog-z3r) placed tu-o bronzc lmages cin the castern sicle of
1lrt"l'ernplr'. .lt'rtirrll-s" [ 12rr3-27.1; lrrrilt.] falr.ri,r\s t,, if.
l'Iahasena (275-3or) sct rlp tlrro bronzc hnegc, on tlrc u,est

fcmple. I)lr.1tLrsena (+SS,+Z:) adcied a Boclhisatta

its w'zrll-s lvith frcscocs. Aggabodhi I
$7ttto$ br.rilt ltcsirlc the l'erlpL' a st()lte tcrrlic., u.itlr a
large oil pit. Aggabodhi YII l77z-777) r-ebuilt the lcrrple
.. DappLrla II (.Sr5-li3r) restorecl ancl gilclcrl it. \rija.r,.:r:qlidlf
l,alru I (ro55.r r ro) i(.1)airo, I it ;
ic) A_tr'hr1pa auci a lhrlpagharar (Vtrta,c1:r-gE) u'ere buiit b.1, tite
!]ueen of \,'asabha (67-rtr) ;
The
Harusavatta, a bcautiful sltrine, r.r'asbuilt b1-Sirin:Iga II
{d)
(zqo-z4z) in thc: sanrlcotrrt : hc also built a par-ilic,,n of iirge
sicle of the

1'emple and aclorncci

(i) TH}' I]()DFII TII]]E' Tlre rcceir,ec] trarlition is ttrat thc

2oz-)o

great \rihnras ancl in one controversy the I'Iah:r,r'ihara \\'as vij-ILlicatrc1.

in tire Eth, gtlr ancl roth centurics tire iiings geircr.ally remainecl
taithful to tlic l'IahivilrtLra traclition but bcstori'ed their endolvment'
in crlra1 lDeasure on Ablrayagiri.a ln the Mahar.ihara were : -

trI (z4o-z1z) rcbuilt tlie -,enclosing rvall' Abhayanaga

(t:.r-c ,o\ built iLe stone vediliir: Grrthirbhaya (249'263) repaired
itr" r eclilia ancl also ercctecl an archccl gtrteu'ay at the north
e1tra1ce, a Stonc throne at thc solth entrance, and 3 stone statues at
thc north, east ancl \\.cst entrances: flrfther, her crectcd pillars with
carverl rvheel-svmbols at thc 4 corners of the courtyarcl' l-a-Hsierr
(4rr-4r3) sarv the 'frec proppecl up becausc it r,r,as lcaning to tire southeast :'hJ'sa1,s therc lvas a slrrine at the foot of the'lree rvittr an Image
of lluclclha ln it. Iivcrl' tzth \:car oJ their reigns, the kings celebratcd
a special lestival for tlie Boclhi Trec. l)hatusena (+ss-+rz) erectccl 16
brc,nre statues of 'trath-rnaiclens' ancl instituted a b:r.thing Jcstival.
lfahrinaga (s6s-szi) constructccl an irrigation trcnch rouncl the l'ree

-{NilI FtNl. AN I)

iI (853-E87) rcstolcd thc trerich.; wit.hin the courtvarti of

ihc llocllri'l'ree rvere tirc tollorving buildings
(a) fhe Boclhi 'frce Housc, nrst br-iilt by Der'hnaripiva fissa
(s.t-,. zq7 -zo7). l)iriitLrsr:nn (+S5-+7:) rebrijlt the ijoclhi l'r-ut
l {ouse :*d rlccoratecl its rvalls r.r,i ih f rescocs. I{ittisirirncglra
_(55r-56t;) colerecl the roof of the House ii,ith tin plir-tr_.s, inrl
)taiianaga (5tt9-6721 rc-roofccl the Housc ancl plaiecl liuages

lIuhn.(.,rru', sLlccessofs conlpletcd tlre rc'buiklirE; and rcstoratiun

Sirinag:r

antl Sena

of tfuc ]'lah:r,r.'i[ara, but its supremacy 11,i15 u11.]g11qi1ed. I"a-Hsit,rr

(4tr-.ir3) says therc werc 3,OOO rUonl<s iit resitlt:nce at the I'IahirvihSra
i,i Li. tim". L'r the itli century, Cetiyapabbatir \''ihira (I'Iihintalt:)
passecl into the control of Abhayagiri Vihara. ln tire 6th and 7th
ienturies tirere tverc lurthcr crises in thc relations bctween the tr'r'cr

-lrce at l3odh-(iaya in India, that it

Borlh j l'rce .,vas a sapliilg ol thc
r,vas ltrought to Lank:r, by Sangl]arnitta r,r'ith the conscnt of the
X{aLrrvan iin].1r"rnr, Asoka, and that it u'as }rlanted at Anurdclhapurz,",
in e.c.
or,, gr,,,,nd corisccratccl by thc Liucldha, b_y De'a,ni'irpiya Tissa
-Ihera and a great ll]ultitucle . A large,
z.lfi in the presence of Malrincla
square, ,uui1",1 enclosure i,r.ith 4 entranccs Iornred tlre courtyarcl of the
Sacrccl Tree. sirinSga I (rSgt-zog) rcstored the steps at the,1 entranccs.

size.8

_(ii) THITI'ARAUA or l'rinrbarup-r-ehcra. The Thhpa rvas briilt

!.,\' Devdnarirpiya
Tissa (s.c. zq7-zo7J, on grorurcl sriid to havc been
ccnsccra-tccl bv the Jlu,l,lha, tu cn:hr-iut, ilre Buclclha,s right collar_
bone rtelic. The core of the thrlpa u,as o"[ lunrps of c]ar,' takein from thc.
irt'rcl of the Abhava tank (Ba.sara.lt-fulurn) anrl bricks
*,erc laitl over
1,,' r'lav. 'l lrc liirrg :rl.u furrrr,l,', 1 :i Vilr,rnt [or tlrt. tlrripr. _\ :rlrling
t1 i,l r. Rodlri l'rec u'as plantecl iri thc \,.ihrira. I-airjatissa (n.c. ttqille)
' l,it',I a stont.mrnt]irS t,r llrr. 1l1il|;1. llre llrrrl,,riltlrr (\'ulr-rll-ci,)
ii'as built bv VasabhC (6 1-,rrr). 'ln an inscripti6n of Gaiabelrri I
Itr4-r36) ,the-__Vihara i:s calleci '['ubar:rba. (,,rthrr]rLer-a (:-1 1-:rr3)
;'cstored tlre 1'hiipaghara. .]effha.tissa I (ze-27;) remor-ccl a-largt,,
stone Imaec oI thc riudclha from Thuptlram,,r to Prr,cinatiss;.rpabbata
.t.
1O-1, r o:1

6.

-ir. 53-59 ; I)tt.j.

)'1..7o.
,, /

7.
-)+.

8.

."11.

35. E9 : 36.

il1" 35. 9o

3r, r:6 : J7. 3r

3(). 56.

38.

jt.

31

; L.Z"

ir7: +2. t9:.13. 7o: lg. 74:6o.6.2;

132 .I()UItNi\I,. Ir.A.S. (C]1'YLON)

Ncrr. ^\'rr?r.*. |.t,1.

{,'t.

Speci.tt,l '\.ttnltc'r"

\,'ihrira: later, l,Iahdsena ("753or) installed this Image in Abhayagiri

I (36-5-aotr) made a gokl casing for the pinnacie oi
Vih6ra. Upatissa
the thirpa^ ' Dhtr,tuscnl'i+SS-+Z:) carriecl ont rcpairs.. Aggabodhi trI
(6oa-6{) completell' re"bi'ut"alire thupa lncl thiipag611a.,. hi; repairs
extenclin'g to tle temporarv removal of ttre collar-bone llelic fro' tle
Rclic chjmber: thc Relic clamber itself *,.r.s rcno'ated ancl many ncw
reliquaries rverc placccl insicle. Daihopatissa I -(o39-rr5oJ robhed-the
golclcn finial of the tlnpaghara ancl thc urnbrella of the thirpa,
broke opeu tlie Rclic chambei anci approllriatecl the treasures rvithin to
raise

nrione,u-

t'

parr liis solcliers. i{assapa

tI

(rr5cl-t5q) restorerl the

thrlpa. ll;navamma (684-718) restorecl the roof o{ thc tlrripaghar;t.

reliairecl thc dot'rs. and tran'sposeclthe piilars
.{ggaUoOlli Yl (7j-77)7
"llahitrda
enclosed the thipa in a
II

of"Itre thirpaghara\llllql)
silr'ci casing. Dappula Ii iSr5:1i311 colered th^iltupaghara
ovcr. ,r.itl, gol,len bric"ks arr,l'in:talle,l ,[,,-ors of ,gol,l.. Tlrc Pin,lyarr- irl
84o phrncle"recl tlie casing antl t1e jcrvels, as rvell as the treasures insirle
tlie'thirpa. Se'. II (i53-3S7) iestrred tlLe golcl-p1ate casing, andUclaya II (8E7-8g8) utso coo-criil thc thhpa rvitli golclplate. ..1'Ia,hi.r1a
ther thhpa rvith strips^oI gold and silver, and
W (qSO-qir)'coi'erccl
-u
i".tJif"a got.1.loo. in thethirpighara. The Colasplunderecl thc.er-rtire
iiirnt" .loriitg thcir conquest at fhe end of the roth centr'rry' ParalitomoUfrlo I'' (rr53-ri8b) restorecl the tlLrpa and the thirpaglara.ll
\\iithin .ir near 'lhuparima \vere:(lt'1 ' :z- r'r, , )-'
(,rt llrc L'po.atlta t{otr:e. L,rrih by ltlrlrt.ikalrlral'a
jn'er
co'rtyarcl a'd
a'
adrlerl
Abhaya(rg-zg)
Amairdagamani
u l,'"."r-r,1ilt, ancl built a Parrilion studded u'ith precious st-ones"

go1cl ancl

Ritrtil<atissa (r43-167 ), Go{hiibhril'a \zyg-z(t j),.Aggabo<iiri 11)t t

N't-nlt iti.1o Il (l Z Z -l gil rcstorecl the builcling
(6o,1-6 r 4)
"tt.i
{,1,) Ihe Cittasrlla \\'as a'Hall oI Paintings' to east of Thrlparima
:

sight of thc I'rodhi Tree, ereCtecl in the 3rd or znd

ceutruv I,;.c. ne.st to tlie sitc u'here Samgharnitta \l'as

in

cremiriecl;11

) Samghauritta cetiya, otr thc site of Sanrghamitta's cremation,

,r:u! br,iit hy Utti--va (circa H.c. 2oo);1')
(r1) Dighathrlpa or Silathfrpa' to east.of. Ihirparnma, was buiit b5;'
iafrjatilsa (ll.('. r.i 9-rro) , (sec (rr ) bclou')
(e) A Pasida for the Pamsukirlins u'as built by $fr'121vntn66
(,

(684-718);

f)

A Pesida

r,r'as

built

b-v Udava

(r. D. t5. Ltr-3t : I;. 9l : lo. It

-o. t-7 :33. 23 : 35. 87 : 30. rob, t 2S :

r3u, i39-:47. i:.;: 45. 6o, r4o.:.49.8r

z r t : [TI. t r6'
zg i 22.2r i Xlt- 34' 39: 35
M. zo. 52, 53,

z\, y-; E.Z. I. tor,

ro, D. zt,

rr.
t2.

Ibid.

iI

(887-U98);

IITST()}iIC.\I,'I'OPOCR.IPHY OFANCIEN'| A}iD MEDlI'VAt, CEYI,()N

1;JiI.

(g) A I)u..elling to west^of

.Thrlpariirn:r lr.:rs built bv the Scrirpati
of Kassap:r

l\i

(E98-9r4)

(n) The Rchecl*(ic (di-spensar_v) at -I-umbarab ('lhrtpdrerna) is

mentioned in an inscription of Kassapa IV (ggE_g14);
(i) fhe I)appula pyeJlrlg,.not.farfrom Thirpariirna, u.:rs built liy
the Sennpati llilklitraka Ilariga oi Dappirla I\r (qz4_935):
(7) A, beautifLrl J)ari'e.a n'itrr a bathing tank, to rvest of rrrrrpa
riima, rvas bLrilt by tlie eur:en of [Iahincla IV 1956_q7z) ;
'flie Palaial.r-i-rniclha'i
Aimshouse, to east of 'lhirpnrtrrna..
{/r)
u'as built by puccn Liliivati (rrg7_rzoo):
(/) The Sam.qhap[l:r" Pari'ena existecl i. t]rc reigr.r rf Gothirbhaya (z4g-?(rj).t:r
(li.) ln rlro. 16'.ig11 oI Krssapa I\' (Srr,\-rlr4) a lrorrrt. [or. l,lril<lilrrrrri.
rias brrilt irr Pr,lalanclrirrra. ]lrrlririrla I\' 1r15h_r17:,1 rcpaire,
a.t Paclalaiichana the beautif.r tcnrplc of'-t"rre-four c.tiyas
uhich hacl been burnt clou,ri b5, tlie Colas. Dr. paranavitana
has iclcntiliecl Paclalaichanlr .r paclarasa ivith fire lour
(,e.tiyits, sit*atecl to the east of l'hrrp:rr:rma,
b'ilt to rn.rl<
sites believocl.to ha'e beer impressecirvith tlie F'ootprints of
the fciur lluclclhas of_ tiris kaipa. (lt 52.6-j: 54.4j; pacia
lafichana a1 _r\nuratlhal)r.rra, l.v S. tro."r;r.it;;;j. ft,.
"
Silatlrhpa referrcrl
to i'(,1) rLb,il.e i1,.5 the snrallest of th.
foitr Cetiyas at Paclalaichana.
liii) I.tl11 ,1 P.\S.iDA or Lor;t nralra-;,i\.ar pol,Lllrrl'hrrr
erronoousll' callecl thc ' Bvazen palace' . lht' iite ,.,,.ai cxieinalir. the
l{aha*ucala-rn,a1aka ancl was consecratccl bt- llahi'ii,l -- ihera.
I)e'anarirpiya 'l-issa (r.r:. 247-z<t7) built trre tirst r"i-rupxe.i"" ,r
ireat, neu' b*ilcling was erecteci bv Dut,thagarnar:i Ab'Lava (s.t.
rr,r-r37) :. it iras roo t'rrbit. tr5o fet'r; rrigir air.t ,oo .rtrii. i,,,iu..
g-storcyecl, supported on 40 ro\\rs of
fittais *-it1r 4, pillar. iri cacl,
r'u", ancl had roo rvinclorvs in each storev
and r,ooo r6oms in a[: it
'-r'as adorned u,ith coral ancl precious stones, ancl its roof rvas coie.e,i
ir-ith .plates of burnished copper. T'his builcling, doubtJesr -."ugg".
ated i'. clescription, u.as destioyecl b-y hre in tiie reign of tne l-r"e*t
Sarldlrutissa. (rr.r r37-r iqy antl rr as rt,huik
7 {torcvi lriglr.
f,i,ng. ,
a, (c.r . 22- \.c. z) rt,pairetl it. Amarr,.lagamani-Ahlrar rr
l:1"ltOO_nrl
Lr9-29) adde(l an rnner courtyard and an inner veranclah anrf ir
Par.ilion studdeci u'ith precious stones. Sirinaga ii
restored the building tcr_ a h-eight of 5 storeys. Gotfabhaya 1"ai-rar1
irig itts)
rencrved tlre pillars. Jerrlrafis-a I-12o3-2i51 raise,l rhe'uriitriins
t,
a lreight.oI 7 :torevs anrl presenrecr ro ii a'rirrrable jeri'er ii;i;;:.n.
f275-J9r,) conrpletely demolished tlre building and carricrl ar^-a' irs
nraterrals to Ablravagiri \-ilrara: l Irc sitt, rr:as plorrglre,l antl ',*orvrr
I

13" D.tg.

13. r r : 54.

rt; .4{. 33.24:36.

I, 16r. r8r.

13_. 20.

5o1.

E. Z.

r15

: 17.rt6:48. r1r :5t. a29: sz. 16.

131 .JOUIINAI,, R..\..s. ((lltYI-ON) '"{ctn

Series' l:oL'

I,

Speciul X urtt'htt'

(39J.3?8). rcbuilt it, l)tratr.rscna (455\lrirh grain. Sirimeglrtrvaqrfa

"arrl
Aggaboclhi I (57r-(ro:1) restorcd it' r\gga
,trr) renovateti it,
t','"itt,i tV 1br r7-: ,X3) t.ort.re,f ilrc r.enlrfll I,irrnaele alroih. ]liinar rtntrta
{r,5 r-;rEl ..'n"ru,il tlrr' r',uf . I lrc l'in,-lyalls l'xrl ly 'lestroS t 'I an'l
ji,'1,,t.*,f it,,l t-',it,ti,,c in llrt -reign ,'i i,'na I (bJJ-s5i)
.. 5crra ll
'iS!:-SSZ) rcbuilt it ancl' installecl in it an Inrage of gold J{assapa V
TV
ir,1i StS\ reparirecl it anci crorvnecl it rvith a- pimacle' llahincia
the'
oI
Rur-anPah5
the
r'r'ork
of
bronze
the
gl"j
rclpairecl
iirSO
iiiitruii."i,"rr-rltahavehcra. 'lhe Cirlas clestroved the builcling itt the
cnrl of tlte roth ccntur,v. Paralkarna'b:ilru I (rr.53-rrir{') raisecl
again its r,6oo Pillars ancl partiy rcstorccl it.tr Attachcd to or close
to tl-re Lohapa'sada were (o) 3z Pisirclas rouncl it, built bv KhallataniLga (tl'c' rlo-ro3);
(b) A Pavilion in the courtyard built by Abhayan5,ga (23r-24o) ;
(,,) The Pafrhanrbamiilaka or l)ri-nambamaluva, a tertacerl space
bctu,ecn t1're I-ohapasacla ancl tlie Mahathupa' closcr to the
former, r,vhcre the bociy of the great Tliera, )Iahincla, lay in
l:'
state ancl rvherre gifts were clistributed to monlis
(iv) }IAH-LTHIIPA (Lil,nant'cilisfiya). The site is 'saicl tr-i
'bdcn co|set.ratetl by thc Budclha-anc1 to havc been marliecl by
haYe
an inscribecl pillar set "p bV I)cv:rnarhpil'a Tissa (tr'( . 2+7-:<17)
Kakuclha p-g"!l - l)utthagtrmani ,\hiray-a
:Lt the upper'enc1 oI the'
(r.c.
r37) but ilied before it r'vas completed:
iruiti th""ll"hathi,pu
iaclcihatissa (e.c. i37-irg) triiistred thc rr,ork re'raining to be.done
on the supcrstructuit, uir,1 tlie lilep.trant ._r,r,all and completerl thc
aijatissa
.I
.lasterring.' 1'he fhilpa was r2o cubits (r-8o ft:et) high. limestonc
(berms)
terraces
thc
f:rcitcl
1u..,. ri9-rro)
-'vith
blocl<s. I{allatanaga (u.t:. rro-ro3) madc the sand courtyard which
luns all rouncl thc-ierracc antl is br,un,lecl on thc alf-sic1e bv a u'a'll'
Bhntiknbhay:r (u.c:. 21--\.c' 7) l-ruilt trvo vedikas (railings), one
on thc .nm-it of the clome ancl thc othcr rouncl the toprnost terrace,
ancl renell,ecl ttre plaster rvorl<. h'Iahnclsthikamahantrga . (.2-tcl)rvjc'Lenecl thc l-lcpluuri Path, enllrrg_c.tL tlr(r sancl courtyard and paved
it rvith on'raincntal stnnc's. .\111n' lagamani Abhal'a (19-zq)
reconstmctecl thc trvo railings, one on the summit of the clotlrr: antl
the othcr at thc base, ancl aclcled a second umbrella over the cxisting
ilne. Tlie 'llr[1ta ancl its monastcry are.c.allecl Ratana-araba in an
inscription of tiaiabahu I (r14-136). ,- Sirinttga I (rsq-zorl), rer-onsii.t.li.f anci gilclecl the umbielL.' Samghatissa (z+l 'tl) grldecl
lhe umbrella aircl put on it a ring-] of crystal, ancl fixed Iour grezrt
itlasen:r (,128) madc a girtt:rvay
sc*ts on thc fo.r sldes of the tee.
'ii"i"l^l througir the lllerpliant rvall. DhStusena \155-473) restolccl
14. D, tr1. t : zo. 4-5: ll. 3() : .l/ L;. .]t'', lo5 : "7.' r. 1o,, z1-27' 16-q : t'z' Zi:
ro '- 4,1r' 30:
:
i3. 6, 7 : 31. 39: 3.5. 3, ,+ : 3b. u.5, ro2' r24 :37' rt, bz :8 54: 12'
l;7 ;; : ;t:.Z:s:; r, i6. ;;.';1 ; N.'s.'n, r s ; p;'i. t t, t-6, 2 1, 3t, 2 2, 1+.1,E 71 I..:8'
15. D. t7. ro3; IL L5.38 : 2o. 39-,1? : 33. 3o : 36' 52 , Puj' tt: n

TiIST0RICAI, TOPOCIITAPT{Y OF ANOIII]NT AND I{EDIEVAL CI]YLON i;J5

and gilded the umbrella, ltxed rorurcl it a ring of crystal in ri,hich

u'as ernbecklecl a great precious stone, ancl adclecl cleiorative stuccr;
rvorl;. llaLrir,ndga (-569-57r) restored the stucco u,ork, built tlie
iratthir.ecli (railing ornamentecl x,ith elephant heircls), ancl renor.'atccl
tlre paintings. Aggaboclhi I (57r6ot) installed an unrbrella o1
stone, gilded orrer ancl weighlng r] tons. l'Ioggalldna III (614-619)
rcriov.tecl the thupa. Paral<kamabii,hu I (rr53-r186) restoreil thc
tirupa, rvhich hacl fallen into clecay after thc Cola conrgcst ir 99:,
to its original hciglrt of rzo cubits. Nissanka l,Ialla (rr87-ri96)
carriecl out repairs and erectecl upon tlre platiorm a stonc replic:r.
of tlie thr1pa.10 Near the }lahathnpa
Catussalh,, a rectangular building usetl as the refectory,
between the Lohap:r,sac1a ancl tlie l,Iahathrlpa, closer to ttrc

ia) The

latter, built by Devanari-rpiya Tissa (v.r:" 247-zo7)

restorecl by Vasabha ((t7-trr)

and

;11

(li) Ihe 'lheranambhandlia-malaka,

r,vhere the body of Mahinrla

Thera was cremated. The l)ipavarisa says the place u.a,s
close to and outside the east gate of tlie NIahaviha,ra, but the
X{ahavarhsa states, on the contrary, that it rvas to west of
the latcr MahSthupa. 'I'tre spot rvas later called Isibhrlmangala and adjacent to it, Uttiya (circa r.c" zoo) built the

Mahinda Cetiva to enshrine part of the llelics of Mahinda"

To Isibhumangala thc bodies of holy men \yere aftcrr,vards

brougirt for cremation. Dhatusena (+SS-+Z! helcl a great
commemoration festival there in honour of Mahinda;ts
(c) The l{akutamuttasala r,vas built at the spot rvhere the court
dancers laicl off their head-ornaments at the cremation of
Dutthagiimati Abhaya (s.c. r37) ;t{,
(d) I-hc RSjamalaka, r,vhere l)uttliagii,mani Abhaya's bocly rvas
crematecl, and Ravivattis[I5, rvere to south of l\fahd,thhpa ancl
close to it : thc tater Dakkhila Vitrdra has been icientifi.ed as

the site of the crernation'?o

(c) The grouncl

betr,veen the Nlahathhpa and lhhpird,ma was flllec1

and rnade level in the reign of Laiijatissa (o.c.

16. D.

;g.

z, ro'.2r-. r,5,

.ln,

Pnj. tl,

17.
18"
r,r.
.)t t2r

q: 2r.

13-27:

::.

35, 38, qo,

48,

41,

;2t

5z; lI.

15.

tiJ, r9 : Caps. zE to 3r : 3r. r-9, zil : 33. 5, 22, 3\ t -3.1. 39, 4{r. 5g.
35. r, 2 : 56.?! 65, 66'.33. ro, 5..1, 7t: 4r. 95: 1.2. 3:- 41. ll i 7b. 97 ;
20, 34, 37 ; I).7'. IL 8z. rrg : III. r 16.

.i.2, T69-173 : zo.

,{),

6.

rr9-rro)

'lI. ri. q7, zo6 : 35. Bt.

I). t7. to6,to9; )1.1. ,zo. qz-q7.
J/.3:.7x.
.

/. J r.

_t/.

Za. ).o.

.1..1. u.1.

133 JOUIINAL, ]t,.A.S. (CEYLON)

Ner.o Ser'ies,

VoI. VI, Special Nutnber

U) The Silasobbhakalclal<a Cctiya, on a lofty spot to north of the

Ilalr5,thlrpa, was built by Vattagamali Abhaya (s.c. 89-77):
tlris may be the prescnt Lahharuma;22
(g) '.t'he Chattavaclclhi Parivena was south of and close to the
Illephant wall of the flahdttiiipa and was built by lloggallana

(4gr-.5o8) ;r't

A Bathing Tank rvas built by l{ahinda II (f77-Zq7);tt

(;) I'he l{ard, Hail, an acljunct of l{ahasa (l'Iah6thupa) rvas built by

(n,)

Malrinda

IY

(956-972)

;25

(v) MARICAVATTI Vih[,ra (Mirisutitiya). The thfrpa

r'vas

constructecl by Dutthag.imani Abhaya (e.c. 16r-137) and in it he

enshrined his .^pear rvhich contained a Relic. GajabS.hu I irr4-r36)
rnade a mantling for the thirpa. \uohArika 'Iissa (zo9-z3r) renovatecl
the nmbrella and built a ivall. Kassapa Y (ry4-gz-'r) restored thc:
thupa and all the builclings in the Vihara rvhich is called l'Iirisviti
in lis inscription. Parakkamabahu I (rr53-r186) restored the
thirpa to a hciglrt of 8o cubits (rzo feet). Nissanka Ma,lla (rr87-r196)
carried out sonte restoration work at l{irisaviti. In t}ie Vihara were:-(a) The Uposatha House, built by Dutthagamani Abhal'a (e.c.
16r-137). Gothabhaya (z4r;-z$) repaired it and Kassapa V

(gt+u)zi restorecl it;

massivc Pasacla r'vas built by Kassapa II (65o-659) and

restored by Kassapa Y (914-94) ;
(c) The Candana P:r,sacla was built by l'lahinda !\ .656-gZz) to
house the Hair Relic : in an inscription of this king he records
that I're built the Raks:1-ge for the Hair Relic' The original

(1;)

Temple for the

it

Hair Relic rvas built by )Ioggallana I

containecl paintings ar.rd statues of persons and

of a horse : its location is not stated;:6
(49r-5o8) :

(vi) Other lSuildings in the MahS,vihara. The other buildings

in the \Iahirvihara included :(a) The following structures btiiit by Devtrnarirpiya- I'issa (u.c.
247-zo7) :-I(ilapesada ; Sunhata Parivela ; . Dighacanka-

mana ;'Pnanagga Parivena ; Therdpassaya Parivena ; l\[arugana Parivela ; Dighasandasenapati or Digh[sana Parivena,
il'ith 8 great pillars ; Jantaghara, a bath rvith a room for hot
baths, io south of the Bodhj Tree ; Ransimalaka, a space
south of Jantdghara; a Salakd House, restored by Sirisamghaboclhi' (z+Z-2+g) and Udaya I (797-8or) |7

22. ilI . y. 87 ; LI.T. 117.

23. tu[.39.32'
24" fu[.48. t4z.
25. E.Z' T. zz8.
26. n4.26. t3-zo'. 32" z6: 35. r2r : 36. 33-37-' 1a7:-39' 49-55i 44'149i
Puj. t6 ; E.Z l. 5r, zz8 : II' 83'
45, 46 i 54. 4c.. 4r- 78. 98 ;
27. D. zz. 55-57' XL t5. zo4-zr3 : 36. 74 :38' 16 : 49' t4; Puj' tr"

52'

HISTOR,ICAL TOPOC} RAPH\: OF ANCII]N'I' AND }IE DIE VAL CE YLON

IJ7

(b) The Shrine of the Guardian God of tlie City, existing in

n.c"
.28

16r
(c) Nivatt.a Ceti.va, near the Kadamba river, on the way from
the
Nandana park to
at the point r,vheri Mahinda
,Mihintale,
turned back, built in the 3rd or early ind e.c..2e

(d) Elara th-upa,

_built in e.c. 16r over tlie site rvhere Elflra fell
in battle and rvas crernated :it was outside tf," .o"tfr'gJ. of
the crtadel ancl the site is u,ithin the grouncls of the riocler^
Hospital

;30

(e) Katthahela Pariveta existing in n.c. r55

;,rr
ff) Iq" Jalaka or,. Lafrjakasana Hall buiit

by

Lafljati*rsa"

(n.c. rr9-rro) ;i2

(g) The Subharaja row of celis, built by Subha (6o-67)
;,r3
([) A Bathing Tank built by Tissa (e.c. 5r);31
(i) A row of cells facing r,vest built by Vasabha (67-rrr)

(t) A Watt round the l

167)

;:u

ahavihara was buiit by Bhdtikati-ssa (r43-

;36

(ft) Ihe Kukkutagiri

buiit by Kanittha Tissa (16z_rg6)

al"aieo
to Abhayagiri \-ih-era. \Iah5sena (2753or1 r..rrur"a ii,"*.
An.tnscnptlon.oi Kassapa IY tgq8_9r41 says lhat tlre Manerrl
Piriver.ra rvas siruated in tlre Kukulgrii'roi,
pirir""", .Xa
that to it u.as attached the VriddrR"pirivc0a"r;t;
(l) tz, great-.4 sided pasa-,dirs were built by Kanittha Tissa
(r67-r86) 3'i
(r") f\9.P_uttabhaga Vilidra was in existence in the reign of
Vohdrika Tissa (zog-z3J) anct \,vas on tlie rva1, from th;:;;tl,
gate of tlie Citadel to the Tissa tank ;,;o
(rz) H-atthapartrika or Sattapannaka pasada r,r,as built by
vohdrika
ceils u,ere

on territory belonging to the Mairavihaia and ri,erd

Tissa (zog-z3r)

;to

28. nI. 25. E7.

'29, II . t \. ro.
30. M. 25. 7z-7q ; XI .7.

35r.

.z,q-27.

3r. XI. 3o. 3q, 35: 5r. 73.

32. D. tg. 13 ; X4. 33. zq"
33. M. ZS. ZZ.
34. M. 15. 3o : 34. 23.
35. ,.}1. 35. 88.
36. II.36. z.
3?. M. 36. ro; 37. rS; E.Z.I.
38. X|.36. rr.
39. M" 36. 36 i 37. tt3.
40. D. zz. 45; M. 36. 32.

zo6i

138

"IOUI'"NAL, ]t.A.S.

{CIIYLON\

'Vczr

Seri;s' VoL

VI'

u9pria'I

NtLrn"te'r

hahlravrl (2 1,r-z"j)

lo) Tri.oPar.iliorrsrvcrelrrrill,oneoIslonc,by(,ol
$lro also lai,l orrl it lfil''t oI lanrl lor m.^rlitatiott ercrci.es io

lb)
''

west of the ilah[,r'ihara ;41

(:Llbits
or llavtrra Pariver]a or Monarapa]'a, a Fasac1a.25
l-lora
.,.s iuilt by l-iuclclhaciasa (S:Z-:6S) . It rvas dismantltrd
ttigtt,'replaceti
bi- a Pasliclx 2r ctlb-its, lig]' 1'1, Dhil'tuscna
aril
arrd r'r'as tenovatt'd h1- X'Iah:lnlrga (569-57r) :r:

G5-4f)
[lanthakara Parivena tvhich 'lav Iar frorn al]
Ihe
{q)

tlnrluiert

intcrcourse ' u,as thc abocle of the r-enorvnecl scholar Prlrritilragt otu it't the 5th century. Kassapa V (914-923) restorccl it;1'l

(r)TheSarnglrascn:rl)rr'cllingHousewitl.rlargere\rcnLlcsl.asllrriit

by Sena I (8::-35:) ;'n

(s) l'he Sen:r,pati Kultlaha (Kuttha) of Sena iI

(853-1i87)

buiit

thc Senisenal,ati' Parir-enrr,,r Scn-Sene'iracl Pirrvenir i' tire

Maha,vih:r,ra rvitll great re\-cnll('s ;4"
Samrrtldagiri Pari|cna, a s1,1en,li,l slrucl rrlc. \',:r:
i1)
\'/ Tlrc
hirilt for tlrc Parn"ttl<hlins hY tlrc g"nt'ral of Kas'rL1'r l\(Srr8-or-1

) :"'

(a) The I'Iahalekhapabbata 49-":9 was built by the Chief

Scribe, Sena., oi Kassapa IV (898-914) ;ar
in
{r ) I- Ire l\lediration H.all lpir angala) nilrne(l ljeha,lurasctl
' ' tlt" \lahevihara exist'eci in' the reign of liassapa IV
(898-9r'1)

;18

u a- brrilt in 1l1c . rcigrt oI

{r.)
\'/ 'lhc Sakliasenapati Parivena
ptiort t.rf lri' k,irrg re[' r'
inscri
An
(tliq-92-lt'
K"t"po \t
"l
to tlr,i Krsub-s.nerlirarl-Pirir.ena in thc \laha'ilrira brrilt

by Sark-senevi-sangalnavan ;41)
(v) 1-he Vajira Parit'ena rvas built in the reign of l{a'ssapra V
(9 r t-r:J).'o

{C)' The Citadel or Inner CitY

of Anur:rdhapura- in tlre
or Inner Cit' rvith.gatcs

Panclu.liabhay:r's lay-out oI thc town

,1th ceniirrt, n.c. inclucl.id a rvallecl Citaclel

nn

tt'.

caiclinai faces. Kut,al<anla Tissa (c't:' '14-zz) t'aisecl the

4t. ,U 36.:t, rtl2, Ic;5.

42. \!. i7. t7z: 38. 5z:4r. roo; Puj'
-13. J/. .1;. : l3: :r :i'
44. II. 5o. 7o.
88 ; E./'. I. t6g, r75'
4i. l'l.
-l/. .5r. i t.
;:.
iu.
.17. .11.52. j.t.
ug ,]t'/. 5o. "sz ; L- 1" IlI. ro5
49. 11. 52. 6r ; Il./' I). 4.
5u. .1/';: r':.

z5'

I{tS'IORTCAL !f OPOGRAPI{Y OITANC'IIINT AND -}IEDItr]VAI, CEYLON

131,)

to a height of 7 cubits (ro] feet) ancl rnade a noat

Vasabha (67-nr) increaserl thc heiglrt of the l'alis
to rE cubits (27 fect) and built tou.ers at the 4 gatcs. 'l'he later

Uilaciel r'r'alls
rorrnrl

them.

Sinlrillese Cl-rronicles state that the ramnart \ras 4 Voc1l1n squarc ancl
1-ociun 1ong, but thcse rvere exaggcreLtions of a pcriocl u,1ien
Anurrrclhapura hacl long lay jn ruins : its actual dirnensiotrs, as the

r{r

sun'ir.ing rcmains inclicatc, ll'ere i mile from north to souttr ancl

a little oi er * nrilo lrom east to \\rest, ancl it enclosecl an area of
iLbr-'ut o.5o acres. \\Iithir-r the Citaclerl u.crc
(r) THE ROYAI- PALACE. 'I'he lirst rovai rilr'eiling \\'as
the resiclencc of thc Sal<ka prince, Anur-arlha, in the 5th centrrrv
n.c. Panch-rkabhaya tooli it over as lti-c Palact: ancl ttris buikling,
r1oubtless improved and ertcncled, rvas usccl as thc king's Palace
rrp to r.c. ,14. (Derv:rnarirpiva fi-ssa (u.c. zq7-z<:7) hacla ror,al dll.elling
iri the Iah5meghavana : it had a picula (S. pulila) tree stancling on
:

thc sorith side of it ancl at its gateu,'av r'r'a-. afteru.arrls plantcd the Bt-rr-ihi
Tree : it x.as donatecl to n'{ahincla togethcr u-ith the }fahameghavana).
lirrtakalla Tissa lr,.c. q4-zz) built a nerv Palacc ciosc to the former

one arcl laid out the Paclirmassara Park in the Palace grouncls.
[asab]ra (67 rrr) embcllisJred the lialacc ancl huiit a tank in the
grotrnrLs for rearing geese. Gothibiraya (zag-263) rebuilt thc Palace
and erected a Pavilion at its entrancc. Sirinreghavanna built a shrine
:rt thc south-east comer of thc Palaceto house agolc1en, life-size Imagr:
of n'Iahinda and Images of NIahincla's companions, ancl lie clecreed an
annuai celebration in tlir:ir honour u'hich r,r-as observed up to the rrth
centllr\,. Upatis,cer I (365-4o6) built an tiposatha Hor-rse at the
south-r.r.cst corner of the Paiace as r,r,ell as a.n Image llouse for an
trmage of the Bucldha, and a pleasant garclen surrouncled by a lr.ail.
ln thc reign of Dathopatissa I ({139-65o) the Palace w'as sackcd and
burnt. Tt v'as rebuilt again but \vas once more ltil1agcc1 and destrol-ccl
hv the Plindl'a1s in 84o. I(assapa V (914-923) brrilt tire I(assapa Roval
Palace in the Royal enclosure, a.s u.ell as the Plrlil<a-pdsada in tlie
same grouncis. Sena III (q:8-q+6) maclc a costlv flo.nr,erhousc in the
I)alace. 'lhe Pa"lace rvas sackcc] and destrovecl bv tlre Cr-rlas in the last
dccade of the roth centrLr.\' and rvas not reiruilt ihercaftcr. Its ruins
have not yet been excil\iatecl. Vijayabiihu I {1o55-rrro) built a
l)alacc for himself in the Citaclcl but the buiJclingu,as an unpretentious
one ancl he rcsicled in it {or a feu. months.si

(ii) 'f FIFI ]IAFIAP.\l.l or Rorrl .\lrrr< Hali. 1lri. buiJclirrg.

rvas acljacent to the palace and here alms n'ere distribLrtecl clailv at
tlre kir:g's expense. Der,.inarirpil'a Tissa (y.r:. zq7-zo7) briilt the
first llahrip:rli. It lvas cnlargcd, restorcd or rebuilt bv later liings,
namehr, Upatissa I (36s-4o6) ; l'{ahannga (4o6-428) ; Aggabocliri I
(57r-6o.1) u,ho installecl a ' boat ' o{ bronze ; Aggaboclhi II ((io4-0r4)
5r. D.2o.33,31 ; iIt.9. rr : ro.71 7i, ti.5, 90 : r.5. 27, 32-35: 3,1. 33, 34, 65
: 3(t. 99 '. 37. 86,9o, zoo zor : 41. r3l: 50. 33 : 52. 6b : 53
5.1" 3j: jj. rq-::: Pr.i. :r.

3.5. 96, 97

:
:

].10

JOflliNAL, R.A.S. (CEYI,ON)

,\ct| b-ei'icr. Vol. ltl, Specta'l

a" tr'ttt'ltar

tH

lSllOLi lCr.{J, 'IOI'OCRAPHY

(4qr 5oli)

Il

'Tltev

it

in

rvhich llahincla
of silver. Llclava I

built l,']' ll:rhincla I (73o-73-j)

of it l'as Nagaragalla. It is mentioned in an
:

of Iiassapa IV (8q8-gr.+) as tlic ]{ihind-aram

Nunnerv stanclii'rg on the llangul-rr-raha-\-evA of thc Inner
{-iity (Citaclcl) ;
'i.r'') lisslLrama Coirvcnt built ir-r the rr:ign o{ Kassapa IV
(898-qr4) : its ^\rrns rverc spcciallv cntrustecl r.l'itfi thc care

of thc llodhi Trec at l,Iaricilvatti Vihrlra. An inscription

of l{:rssapa V (giS) rcfcrs to the builcling of the 'lisaram
Nrinnerv on thc }Iarigul-n-ra1ra-\ieva blt lire general Sen ;
'I'hc
Nalararn Nunnery u'as Ionrrrlecl bJ'thc Chiel Secr-etar:y,
i,l)
Sena, of Iiassapa I\/ (SgcS-gr4) ;
(ri ) 'J-hc n,IahA,nailalia C<lnvent, as lr,'ell as a )trahapeia
(X'Iahnp:Lli) Ior bhikkhunis, \ras built by l'Ialiincla IV
(r 156_972).:,a

(i

) lJre llousc for the bool< Dhanrmacliratu r'hich

l\ras

of Siltlhtrla (5rE-53r) u.a:r in tlic Citadel.;:

(vi) HOSPI'IALS :rncl Lledical Halls" Hospitals ancl }lcclical

'r'olrght hrrre in the reign

iiirlls rvere brriit :*

{,:l) by Sen Senevirad on the oppositc siclc of the ro:rcl
(n{angu1-rnalra-\/eya) to tlie }'fiirindararu Nunnery in gog
(i i on thc l''farigr-r1-rriaha-\reva and near the soutir gate iu
gr7.'"
THE
DHAIIIIASAN(IANi H(IUSE or Damsangurlug or
i','ii)
Ltalra.nrsarhgungtl \r'as built by KassapaV \gt4-94) to house the sacrccl
lrok of l-hat nan1e. Thc Colas clestrol'ed the builcling in 948 and
'',ielrirrcla IY (956-1772) rebuilt it.ti
,

$'ere:-

(t5: 46. 3: 1r9' 7E : .;r"

52. D. t7 't:: J/. :o :3: j; 2\r | 42. 3j" 67 : 14.
j3'
l'
t
l)
t.ir', 54. +5; E.Z.l. ::s:
13,1 : 51 45 ; E.Z' I" L:o ; '4"S':lI
53. IIL 37. gz-c17 ; 38' E, 7o' 7z i 42. 33:,1-l'
lII, r4,

irrscription

r,.h'ilt ir: o.c,,f lrir

(n"c 4lDantegeha Convent, buiit bv liutakanlra Tissa

{a) -;;f;"
ianrl ownecl by tlre roval {amily: lrc built irlso :r b:rth
for the bhikkhunis ;
Abhaya. ancl lJttara Conrtents \\rere iruilt by
(r) The
the
liahaserla- (275-3or) : it is likcrlv that these t'ere in
Abhayagiri Entourage;

I+

r,) llahilrrlarurna (lonvent

one boundartr

rratnci arrtl identihc.

(rf the trvo original ('onvents'

conr,.entsrvere aclclitionsto orrcstoraiions

l,ON

built by lioggallirna I

(ZZf -Zr)Z) placeci a Boc,lhisatta Image

i7g7-.Sor) restorccl

l,tahapcla .nd P.rimald \,Iatrapela: one inscription.recorils

The niins
that the stonctoat (gd-niiva) rvas the gi{t of Salar,aclunir.
i'r
,of the \fahapali liaiie been excavated anc-[ conservecf
b'elic
(iii) THE DAT,A-DA-GE or Da1<1[3i .r-footh
't'.n.rpi"l l)ev.rnarirpi{a'I'issa built the sltrinc nantt'cl Dliailtnrzicul<k:r
'
-l'ooth llclic u'as lrrought to l-arilia
r',ithin the Citaclel. i\rlr"tr the
i; ii ; ieign of Sirimeghavanrla (3or,-3zli) thc king liouseii .it in -the
Dhamnraclakl<a ri.]iich] thercafter-, lx,,uto., the DaJa-I)h-('F'l-ht:
,ilecoratir,e lvorl< on its exterior i,r-alls incluclctl tbc hgure of a iifesizctl ebphant in stucco. l)hatusena (455*473) .restorecl 'Llie b..rild'
trne stucco rvotk put- in" Aggabodhi I- (57i-bo1)
;"g ""d'hacl 'lenPle
u,ith ierrvels. ID the reign o1 Datlopatissa I
ctJr,,ratecl the
itas
brtt-itl ,l"irtt. Il ri:r' ill'rrilt httt rrac :lg'titi
itr tl-bi<-rt tlrc l'enlpi,
,'t.lt,n.,l.j by- the Crlrs irt r!', rcign .r,ri t 'lar'r ly ialr'-''51 )'
rn<,'ril,tiori: rir ''ir1r

llrc Drrli-Ui ('i. ";

r
(ir') l HE CON\/ENTS l)eva'n:rriprla
-irn.l.l issa,l,t: .. :1,--:o7)
S.rmgla,rrilta. 'r'r"'t:lt
t,..,itt'tiie qrAtit.a Convent for blilikh'ris
in three rrf -*-tiicb rl'ertr
ij,.i" ror a time. In it. r,r'ere rz 5i-iilc1ings,
rvhich^.brought. the
ship
tlie
housecl the mast, ruclder and ilelnr o{
'fis-a. trui[t a
tr)errlttrarirpit'r
alvatr,
clistat.rce
,short
HiJliift.*. A
thr\
stl'cte'l
'itt lor it'1
ltttipu anti a lhupaghara: -sanrghirrnLtta
ll*i1t
,rcccrrciingiy
i<ing
the
t-.oriveni for herselj,' a'cl
_'ne .'c1i:srr
f
l{utaiialrna
Whcl-r
Nunnerl''
I-Iatthall-raka
the
'rlas callecl
a
citac1c1,
the
o{
tlre
u,alls
tui"c. u_zz) ancl \rasabha (b7_rtr) alterecl
*.ils.
tJre
outsicle'
b.
to
ciimr
Nu'nery
i-rl;i the tlatthaliraka thc
Haith;lhaka Nr-rtlnerl' js lleiltionerrl
eithe| i5e Lrpflsi]iau nor
again, but other Convents are namccl' scxnc of them sper:ilicaliv
l.,r within the Citaclcl. It mav be that some of these later

r.vas

(]11\:

{d) The Silaineglra Homc for bhikkhuqis,

li iurt.a

(a5i,-071)

)lr'ANCI}IYI Al{I) n jiD [EV-{L

ir:) fhc ltejini shclter Jor iruns

'lvho also set up a ' boat ' for gifts oJ ricc ; Sil5nreghava+la (6rg-b23) ;
.,\ceabo{lhi IV (b(.r7-bS:1,) ;Dappula II (8r.5-E3r);l'iclava Il (EE7.-8t18);
tlrtr
nn"fi lt"nitraa iV (950f972)'th" rebuilt it after its clestmction by
'vtio
it
cent11ry,
rotll
t1e
of
q*artcr
last
ir-rscripii6tr.'of
In
a;ii;;-

\lrhiri,la lV

(D). The Abhayagiri Vihira

Entourage

fire Abhaltagiri Vihara (also knorvn as Uttara, Abharrauttara,

l,bhayaturii, Abagiri, Abagiri-rnahavihara, Apahayagara, Abahay-

liri and Ragirivehera)

u'as founded in March, c.t:. 89, by king Vatta-

':rm:rni Abhaya rvho demolished

iii.

5+.
r3,!)

a Nigantha (Jain) shrine r:alied

),:[. rg" 68-7t,77-84:. zo.2r,22". 34. 36:35.96, c;7'.37. 43: 39. .g3: 4t.
5'2.21 : 5q. q7 ; ILT. 4tt, t3; IJ.Z.I. :zS : IL :5, 38.

i 19.25:

5.i.

I1.4t.37-qo.

5li.

.UI. 52" 57 ;

)tI.

E.Z. I.5r : II.

52. 5o: 5,1.

,+5

2.5.

E.Z.I.:l28 : III.

133, r3j

ttL'll\AL.

ll.A.s. (( -LYLO\t

.\-e,, .\'ti,s. I-ul. I-1. '\frrial

5'1pt,'t

it

lSTOIl,lCAl, 'f OPOGII,APT{Y ( )F A\Cl llN'I' ,\)i

'l'itthari,ma,

built by Patcluk:r,bhaya in thc 4th century B.(--.,

on its site, a Viha,ra of rz cells ; Abhayagiri is a combination oJ thc iiing's nanr.e, Abhaya, with that of tlie Jain ascetic"
Giri, u'l-ro lir,'ed in thcr 'litthanrma. Not long after its foundation
Abhavagiri Vilr:-lra became the seat of the heteroclox, Mahayana
doctrines ancl conscrluently came into conflict ancl rivalry with the
orthodox }lahavihara. It harl its triumphs and its rc\rcrses. Its greatest tlirrmplr lvas in the reign of l{ah5,sena (275-3or) n'hen the beautiful
terlples of ttre llahS,r'ihtrra wcrc, o11 the 1<ing's orders, clisrnantiecl
arncl le-er.ected at Abhayagiri r,vhich ' bccarne rich in buildings anci
rvas macle statelv to see'. Fa-Hsien (err-4r3) says that there u'ere
5,ooo rnoliks in residencc at Abha-vagiri in his tirne : he describes
the thupa, the beautiful Image oI the l3uddlia, and the annual
procession o{ tlrc Toottr liclic from thc Palace to the ViirSra. In
tlrc 5t1r century, Cetiya.pabbata Vihdra (XI'ihi,ntal1) passecl into the.
control of Abhayagiri Vih:lra. Another scrious contrrxrersy betu.cen
Abliar-agiri Vihdra ancl tlie I'Iahivihara in the 6th centr.rry resulteci
in tlie r.indication of the lllahar,ihara" In tl're 8th, gth ancl roth
centlrries thcrc u,as iittle friction bctlveen the trvo great monastic
estalrlishments" ancl the kings appear to havc bcstor'vcd their gifts.
fairlr, evenly betrveeii the tu'o. The Abhayagiri entouragc
comprised:Paranavitana renders

Jrr icl: rn' orii at A brl'al.n iii -ttral i n-sri " Ir-ol l orv^
ine ncrlltct :ttici l,u, ti:rl cr ,lLLisr' , lui-irrS- iLnil iiiter the
d)r-rltL conryrLr.ct, Par al{liarrrabirlru I irr5 i-r rE(r) rr:slor-etl
the 'l-hirp;r 1.o a lN:ight oi 16o cubits (z4o {c'et).5r'

(ii) SO}I.EItAI{1\ or,.tianisom:irhnlri

(iii)

(i")

m,.rtulstert, u,as lruilt

bv \lattaghrtiani Ablra.vzL (i;.c. Et.1-77) in lrorroitr oi lris
()ur:ur, Sonr:rcler-T. liirnittha 'i-issa (r67-r,\6) adrled io
it :l grr::rt l)arii'ena a.s u'e ll as ir tlrlrpagTriu-a (\r:itil- ciii gn).
{}otlrnbhal'a (,z g:63) r-estorccl tht: tlrhlr:Lglrara ar-rcl
the Lluos:r"tl ia Ht.nisc. :
'l lre Subharaj:r cc1ls u'ere brtjlt b\, Siulrha. (l;o-tr7).'io
'lhe It,\T,\Nr\I"lSil)A, ther flposatlrir Housc of tire
Abhar,aeiri Vihi.ra (corresponiling to lhe l-oiranas:rda
of the l,'lahi."r'ihara) ivas bLrilt fl, ](.1"t11"1 1-issa (lt17rfi6). l\'I:rhinda II (777-7c17) r-ebuili it on n slrlc.ntlid
sr:ale, ' rrtan\,-storevet-I, lil<c ut-rto ;r hr:avcnll' nt"ansiori '
in it he houscd a goiclen Inrage of tlre iluiklira. 'l-his
lnrage ;rnc1 otlrer trca.sures \\'erc c:Lri-ierl ;1q'11r f1r {l1g
,':ot'ttltteriitg Irirncl-\,:inr in tlre reign oJ Strra I qsl33-s.i.,
lxrt thelr \\,erc rccolcrcd aIrtl r'cPlaccr] itl: $"r,o ll [l]13881). In inscriptions of liassal)a V (()r-l-'23) a-nri of
]:lahindzr I\' (r1.56-r172) ther builcling is ca.JL'tl Iiirl,alr:

D rg.r7 as,

foiiolvs.' He establishcd thc Abhayagiri (monastery

anci) the Silnthrlpalvhich is n.ithin (its) Cetiya' ancl adcls
' rvliat the te-tt connotes is ttrat Vattagamali Abharra
(n.c. Sq-77) built tlie Silncetiva lr.hich Jorms the core
of the Abliayagiri Diigiil.ra, thc huge pile built urclosing
this being thc rvork oi later hancls '. (Padalairchrr"na
at Anur:acltrapura. bv S" Patanavitana). Gajabahu I
irra-r36) enlargeil thc Thirpa ancl built Adimuliha
(\'-estibuies) to thc 4 gate$ravs. l{.anittira Tissa (r67trE(r) bliilt the \rahaikadas ancl marle grants to Utarauraha-ccta. Voh[,ri]<a'fissa (zc9-z3r) renovatecl the
umbrella. Fa-H,cien (4rr-'1r3) savs thc Thupa \\ras 1oo

nlaha-pahal.{il

(")

fiarrittha 'l'issa (t67-lElri built

6rr)) repaircd tlLc'lhr1pa, anrl so c1ic1 Iiassapa I\/

(.sgS-gr4). Scna III (.q3E-94{r) ruaclc at great cost a
stonc pavirrg round tlie fhfipa. l\Ia"hinciir. i\/ (o56-97:)

a. rva.11

:rnrl a 1;rrge

Parivena.til

("i) A Faviiion rr'as llrilt by \/oh:irika 'l-issii (zor; r.ll).'",

(vii ) 'lHl.- Ilfr\GL Flill.lsE u,:rs built bv f,Iirha.serra (2i'.i ]or)
ulro iirstallecl uithin it ir laige, stonc hrasc of the
Iitrdclha rvlrich hatl rxiginalll- been sct up in'i'hirltlrr.itr.ra

:rrtl r.r'aLs latcr rcnovecl to P:l,crnatissapabbata" \iih[ra.

It u as protrrabh'this Imager oi u'hich l,-a-Ilr;ien (4rt-4r3)
rrialies special ncntion. I)hatu,sc,:na (+SS-+::) milrkt :r
Sirrine Ior thc Itua.ge, put in tlvo precious stc)ucs] as e-\,rei,
tircsseil the lrtLir nith blne gt:nrs a.nc1 rla<le u rli:rrlcrn of

feet high ancl rlecoratecl r,i'.itJr go1cl ancl sih'cr. X'Iittasena

(4zE) rnade a gate\\'ay (torerna) tlirough ihe Jllcptrant

u.ali. l)iratusena (+SS-+Z:) rcstorerl ancl gilcled thc

unrbrella, alh,.;ecl around it a ring of crvstal in r.r{ricli
u'a-s enrbe<lclccl a gr:eat l:recious stone. and adcietl rlecoratir,e stucco u,orl<. IIah:ln:lga (5fig-57r) built the
hatthir-cc1i (railing ornanrentecl ri'ith elcphant hcacls)
ancl renovatecl the ring of crystal, the stucco lvori' anri
the paintir:rgs. Aggaboclhi I (57r-6o4) set up a golclcn,
bejcri'ellcd, rurrbrclla-shapecl spire. lloggalLlnaIII (6r4-

\:-\ i. ( ]llY L{-)N I '.'l

rt:ncrvcrl tht-

ancl erccted,

(i) THE THUPA. Dr.

ji lIllDTll

r-a\rs

und :r golrlcn 1:arment. Silh.lneglra.r'anna (hrq-(r:ra)

58. J). ttr. t 1, I'; : r-1. i.J, .1,(.), l(): .11. 3.1. l2 .+.], So-E{), (j.) .)ii: 15. r 19, r2o:
:-l;. -l r{r:'jri. ro. 51,7+:.1 r.95:,lr.3r :.+.+..ll:a-1..13: ;s. oil ; iV.S.
tt-t6;]?tr,i..lr,:J+;
li.2.I.e3, ))i, 2)(), -u3-!. :.ir.l, -r:{r: Il. rry: I\-. r it :S:.
]t1.
84
ii(;:
ii, r1, ro;.
59.
33.
-?.{).
()o. )l! . ji. 37.
i).r., l)-:':.':3: i/.36.7: q!. r3;-r.ls:.i{). li :ai. l(,, ir,.1rj }i '.1: t. ;i, zz{t

j(i.:.t3,3.1

3,).

(*. I'l 3{r.3

b3. f,I JL;. 3I

New Series' VoI. l:1, Special Nuntber"

}TISTORICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF ANCIEN'I ANLT MEDIEVAL CEYLON I.45

restorecl the Image llouse. In the reign of Sena I.(8SS853)the Pandyanicarriecl awar-the pre-cious stones in the

(xiii) Tiputthulla Vihira was built on Mah.avihara territory

and granted to Abhayagiri by Ddthopatissa fi

144 JOUF,NAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

e,l,'e,s

of the lmage. Sena tI

(853-387) restored the

Image House, and his Queen placed a dark-blue,-jervel

diadim on the Image. The l'Iaha Pilimage at Abhar''agiri Vihara is mentioned in tu'o inscriptions of the roth
6entury. I\{ahinc9 IY (956-97z) caused the eycs of the

ausprclous, colossal, stone Image to be. set rnitir sapphiles :

he also set the great stone statue of Mahinda r'r'jth rubies
ancl nrade a netrvork of gold for its feet' Parakkar.na-

(viii)

b[hu I (rt.53-r186) restored the Image House.(i4

THE BOIIHI TREtr TEI'IPLTt uas built b-1'' l{ah:rsena
(275-3or). Sirimeghavanna (3or-328) -bui1t a.-stone
Silnk:r'la
terrace and a u'all rouncl the Bodhi Tree'
(518-63r) set up besicle tire Bodhi Tr-ee the l(unta
throne which he brotight ar'vay from Jetavanarama.
The l{aha-l3o-Ge is mentionecl in at-r inscription of
Kassapa Y (gr4-g4). ltahinrla tY {o56-9Zz) repaired
it,65

built a Relic l{all and a 4-sir1et1

(i")

Mahasena (z753ot) also

(r.)
(*i)

AggaboChi I (57r-6o4) built a large Bathing Tank't;z

Ttre Dathaggaboclhi House ancl the Kapaianag-a Viha,ra
rvere built in the reign oI Aggabodhi II (6o.1-614).68

Hall.('6

(xii) THE KAPPTJRA or Kqparn Parivena u'a.s buiit by

D5!,iropatissa iI (659-667). Aggabodhi iV (667-683)
added a Pfr,sada ancl Sena I (833-853) built a cell.
Inscriptions of the roth century refer to Maha-Kapnra
and Kudd-kapd,ri Piriven and to the Kaparamula
fraternity at Abhayagiri Vihdra. Kassapa V (9t+-

gz3) built for them the Sil5rneghapabbata or SalameyvanDavu Vih5,ra. 'lhe Pubbardma or Purvaram Vihara
belonged to the Kapara fraternity. An inscription of
lVlahinda V (982-993) names the I(apara-ararna and

identifies the site. Ttre daughter of Vijavabdhri I

(ro55-rrro) built a massive Image House in the
Kappfiramf,la Vihdra.6!)

64. M. 37. t4

15 : 38' 6r-64

:7I. tg, 63.

65. M. 37. t5, gr i
66. M. 27.t5.
67. M. 4z' zB.
b8 M.42.64,61.

zz7

4r. 3z:

e,o. M. +5. zg'. 46. zt:.

57, tog, r88 : \r" 169.

: 44.68:

E.Z.I.

5o. 69, 7?

55,

50. 34 :

5r'77

E7

Pu

j. j4; E.Z.I.

55,

3r ; E Z. I.

52,.

t3s'

: 52.58 : 6o. 83; Puj.

29,

(65e-667).rtr

(xiv) UTTAIiOMIII,A or Uttard,lha or Uturalarnuia parivena

was a sriperb building erected by }lanavamma(684-718).ti Sena I (.333-853) added a celi ancl Sena
II (853-E.37) a Pd"sada" In f.tttar-alha n-as the }larieala

IV (q.5fi_qZ: ) rebirilt.
\reiail<kara inscription of the rzth- centurv at
Polonnarutra, the Uttoruiamrlla shrinc is clescribed :rs
' the chief .{ane of Abha}:agiri }'Iahavihdra and tl.re origi_
nal clepositorv of the Tootir and Borvl Relics,. }--a_
or Mangul Pirivena which Nlahinda

In tlie

(t.')

Hsien (,1rr-4r3) says tliat the 'looth Relic r,vas tahen

everv year to Abhavagiri and that the cerenronies
continued there for qo days : but tlie Relic House in his
tirne could not hat'e been Uttoruiamfrla.?:
Sabhattuclesabhoga wAS built lry Aggaboclhi Vf
/- r r r-a\ i;l
\/JJ-/ /4i.

(xvi) l,Iahinda II (ZZZ-ZSZ) built ltahalekh;1 p21j1,sna.r+

(xvii) In the reign of Sena I (S::-ESS) the follorving fir,e dwell_
ings rvere built :-(a) Virankurdrama or \rird,nkura
monastery, allied to Nlulaso Vihara , (b) l\tahindasenzr
(xviii)

(xix)
(tr)

(c) Uttarasena; (d) Yajftasenaka ; and (a) Rakkhasa.is

Samghasenapabbata

or

or

Satsen

or

Sangsana pirivel,a

Sang_ssn-aratn was built in the reign of Sena II

(853-E87) and r,vas restored by l(assapa Y (9r4-gz3).tt

Kassapa Pdsada or I(asub-rad-maha-paha \,vas built

by I(assapa IV (898-914). Mahinda Iy (956<172)
repaired its roof, 35 cribits (52 feet) long.z?
Kassapa V (9r,1-923) built Bhandika parivena and
Silameghapabbata.t8

(rxi)

The Pivangal l'lona,qtery \^'as allied to Abhayagiri ancl

probablv in it.7e

70" il[. 45. zg, 3o.

7r, 72. M. 5o.77 :5r. 75 : 57. zo;Puj. 3o ; E.Z.I.
?3. M. 48" 64.
74. M. 48. t35.
?5. M. 5o. 68, 7s,83, 81; N.S. 18 ; E.2.I.28.
76. M. 5t. 86, 87 ; Puj. 3t ; E.Z. L 5i, r9o.
j7. M.52. r j; E.Z. L zz7.
78. M. 52. 58.
?9. Puj. zg ; E,2.I.53. ro8.

238 :

II.

25,1.

i,1fi JOLTRNAL, R.A.S. (OEYLON) Neu

(xxii)
ixxiii)

Vl,

Spe.cial Nu.rnber

Tire Bat-tie or Relectory is mentionecl in an inst:ription of

Kassapa V (or4-qz3). l'hc smaller stonc 'boat' hcre
bears an inscription of the la.te Sth or ear11t gth century
zinci the 'boat ' is calleci qal-niiva.8o

'fhe general 6f I{a-ssapa iV (898-914) built t]'rc l)tramrru1'uIIla.

(xxir')

Series, VoI.

(ot I-ldayakittiaggaboclhipabbata,
prescnt Puliva.nlutlar;z ruiils) u'as built by tlre l\{al'irdipnda tlclaya oI Dapiruia V (qz+-qSS) and rl':rs lr branch
of Purvaram-r'ehcra (Pubbarflma) oi thc I{apara

Uc15,-I{itagbo-pavu

fratcrnitY.82

(xxv)

Thc Ftsarba-paha ll'as built by l'laliirrria

IV

t95(r g7z).s't

(E). The Jetavandrdma

Dntoura$e
Thc Jetavana Vihara, also cal1ed l)cnanaka or Denh' \/ihara in
,sinhalese inscriptions and literature, was founcled bv. l{ahasena
izu (-tor) jn the-loiir-ana Park on territory rvithin the precincts of the
f ir" king l,rrilr it [,rr tl,,' ]\lalrulhera .f lhlil<liina
]latevilrura. -letar,auh,rama
'Ihe
monks u'cre of tl-re Sagalil'ii sect u4riclr
\.i[ara.
first cstablisheil itself at l)akkhif a viliara in the year 253. l-hus u,ere
createcl three important monastic cstablishments (Abliayagiri,
Dakhhirla vihara ancl Jetavannrama) in opposition to the orthociox
-N'iahavihara.. Sirimeghavanna (3or-328) completecl the work of
construction u,irich l'Iahasena had begun. In the .letavaniirh,rua
errtorrraglc \\'cre

l'iahandga (S6g-SZr) built the liatthivedi (railing ornamenteil- u'ith

elephanf heacls) anrl repaireil ti're ring of crystal, the stucco u'orli anrl
ttre paintings. Aggaboclhi I (57r-6o4) placed a golcLcn, bejeu,eliecl
umbieila orrthe thupa. l'Ioggallana III (trr4-6r9) rcrnovatecl the tlhpa.
F-r_rrthcr repairs tvere carriecl out in the last quarter of the roth centurv.
Parakkamibahu l (rr53-rr3b) restored the thhpa to a hcight of r'1o

8o. Ii.Z. 1' 55: IV. r5o.

3r. LI.52. t7.
8'2. E.Z.l. ttE.
8J. E./.. I- ::7.
8-r. M.37.3:-3g,65:33. ro, 54,7+'. {.95
tt, r';; Puj.21, 34 i l:.Z.III . '33'

+2.3r : ++. I I : 7li' (}8; -\'-S. r3,

spire.85

(iii) THE MAHA PARIVENA or Ratna-ma-pirivena

\\ra:_i

prol-rably built by Mahasena (275-3or'), tlie founcler of the \"ihdra.

Aggaboclhi YI (73-772) addecl a Pasiida to it. Sena I (8::-8S:)
rebuilt the P:r,sada a{ter it had been destrovecl by fire. In an inscrirrliorr of ]lalrinda VI (qSb-qZz) al tlrc so-called,' Bit,{dltist Railittt 'nriris
are mentionecl the Watcr Pavilion at the Gate, the llatna-ma-pirivcna
in Dena Rajamahavchera.sc

a.nd the Sencvirad college

(iv) IIie Sirisarhghabodhi Pariveta, called Siri-Sangbo-RaclPirir-cna in l)ena vehera in an inscription of Dappula \/ (92,1-935), u'as
built by thc Damila Sentrpati of Aggabodhi IV (667-6E3).sz
(v) The Roclhi Tree -femple r,vas presented u.ith a golden Image
of tire Buddha by Dappula II (815-83r).as
(vi) THE I'IANIIIEKHALA or Mitimer.'ul5 PS,sdda or l'Tartipisdda or Minipd was built by Sena I (E33-853) i.r'ho instaltrecl a golcl
Irnage of thc l]uddha in it. Sena II (E53-887) adcled Lnages of Bodtiisattas. In the reign of Uc1a1r21 IV (946-954) the COlas cle-qtroyerl the
bnililing and the king partiy rebuilt it. Mahinda I\r (956-972) restored
it

s()
"

(r'ii) Kassapasena Vihara ri'as built by the general of

Kassapa

11'r (898-914).eo

(viii) The

IV

Diyasen Uposatha llouse 'ur-as renorrated

by }lahinda

(956-972).01

(ix) Four officials of l,Iahincla IY (956-972) built 4 Farivenas.ez

(F). The Southern Area

(j) DAKKHII{A VIHARA rvas founded bv a ltinister of
-lhe \Ialr:1r'arisa sa1rs, 'One
Va"tlagnmani Abhaya (n.c. 89-77).
of
the 7 rvarriors of the king, Uttiya, built, to the south of the City, tire
so-cailccl Dakkliina Vihara. In the same place the l{inister named Mhla
built the Mulavokisa Vihrira, u{rich rvas, therefore, called a{ter him'.
series of znd or 3r:d century inscriptionsin sitw the thhpa is named
lisa-r-naha-ceta in Dakif i Vihara : in another inscription of tlie sarnc.

In.a

r.;.

M. qz. 66.

48. 6s : 5o. 67 ; D.Z. ilI. zz8, zz9.

E;. l,I . q6.zz,z3; E.Z.IL q8.
rii. M. 19. 77.
E!,. M" 5o. 6s, 66 : 5r. 77 : 53. 52: 54. 48 ; Pr,r,j. 3t ; 3.Z.L
e.. ).L 52. 17 ; E.Z.II. qo.
.tt. li.Z.I. zz7.
!rr. 11.54. 55.

E{!. M"

fect).8a

I:17

(ii) Aggabodhi II (6o4-6r,1) constructecl a builcling rvith

qlittering

:-

(i) JIITAVAN,\ THflPA, built b5z }rlahdsentr (27.i-3or) : it was

ltlittasena
4oo feet high and the largest thirpa at Anuradhapura.
l)1at'se*a.
lvall.
Elephant
the
through
(torala)
gatervay
i
made
(428)
rounrl it a ring of
i+SSl+Z:) resttrccl and gildecl the umbrclla, fittccl
put
in
finc st'cco work.
gem,
and
large
.,il;t;i in rvhich rvas embedcled a

cubits (zro

HISTOIiICAL 1I]OPOGR,AF}{Y OF A,\CI]IN'I AND }I]IDIEVAL CEYLON

z::.7.

'l.tB JOUl1NAl,, ]i,.-{.S. (C}fYLON)

-\r:r'o Serzles,

Vol' tr'l. SpeciaL Nttnber

periocl the Vihira is styled Daki4i-Abaya-araba-vihera' Dr'

Fo.un."it"na is of opirriou tlrat tlre tlrhpa uas hrrilt or'.r: tlre crertiation
.ii" of liing Dutthagamani AbhaSza 'vho died in n't:' r37-' I(anillha
trssa (1671186)'aclclecl a mantlinqto.the tl:lllq, ancl Vohflrika Tissa

{zoo-zrr)'restorecl thc umbrella. Dakkhila Vih5ra bccame tlie seat of

in,.'..aS"iiyu scct. a 6,rcly t--5ich separated Jro't th.e f)hammatr'rci set:t
oi,tfrli"yigiri Vihara a.id nent to Dal<khina Viitr,ra in the 4t1'r vear
/z<r\ of (;;th?r,blrava: afterN'arcls this sect ovcrran Jet:il'atl:rrh'nra'
iiiitl"p"tiio I (6;il-6So) broke open the tlirpa ancl despoiiecl. it of

-allied

itself rvith Abha-vagiri -anc1

,tr'tr"linrer. liaklJrini Vih:r,ra
I.t"iotrata*a against the orthodor XIal'ravjhnra. In the Vihara
rvere, besicles the thuPa :irr) ilrc Uposathe Housc Lruilt, l)re:rlntrt)11', u lrerr tlrc Vihlrr
l-as founcled : Gothabhaya (248-2t13) restored it;
'['issa 1167-186),together -*ith
(r) a Rcfector5r built by I(anittha
a road lcltling to it: in the course of tire rvork, ]lahirvjirara
territorv was-encroachecl upon :rnc1 Part of the bc'undarv
rvilll ol llie l\fahavittlra tt';]s ln<;vecl ,
\"ohtlriIia 'fi-ssa
i.) a W:rll rouncl thc Vihara ivas built bv
(zog-z3r)

(,1)

a Ptisicla rvas built bv Aggabocihi

(57r-bo4)

enlarged the vihiira, endor,r'ed it and re-namecl it, after his trvo clarighters
arrcl himself, Bodhi-uppailavan!5-Kassapagiri vihara: this is

confirmed by inscriptions o{ the 6th and Tth centuries in, sitt't in u'hich
ilre Vihara ir tlu*.d Boya-Opulavana-I(asabagiri Vihara. Hereafter
tiie Chronicle refers to the Vihara as Kassapagiri Vihara. Jetthaiissa
III (628) ancl Dathopatissa II (tri9-trtr7) enclori'ecl tlte vihara"

13, 33-37' ro7:42"

)l' ANCIIIN'I' AND IIEDIR\rAI,

CEY LON l'19

lialrincla IY (956-97z) buitt the lfaha-pasd,cla : an inscription of tiris

king includcs a decision on thc claim of Isuramenu-Bo-Upnlvan-

Kasubgiri Vihd,ra to the rvater-rights of the'fissa tank.ot

(i") TISSAVAPI (prcsent Tissat:ti"t'a) was constructecl by

Devanarhpiya Tissa (n.c. 247-zo7). Dhatusena (+S.t-+Z:) built

{irriar'5pi (I{alrlurit,n) and conclucted rvater from it along the artificial
canal Jaya (iang:l (present Yoda-rilci), J4 miles 1ong, to 'lissar-:1pi at

Anuradhapura. Parakkarraba,hu I (1153-1136) restorcrl tho .laya

(iarigd.. lrr an in-scription of llahinda I\r (956972) regulations rvere
;ret out Jor the clistribution of the water-supply of 'l'issa tank: thc l-ater
ironr the l{oholnanga roy:Li sluice r'r'as to bc usecl for the Rovai Parl',
.urcl the monks of Issarasainana Vihara rvere not to be macle to loso bv
ilie release o{ i'vater through thc Koionrb canal rvhici-r flori'eci northri'ards. !6

(r') l,iA(lUL LTYANA or Ro1-al Pari< u'as belorv thc irtind ol

'l'issav5pi ancl rvas also liror,r'n as the Ran-nasu-uyana or ' Goiclfish'
Park. The site, n'ith its poliunas and rocks, has bccn attractir-cly

:tonserved.llT

ivi) ltrellolignma or llellola or He1loliya iras a Cancllrla villaqe

.ituated betu'een l)aklihina Viirdra ancl Issarasarnana Vihi,ra.l'E

in an
(,, ) the Digamalarivana in l)akana Vihar;r is mentioned
inrctiption'of the reign of DSthopatissa I (639-65o)'''r
(ii) Jlcgiragiri Vihlra or lle.vgiri Vil-rara (prescnt Isttrt'urttt't3'i1at1
\lalianieghavana ancl rvas the first repository of the'I'ootl-r
i1'thc
s,rLs
Relic: it rvas situat6d betneen l)akkhina thtlpa anrl the eastern gate
nri-iri. ltog"l llyana, ancl r'vas a place lvliere raitr*ilaking ccretuonit '
were carrieC out.ej
(iii) ISSARASAMANA Vihara {present -V essagiriy'.a) rvas
fonncllcl'by ])evfl,narirpiya Tissa (u.c. 247-zo7) at the. place n"herc Jocr
clisciples uncler the p.ir.e Ari-t!h1 .duelt aJter their conr-ersion b1'U"1,i!,au. A saphn$ of the Bodhi Tree r,r'as planted. there. In
i,.,slriptions of tG rsi, znd and 3rd centuries 'itt sittt, the site is 'amecl
Isiranra4a vihara. vasabha (67-t].r) built the Uposatha House, and
Vohirika Tissa (zo9-z3r) built a rvall. Kassapa I ol Sigiri (+ZS-+9r)

93. D. ra. 19'.22.21,58,-M. :-3.-88, 93: 35'5: .l(; r2,

t4i[q. tqo;N.S. 13, t5, t6; E.Z.Y.69.
94. Artibus Asiae, XVI, No" 3, 167.

HIST OR ICA L'I()POG R.\PHY

(G).
(i)

TAPO\,'ANA

The Western .Area

r,r,as

thc arca in lr'hich the ruins of Lhe

1I-t'stet,tt,

situatecl. Prior to thc reign of ]{lrnava:irma (6E4-7rS)

l.licre is no reference jn tlre [-hronicles to lhc ascetics c;rllecl Parir--lrh[lirs. Parisullila lueans a collection of rags, and tr, Parir,sukr-iiin
t'iis, therefore, one rvhowore garilrcnts madc of rags pa"tchecl toge.lher.
-l-lrrlrrnrirrna.
l,li-inavarnnia built a Pasa<la for ttre Parirsukulins in tire
In 87r, in the reign of Sena II, thc Farhsuktlil<a bhikklnis in the
Abhayagiri Vihira separa.ted anrl formed speciai grorps. Thc Tapor-i.r'riL is lirst irentioned in the reign of Kassapa I\r (8q8-9r4) : the king
l-.riilt a drvelling there for the Parhsui<ulins. I{assapa \i ior4-9231
br:iit the f)eva dri'elling in the Tapovana. The Tapovana u as a-lso
linoll'n as ' tire (lrove of the Penitents '. In the reiglr of Udaya III
ig46-954) sorne ofhcials oJ the Court, tlrrough fear of the king, soright
iit,ort,ustcyies are

sarictuary in the monasteries oJ the Tapovana, ant1, on thc king's orriers,

they rverc pursuecl, seized and executed there. llhe Parirsukrllins
abandonecl their ternples in prote-<t and thc populace rose in rebellion,

()j. D. :'7- gt i =2. z , I'L rq. 6r: 20. rq, 2cl : 35. 47, 18, E7: 36. 36 : 19.
rrr-r3 : 4.1. 9E : 45. z7 : 48. z5 i E.Z. L SS, :9, z"z8 : IV. r32, r3j ; C./.S. (i;) II"
17, 2E. r82, 2oo, 2or"
96. M. zo. zo: 3E. 4-z: 79. 53: E.Z. I.
q7. E.2.I.36; .f.R.A.S. (C.8.), XXXU.
q8. J.R.A.S. (C.B.), XXxr/I. 7.

36.

150 JOURNAL, Ii,.A.S. (CEYLON) Neu Series, ltol. ItI,

compeiling the king

to

seek

Speci,al' Number

out the Parirsukfilins and obtain tireir

pardon.l)l)

(ii)
of the

Sena
Cit\'.100

(8SS-8S:) built a Hall for the sick in the western part

(H) The Eastern Area

(i)

Patharna Cetiya r'r.as built by I)cvanarirpiya Tissa (n.c.

247-207) bv the east gate of the Citadel. A sapling of the Bodhi 'lree
was plantcd there.rol

(ii) Pacinatissapabbata Viliara u.as built by Jetthatissa I

(z6l-zlt). To it he removed a stone Image of the Buddha u'hich was
in flrfrp[,r[ma: l{ahasena (.275-3or) transferred this Image to

Abhayagiri Vihara. A 6th centurv inscription in sitw names the site

Paj

il atisapavata.r

o2

(iii) Mahasena (275-3ot\ bniit a thiipa at the place of the

Yakliha Kalavela u'hich u.as in the eastern part of the City.to:l
(i") Sotthiyakara \rihira n'as buiit by Sirimeghavanna (3or-328)
near the east gate.loa

(")

There lvas a guild namerl h'Iahatabaka in the eastern part

of the City in the 5tir century.los
("i) Suratissa (circa n.c. 2oo) briiit Golnagiri Vihara in the
eastern quarter of the City. An inscription of Gajabahu I (114-136)
mentions Gonagiri in the City.1o6
(vii) An inscription of Gajabaliu I (rr4-r35) mentions Nakara-

va\ri, present l{ u,a ara-v tiv a.lol

(I). Unlocated Buildin$s

TLISTORIC'\L TOPOC}TIA['TIY OF ANCIENT ,\ND }'[EDIEV.\I, T-]EYLON I5I

(j") North of the l'Iatigala Cetiya (rihich ma1'be anv olrt'of the
Cetivas or the Thirpardnra) Upatissa I (365-4o6) built a thripa
great
4
;Lni1 an Imagc llouse. I)hatusena (+SS-+Z:) aclclcrl tscicihis;atta ligures
to the Inrages in the Image House oI tlie llalnimangala Cetil'a.rtr
(") -lherc was a merchants' euild namccl Kalahumanilka or
I(aiaraahanal<a in the r-rorthern part of tiie Cit.v irr tire 4th
centulv.11:

("i) l,loggatl:r,na I (4gr-5o8) built Pabbata Vihara :rncl grantecl

it to \Iahanama Thcra r'i,ho lived in thc l)igbiisan:r r1lveriling in the
(vii) The Uttara Practising

House

IY

(956-97z) restorecl Kasub-racl-pirivena.rti

(tj) I'Iahindasena Parivena rt'as Lruilt in tlie rt'igll of ScntL II
(SS:-SEZ). Parakkam:rbnhu I (rr53-r186) restorcd a Ilirsrirla o{ this

l,Ialrincla

name.118

(xii) l'Iahinda IY (956-1172\ built an Alms Hall .rt \-atalriihila.ttc

(xlii) I'Iahinda IY (956-97z) built ttre grca.t Alnrs lIall l)urilrala-

i'fhis may be identical rl'ith the l'{ati:lp[li in the Citarlel).r:0

(xiv) Mahincla IV (956-c172) installed a golcl Iniage of iire
liucldha in Atula \rihira.1zr

(.u')
(xvi)

P;rqilda.l2:t

(xvii)

l'lahincla I\i (956-r;72\ cnclorvecl Kir-bimb ve]rera.riz

Parakkanrabahr,r I (rr53-rr86) restorecl Separrnipupplia
Nissarilia

llaila built

an Alnrs Hall at Anuritlhairura.t2a

(24g1-zf;3).110

r. i,I. 37. rS3 : 38. 65.

r12. /1.2.Iil.73; J.S. 7th ReP.5,1.
r L3. l'1.39. qz.
r r.1. t{. 39. 53.
r 15. M. +g. +S ; Ii.Z.I. zz7.
I1(). lt. 49. q6.
r t7. J{. 5o. 8r : 5:. +5 '. .H.2. T. 5t, 227.
rr

.19. M.47.66: 5r.

52

52.

rg, zr, zz,6q:53. tqz6.

roo. M. 5o. 15.

rcl. )[. 14. 1r: 19. 6: zo. zo: 38. 9.
to2" M. 36. tz8, r29: 37. 11: 1r. rq i 44. r5 ; D. zz. 6q.
r.i3. r11. ro. 84 : 37. 11.
1o-+. IlI.37. tr.
To5. E.Z. III. z"'o.
ro6. l[. zr. 5 ; E.Z.III. tt6.
ro7. ll.Z. IIL tr6.
ro8. )1. 3,1. 6'1.
I eo. l/. 35. r :-'.
rr0. r'l{.36. roE, rog.

I'as built bv the Senalati

l..lttara of Moggailana I.1ra

(viii) Aggaboclhi
VIII (Eo4-Er5) buiit tlclayaggaboclhi l'arivena"
-(g5G97z)
repaired Ur15-Agbo-pirivena.irs
i\Iahinda IY
(it) Aggabodhi VIII (Eo4-8r5) buiit l',hirta Parilerra.]lti
(*) Sena I (8S:-BSS) cornpleted thc building of liassapara,jal<a
\rihara. Kassapa V (gr.1-9zi) restored Kasub-raj-maherr-ehcr, antl

(i)

The Chattapasd,da, a beautiful building, existed in the reign

of Hlratikabhava (rr.c. 22-.\.c. 7).r08
(ii) Gajabahu l (r14-136) built the Mahejisanasala.lOe
(iii) Meghavannabha.o-a \rihara trtrras built bi' Gothabliaya

ttB

llaliarrihara.

18. J[. 5r. 6o: 78.

tt

9.

20.
t2L.
tt)..
12 j"
ri l.
r

-E.2.

I.

ro{r.

zz7.

1:.2.

I.

Il.Z,

T. ztt1.

zz8.

.11.2.7. zz<s.
)l . q7. t:i4: 7,9. ro-5.

L./-.Il. t-s.

CHAPTEIT

XIX

THE ANURAonapuRA DTSTRICT

'lire original kingdonr of Anuraclhapura ertended over the entire
northern and north-centrai plain and, irr nredieval times, it n.as
clescribecl as Rd,jar-attha, but rvhether this nalne !\,as in use in the early
periotl is not knoq'n. Later, Rajaratti-ra became Patittharattha
(S. Pihiti-rata). The original kingdom rvas dividecl into four mail
divisions, namecl aftcr the four cardinal directions, ancl this norrenclature persisted long after the r,vhole of Ceylon had been unitecl as one
king.lonr in n.ct. rbr. 'l-he four divisions !\iere :(i) Uttarapassaor Uttaradcsa or Uttararattlia (in inscriptions.
Uturapasa, Uturpasa and Uturukara), tire northern
clivision, n'hich began about ro miles north of Anurddira*
pura and extended to titc north-rvest. north and north(ii)
(iii)

east coasts;
Pacchimapassa or Paccirimadesa (in inscriptions, Padipasa.
or Palapasa), the western dir-ision, extending over
I,'ilacciya and Vitpottw to thc rvestern coast ;
Puratthimaclesa or Pacinaciesa or Pubbadcsa (in inscrip-

tions, Pajinapasa or Pd"dumpasa), the eastern division,

rvhich included all the area from near Mihintald eastr,vanl

to the Mah,aatili Gair,ga; and

(iv) Dakkhinadesa or Dakkhilapassa (in inscriptions, Dakunpasa), tlie southern division, extending in the rotli
century to the Kalu Gariga.r
The Anur:iclhapura and Polonnaruva clistricts are in the clry zone
tlie large rivers, Mahaacili Gahga (which has a
perenr.rial tlow), Kala Oya, Malztatta Oya, and Yan Oya. The fullest
usc was made of these rivers and their tributaries to develop a rrast
and compiex irrigation system, an ancient feat of engineering rvithout
parallel in India. This region r,vas by far the most productive foodproducing area in Ceylon. The terrain is not uniformll' flat : several
hill ranges, large and small, and numerous rock-outcrops rise from the
plain.
anci are traversed by

(A). Nuvar^gvrn Paldta

Uruvelii (spuriously called Mahavd,ligama in the Rdjavaliya),
a port on the west coast, was founded, according to one tradition, by
r. M. to. zo: zt. q, 6: 35. 58, 59, a24i 37. q2: 38. z4: 4r. 33, 35 : 42. 8 :
44. 84,88, 89: 45. zr, 23, 77 | 47.3: 48. 33, 39, 4, 83, 95, rrr, rr2, r55 :
5o.14, 41,49 : -5r. 7, t2' rg: 52. r : 58. 4o, 4z: -59. rr, t8, zo : 6t. zt, 26, 33'. 7o.
67: E.Z.T.z46:LL23,42,5+: III. ro3, r39,271: IV.64, r8z, r84, zzz: Lt.C.R"
IX, Ncr. r, zo.

TSTOIIICIAI,'ll OPo(] ll,

PHY o1'

-{ NCI

ENT AND

}llD I E

\rAl, LIEYLUN

5:}

a ]"hnistcr of Vijaya, anci, accordir.rg to anothcr, b5r 3 Sakka pr:ince'

It u.as 5 yojanaior 20 gav (4o to 5o miies) to wcst of Anurii'lhapura,
ancl peirli ire said to iiave been found there ir-r thc reign- of Du1!haganrini Abhaya (n.c. 16r-137). Near Urur''eld, ting Subha (iro-67)
founcled Valli'or Villa Vihara, recentiy identified by an epigrapli as a
{rorip of ruins close to the zrst miie on the Puttalaut-f,[aricc:il':u('(oi
tracli. Uruvelii was, thereforc, at or \rery llear the inouth ol the
l\llltt Uva.-

At O ccr1 p u K alh,t, in tlte V i I t'a ttct, i{ ati onal P &1 h, on the borinclary
lrctn,een tlte Pwttalatn and AlLuradlrapura clistricts and aboLrt zl
rniles soutlr of the l,Ioderagam, Aru, there is an inscription of liauitt}ra
'l'issa
place(167-186) in rvhich the site is named Kuba Vihera.
-Othcr
ilamcs occurrrng rn this inscription are :-(i) J abo-ai"iya ;
iii) liatul<a-aviyal (iii) Talavana-aviya; ancl (iv) C.udataka tank
:n Ver.alamitiyi in l'Iagala-nakara. N{agana, cloubtless irientical

,r-ith Piolemv:s port of - Ilargana, is mcntioncd in three othr:r

irarlv inscriptions.- l-he Sigiri Gralltti name l"[agat'rava and ]Iagu4"
't'hs situatibn of the place was very proberbly at thc nrouth
.of thtr
wher'e there are the remains of a burierl cit-r''i
Avu
'lIirlct'ugaut
At. Sinad,ivagala, a rock about ll rniles from thr: l'[otleragttnt
Artt, in the Viil>iitu Last ltt'termed.idte Zone , therc is an irscription of
Virsabha (67-rir) in rvhich a grant is made of Kalapahalalia.tank
io tlte l)akkhif a viirara at AnuiSdhapur:r. 'rhis is iclentical r,r'ith the
tri:llapasana or I{alayana tank ascribed to }tah[senl rvho reigrrecl over
r.5o 1,'ears later. 'fhe Kalapahanaka tank is the large, brcached
ri'snrvoir

nol knor'r'n

as K ar an'tb ahulam, below

S i nud i.:'

gal

a.'a

I'Iahallaka Naga (136-143) founded Dakapasarla Vihara in the

''r,cstcrn part of ltajarattha.5
Vasabha {67-;rr) built Cayanti tank, also calleci J{ar;anti and
l\Iavetti, in Pacchimadesa, tl'rc rvestern tluarter. .Jctthatissa ilI (628)
Earie the village Sahannanagara to Mayettikassapavasa \ril-rara. antl
III ((rz9-639) clonatecl S:rlaggama to t1're same \rihtlra'
'\ggaboclhi
."vas
Lrclaya

a vi]iage near the rvest gate of Anuradhapura.

of Mayetti tank. Codrington Proposes
to identify llayetti tank with one oJ t|e reservoirs, l{rTccttdut'o ctr
Eru,t'civa, but neither of these is in Pacchimaclesa: morc probably,
]lirr-etti \vas one oJ tlie tn'o large lrilaccil-a tanks, f[ahat'ilacciya
o'r l{udarilacciya.t)

S[ligima

iI

(887-8q8) enlarged the dam

z. D. zt.+7: lI.7.15: g.9: 28. 36: 35. 58 ; Puj. z; ll-lnt- t63.

3. A.I .C. zo; /.11.-l ..S. (C.R.) No. 73, 55; Coclrington, Cojrz.s, r93;
{lraff. I, -\pp. C.
5. L[.35" rzq.
6. i1. 35. 93 : 4.1. !to, roo, r'22: 5I.
,953; J.R.,1 .S. (C.]1.) xXXVr, 8.

r3o ; D. z'2. 7, E;

E.II.

Slig"

35. 95:. M.T.

154

.lOLr'1iNAl.. l.i,.A.S. (CI.IYLON) Neu; Serdes" Vol.

IrI,

'lpeciu,I Nu.trtber

built l)hntu:ienapabbata Vihiira in Paccirir)adcsir. I)htrtirsena" (+SS-+Z:) built Dh:r,tusenapabbata \rih5,ra

l\,fahiisena (275-,jor)

(thcrr: is

i.L

rliftercrrcc in spclling) in Pasanasinna.desa, a clistrict also in

Paccliirnadesa.7

'l'he sub-ilivision Valapu-bim in Piilapiisa is mentionccl in

insr,-i'iption

of Iiassapa IV

an

(EgE-g13) near MallimadLt (erroncously

ctrlltrl lizrftrrrutrLahon,clontrnta by Rcll) in thc Vil'l>att'u lia.tion,al Park :
the ','illagt trir:relliganra or Venuliigarna \vas assignecl to a Hospital
at Anrrr-hcliral>unl. I
liaclahala"ka tanli is nlcntioned ii-r a rst centur\/ car.e inscription at
South Inteynt,ediate Zane, and is thcr
breacirccl tank nea-r the ruins.e

Calgl l"ilulrt. in the ViLfattu

Otircr sites u-ith inscriptions in the Vilfattn, l{alionaL ParJt, aye ;south of Mayatlatmr,arJuua, v'itlt
an inscription of l(umarad;isa (5oE-5rtr) ancl tu'o other inscriptions of
tiit 5tlr ccntury', (rl) Andaragolldgala, about a mile from the lastnaniec'l, -nvith an inscription of l)nthopatissa ll (667-6E3) ; and (iii) an
inscribecl pillirr of the roth ccntury at Patti-eliytr, ncar CalgE Vih.r1ra.ta

(i) ii rccli riith ruins tear'I-intbi.rirara,

At l'aragala, zr rllined site on the ViLfattn boundary and about

4 nriles north-rvest of thc z7] rnilc on tlrt: Pu,ttalant-Anuraclhapura

roactr, there are tlvo danaged inscriptions of thc rst ccntury in r,vhich
the follou,ing placc-names occur :-(i) Sikalagama; (ii) Mahanamelivara- Ratagama ; (iii ) Pataganra ; (iv) I'f aradaka ; (r.) Nlaharuka
tank; (vi) Culasumanagama, (vii) Mahakacia; (viii) Kaburagama;
ancL (ix) l3anahagam"a.rl
In an inscription of Kassapa IV (898-gr4) at lfi,mbiriuiiaa, at the
z7!1 nile on the Puttalam,-A-nuraclhapura road, the village Mibaligirma (nrodern Titnbirivii"-a) is assignecl to Nladbiyan Pirivela at

Nu,.lrat.rl

Abalava in the rvestern quarter of Itnjarattha is mentioned in the

Sigiri Gralhti.1'r
Vasabha ((t7-trt) built the tank Vahav[pi, and Mahasena (2753or) brrilt \'.ihana tank. ln a 4th centur.v inscription at HalmiLlagala
Vilriira, 2 ruiles from lilocci,yagant& ortthe Puttalam-Anuru,dhapura road,
Vah:l-iva (u'hich is ecluivalcnt to I'ahavepi) is mentionccl and is
probablv tlre breachecl tank nolv knorvn as Panikltanlltlan,, r mile

ntrrtlr of the z4th mile on the Pu,ttalanz-Anuradhapura roacl. Also

'11 r- .-r> . eS. .7r'
"
8. E.Z.Itr. zq.
ct. --1 ..\.C.'1 .l?., r896, 6 : r9.54, 38.
Io. .J..S.C.,4.-1i., r95,t, .3.c.
r r. A.I.C. 58 ; ,4.5"C.A.-I1., t896, 5.
12, D.Z.II. tz.
r j.
Sig. Graff. I, ,\pp. C.

ISTOIiI(lhL l'OP()O tdr\PHY Ot'-\N( jTlrlN:l AND f'IFIDTE\rAT' OEYl'ON

I5i

e:lr1r,t il-tscrilrtions at Hatmillagalu :Il9 :l<i.tuttut'igarna; (ii) HuvarCgama; (iii) Kanrjil<eya; (ir-) Iialarrith'the Iialit Oya; (v) \"apalagalna; and (vi)
s,if,llr,i u.-,,clate.l
t

nrentioncd in this ancl othcr

,ii

lia,laragarna.t
At tlre \iiralagalaruins, about IO inilcs north ol tl're z8th l.nile on the

f,dtitam-Attrrildhapur-a roac]. a 2n(l centurY. inscription..nigltions

the follorving places: (i) l3atigarlrr ; (ii) Digasjvagama;.(iii) .i{abaraijtzrgama; (ivi Nava tariir;an'ci (v) tracts dI fields (vi keta) namccl
i;itiitru.^ l)a,Lamakulrt, Nalr:rra, I{uma'a, Tulatara, Aca, }'iah:rb:L*a'?,
Vr.i", l;b;i.", So,,i,'tn, fjnbale. Payil:r5a :rncl \'ej.brrtigala l;
'lhc village citaganra is rnentit.rnecl in a zncl centur5'in-scription at
Anurirrihapura'
,1 nrli\apola as well ajin the tirblerts at l)akkhina Vih:ireL,
ii,iirolutu Billut,aRula anrl 7'antiyimalai are roci<y hills sitLrirtetl
of Anuraclh;rpura:
t";tir:,.'iL." t'gether about 18 milcs north-north-rvcst
lti
.Lll har-e ctrr-es u'ith irre-Christian inscriptions
Cauclamukha Sivt (+.1-52) cr,rtstructt'tl ancl clouatecl to trssara.,.rr."r-ru itiharo at Anurnt'1"hJ'ura the ltanikaragrima_tank:,llarlil<4,rima rn,as near Issarasamana. An inscription of Sirintrgall (zltt-z,z)
irt Issarasamana Vihara rccor4s t6e grarit to the Vihrira,by_ llolrh,ril<a

jir;i;;g-"3i)

of llanil<tira tank .ncl I{e*atrisir I'illage, botlr situateil

in the'tvc.ste"rn ciivision. x'I:iningamu is nrentioncd in a rotlr r''erntury
iirr..ilrtinn ancl may be iclentic:ii u,ith 1,Iar.ril<ara : there art a l'illage
arrcl aianL nolv ca_lli:cl M an,inganrur:, about 9 r'iles from AnurrLtlhapura

orr the Arip'l>w road.l?

Nikavitigama. is rnentionecl in at 4th centnr\' -inscriptio_n at

lialtad.agala', i milc north oJ the 3bth nrile on t.he Puttu.lant-Anur:r,r1ha-

.pura road.
In a rst centu.rr,r inscriptit.xt at Iltalagala, about z trriles north oI the
on thc il'e.slcrri lJino, Rouii , tlte place l3trclahibaclali. is

3otf,

-ife

mentioned.l8

A rst century inscriptiort zt l't,r.tnbultt.gala, 4 ]intlcs sorrth*rvest of

tlre 28th nrile o' tire ll"csttt'n f,[inor Rttad, lnentions:(a 3rr1
iiitJ;ilg.r''i-nakariYa, aPparctitll'a t'ir\\'n near the KalaOva;
of
uor:t1t-cast
milcs
i,irrt.tii' in'scripiion ir ,1[i.i,tsrr,-gL,r/,r, a]rout 3]
flre rTth miic on the Pu.tla'la,r-Anurf,ltlhlptln. rou.1,, nanlcs

: thc torvn of Kalilclagar-i atrrl the rnarliet t')\\rn

t*,o i'scriptions.. apl,ees trt lrc ,i,lentita1)
th,rse
ui i<otEaig'.'i'
i-f"tiir,"fAl1'o (tr84) built thc Kelncliglrar.ika, Pi.ctising Hortsc; anti

llalccligevi-niyamatana

in

(ii)

Ahal:Lr.iya.1e

14.
T5"

r6.
17.

r8"

I9.

jS. U+ : -37. 4t :,1J.C. :9; l.S.C'J.J?., rli96,

A.1.C.54.
./.R.1."S. (C.8.) XXII, ;r : XXIX, t tz'
D. zr. 4q; M.35.q; Ii Z.II z5: IV' 3:2.

-rtf.

A.1.a.!':t.1 .5.(.A.F., rirr" .5.

LL 46. q6; A.'5.C.,4.11., tlie6, 5.

rJ(i loufi,NAr,.

HIS'f OIiI(1,\L'I()POC;R.\PHY OF r\NC]Tl:lNI' AND \'tEDIEVAL OIIYLON

R.,\.s. (cblYLON)

i\]igarnu or Aigagarma retains its ancient name ir-t tlie prcsent,

breaclrecl tank, Angantuittt-t'tita,3 miles south of the zEth rniie or-r thc
II'esttvtt, JIinor Road (Coclrington) : the tank rvers restorecl bv Paralikarnabiihu I (rr53-1186). 'lhere arc t\\'o inscriptions hcre of tLre rst
ancl the 4th cer.rtury and in tliese inscriptions the ruitrs a"rc namecl
Anulapavata or' ["lala-Anr-rlapavater Mahar''ehera, ancl the follou'ing
place-names occllr :- (i) Kaclisagagallla ; rincl (ii) Al<ejikaclari.2u
,\'t ,,llutgal \,'ihlrra, r rrrile north of the zrst ruile on the ll''estcrn
Minov Roatl, ttvo inscriptions of tl-re znd alicl :jr(l centuries nanle:
(i) Iianijaliabaka tank; (ii) Sagavi_ya; (iii) tlli tank; (ir') Purtaganla tank, (r-) Talar'-i\ta , (r'i) 1'alasagar.iya; anci (r'ii) tracts gf
lields (r'i keta) namerl Tulatara, Vihiraka and Parir-ataka.
Ir.r ru inscription of Iia.ssapa V (gr.1-qz3) at BiLihitra, near tlrc
z(rtir rrile on thc lfesteyt't tr[i,nor Rood, tine villagc Mahagipiyova,
(preserrt Bilibiir;a), iri ther sub-clistrict Piril'atu-bint, was granted to the
I'I:rhtrr-ihara at Anulaclhapllra : at this periocl this regiorr rl'as iu
I)al<l<hinaclesa.1L
Tcr olrposc Parakliamabh,hrl's Iorces u,ho crossecl th.e Kala O),a and
took np position nt Arigamu (sec above), Gajal,lhu's troops cirgegecl

thcnr at Senagarna but lr,er-e dlefeatecl. Parakkamabahu s troop:'

then continte(l thcir achrance tou'arcls Anurnclhapura aucl succcssively
capturecl : (i; n'Ianvdgarna ; (ii) Mita ; (iii) Srlkaragama; (iv) Teri
-leraganra);
garna (sec
ancl (r') Raclariblrtrtikamdtra, a Jeu, miles fronr
AnLlrd.U l lrpuf a. :-

tank n'hich u,as close to Kir-rarnula : the

nan\e K&rLumulla strll

surr.ives near tlre Toth mile on the l{riJtircTr;a-Anllradhapura road.2:J

trn tr'vo inscriptions ol thc roth century at Af .ftl,-,ala, near the 15tir
nrile orr the liiihiraua-ToLat'a road, the sitc is called Pamagalu Vihira,
ancl the r.illage Srigairra ancl the fielcls Galambum are mentioned.2l
.lhdttira, a village about 3 miles north of tiLe rzth mile on ttre
KtikirrTta:l'aldaa roacl, is called Hopitiya in the sub-dir.'ision }Iahacleneti-knliya, in an inscription of Kassapa IV (898-914) itt sittt;
also nrentionecl is the placc Govin-niim'Jpitiva.?5
7o" rz.3,r3o : 7tt.

IiurnbhaliSragltla \\-as a potters' village to south of Anurir'tllrlLpur:r.:6

-fO southu,arcl O{ ancl not f:rr Jronr An[r-aclhapura were:

-(i)
t,lrritapabbata or (-htltar'hirapabbata, a hill a little oYer af/o-jana southSadrlliltissa built Chata Vihara : mosl
.joit of Ar-ruraclhaprueL, ri.1,ei.
'l'alttgLtrtt Vih:lra on Grilalagantahandu
present
is'
this
'
lrrotr,iirfl'
i;,1 Ceiavig:rnra u. ('etalignma 'ot far fr,nr antl soutl ,f

I'it

rficlhapuia

; (iii)

Panclu-lag[rnaka

; (iv). Si] arnahantaliu'

ltlitla

'lissai'tpi 6,,i tb r.restrvarcl'of it ; (r') \'I.rhrigrlnrcrlcli or GiLme_r.Ltli

Arnantlaghnra.i A6ir'r'a (:'tl-zg) to.Dakkilina
irif"f,o tanli. .erantecl 5,t'granteC
to the IiocLlii 'l-reer , -(r-ii) I)iYit-aV'it,aru : (vi)"Nnr.ini.
\-ihrra; (r'iii) X'lahanabata, g_ra'rtt:d
L.taliririna
to
grar-rtecl
,iloiu.t,.t.,
to Dakkhini \iihirra; (ix) Iiir isipitini, granted to l)akl(hina \rihara ;
enci (x) Siiipitttri, callccL Siripiti in the Sigiri (irafliti, Probably Ple:ent
Hiri'Piiivagitrr'i n"u, t6e !t1 mile o' tI\; Iiakira"'a-Talita roatl'r;
vihnrabija or Vihirabija il,as a sub-rlistrict close to ancl solrtli ol
Anuraclhapura. 5oo \-ou]'Lg nletr fronl thi-s .rrea reccived thc pabbi'rjri
from Naliincla Tirern. I,,'it $ert : (i) ]ludagutil<ir or I'Iutigutil<a
tank ; ancl (ii) \risalagantika.2s
t)rrilt Rattamalakar]clalia sr_ llattalil talrli
llahrisena (275-3or)
'1Ig.-S-,;r+)
erecte(l a slrri.e .tr the Il.ttirmala hill,
ili
,nr-r,t X"itup"
sc,.tl L of Arurtrcllapllrzr. Thc village
tu'a'cl
itose
Ritnmta.
lrr"teirt
in
a 6th century inscription at l{ttdu
iiakl<hagaini],a is nrentionecl
iic,ar

Rat]ildle.2tt

Across the linld Oya, oppositc I'Ioravapi clistrict, \\,as Katiyagama

or Iiativapi, restorecl by I']aiakliamabaliu I (rr-53-rrE6), identifieci b1'
Coclrington as nroclern Katt'iyata.3 nriles south-south-\vest of E'!pnt'ala.
To rttarch agairrst l'Ioravhpi clistrict. Xtirrabtrarana assembled his
forces at ,\nurziclhapura : Parakkamablriru's general at Kalut:rii',t
ach'ancecl to Klnamula to intercept them and then penetrated deeper
into ltirjarattha to liatuvar-rdu. Parakkamabahu restored Kanagama

zLt. itl.

157

T1.re

erbortt z miles ri'est ol t]ie roth n-iile

Anurailltt'rp;:rttt-Kwrurtdgaltt roacl. are namecl Aiunal'rir ita

ruins called lfandaguLn,

i.,n thc
\"ilrara in a rst century inscription itr sittt .' illso mentionecl

are

Hotavata ancl Kajiclora.

K

o s tr.t, a

kan

cl

aVilrura about z milcs south-e ast of M ar ad an k aSat: al a,

is stylccl l,Iitakatisa Vih:-rra in a znd B.(. inscriptionlhere, but.in ir

latei zncl century inscription it is namecl Jerlaliatalia Veliera irncl the
l)arakatla tar-rk is mentionec-l.iio
Mahagala is tnentionecl in :r (rth ccnturlr inscriPtior-r at !{occihulttttz'tt'
near Il[ av and att'h ar] oa al a.iJl

Upatissag['nra or Llpatissanagara was a settlement on the

Gambliira rir-er, r 1'ojana (E to rz nrile-s) north o{ Anurddhaprrra,

2b. E.lLlJ..\Pp. tlr.

'22. D. zr" 3q', XI. t'r';. 2rl: rr.

; 11...fI.Il. 5+; 1:'2"

28. E.Z.L 6z, 255 ; A.I.C. zo.
29. M. 52. zo: 37..18 ; Pn.i.'24 ; Raj. 5z ; lJ.Z.\-. 31.
30. J"R.A.S. (C.B.) XXx\rI, No. qr8; A S.C.,4'R., 1893, 8;

3oo, 9 ; 38,1. rS
37

2r. E.Z.II. 4.
22. ),1.7o. rz3-r6t.
23" lI. 7o. 67 : 72. t76-2.o4:
21. E.Z.IIL r9r, r93.
2i. fi.Z. IL z3q.

79. 34, 35.

Coins, rg3.

3I. C./.S. II.

z8

Codrington,-

158

JOURNAL, ff .A.S. (CE\ILON)

Netll

^Sertles.

Ilol. rl1, Speciai |{uitlbor

tradition, in the
(rtli centurv e.c. : it \\'as in Alsara and a prosperous markct-tor'vn.
After Vijal,a's clcath and till thc accession of Paf ciukdbhaya, a period
of about 50 years, it u'as the capital. 'l he movement oJ the flrst stream
of immigration u'as up the KacLamba-nacli, tlie first seat of the ruler
being Tambapar.rli, at the river's mouth, next Upatissaganra, and
frnally Anuraclhapura. 5oo young rnen from Upatissagama recei\-ecl
thc pabbaja from l,laliinda. 'lhe (lambhira river must be tire
Kanad,ava OJ,a ullich fl.,rl's Io to rz miles north of Anurdclhapura at
tl'rc closest points. In inscriptions of the early centr.rries ,r.c.
Jorincled b,y Vijaya's Minister, Llpatissa, according to

a division named Utarapura is mentioned u'hich appcars to harre bcen

named after a tor'vn of the samc name : perhaps Upatissagama rvas

knou,n also, contemporaneously or later, as Lltarapura.'12
'fire Kaclan-rba-nadi (present l'[ah,atta Oya) is aiso ca]led Kaiamba
,anc1 Kolorn Oya ancl on its banks \vas the Kalambatittha or Galanrbatittha Vihara cxisting in the rst century: Vasabha (67-rrr)
improved tlie \rihara ancl built a tank to irrigate r,ooo karisas.:lzA
Early in the znd century r.c., Suratissa built Kolambahalalia
Vihara near Raheral<a. In s.c. 16r the Cola reinforcements uncler
Blralluka iarrded at l'Iahatittlia (X[untai) and advanced to Kolambahalaka which must have been very closc to Anuradhapura because the
subsequent battle took place rvithin the City. ln e.c. ro3, Vattagamani Abhaya was vanquished in battle at Kolambdlaka, also
.calied Kalombalaka, which was to northward of and very close to the
site of the later Abhal agiri

or

Vihara.

Vasabha (67-rrr) built Kolomba-

Iiolomgalureru tank. I{olombd and Kolorirbagalu are

-mentionecl in roth century inscriptions : the Kolomb canal led r,vater
.alvay from Tissavapi to the north. 'lhese variants all stand for
Kolambahdlaka rviiich .rvas north of and u.'ithin a short clistance
gamaka

,of the Citl'.

Ckrse

to

I{olambahalal<a rvas Raheraka.

(5r8-53r ) donateci the Itahera canal to Abhayagiri

Sil5k5,1a

Vihara.

Moggallana
iI, (53r-55r), nrarching on Anuradhapura fronr the east, tooh up a
position on Raherapabbata ; Ddthapabhuti camped opposite on

I(arindapabbata. MoggallSna III (6 t4-619) advanced on

from the south and reached Rahera; battle r'vas
joined at Pacinatissapabbata, just outside and to east of the City.
Anuradhapura

Paralikamabahu I (rr53-r186) restored Rahera tank.B3

'laraccha tank, br-rilt in Dcvanarhpiya'lissa's reign (il.c. 217-207)
'x'as in or close to Anur5dhapura: also close to the City r'r,ere :-

{i) Hakaragocla; (ii) Ilubarata; and (iii)

32. D. g. 3u-l+
3:4.

)lI .

7. qq: E. 13 : t7.6o:28. 7 ; Pttj. r.

-il1. 35. E5; Ii.H.B. rzt.

zr. 5 : 25. 8o-93 : 33.
; E.Z. L 36 : IL 56, u rE.

33. l.[.

it,q. +l

31.

A,L zz.

Gama"sa

4; E.H.I3.

42. :

35. 94 :

75, 76, to7 ;

4r. 3r-46 : qq. r-a1.

: 79. 33 ;

Puj. zr

E.Z.I. rEz; J"R.A.S. (C.8.) XXX\-, 5.1.

HIS'IORIC-A.L lf OPOGR API{Y OF ANCIENT AND

}IEDIIiVAL CEYLON

l-rfir

At }lankarapitthi, near the gate of Kappallakkhafda or l{apala..

Ilanilga I (S:-+:) defeated the Lantbakannas. Hankara
village, the same as Hankarapitthi, u'as granted by Aggabodhi III.-(628)
to the \rlahailaraja Practiiing House, together rvith the I'illages
Samugir'ma, Keheila and Mahagalla (the last-namecl present AriAar: ar ridiy a in Kuru,nd.galo district).:rr"
'Ihe l{iribat Vekera inscription of Kassapa IV (E98-9t4) grants to'
Thrlpirama tire land Uturmegirvatta (probably the site oI the inscription) boundecl on the east by Veheravatta and on the north by the

l<ancla,

S'.rrhbaclii- f orest.36

In an inscription of Mahinda IY (56-97z) at Ram,bd'tta, at the roth

mile on the Anuradhapwa-Jaffnaroad, a grant is macle to the Mah5,vihara of :-(i) Asunpititeya in Kiiind-clcngdara, and K-uttavatta,
all in the sub-district kalanu-bim (the area around Rambdva) ',vhicLt
rvas in Uturpasa (the northern division of Rdjaratth") ; (il) MororldrrMairasengami]'a ; ancl (iii) Vangurupiti or Pangurupiti.3T
Picinatissapabbata Vihara, on the east side of Anuradhapura and
belorv the north-ern curve of the bund of Ittruttaraariua, was the scene of
trvo battles, in each case the nearest point to the Capital reached by
rebel forces. Close to Pacinatissapabbata and to eastlvard of it lvas
tLre X'Ierumajjara forest.:]8

Pdcinapabbata Vihdra on the Vanguttara hill u'as built by

in the znd century e.c. : it \,vas at the foot of the
llkaclvarika niouirtain. The Ekadvdra Vihara, to east of Anuradhapura, was built by
Subha (6o-67) and it too was at the foot of the
-The
ijkadvarika hill.
Vanguttara hill rvas part of the Ekadvarika
Sirratissa early

range. Inscriptions of Subir"a ancl of Gajabehu l (rrrtr-r36) at Paltala

Kaiinattatna ind Vikaragala, at the Joot of the range now knorvn as
P wii1, atikulatnahanda, cloie to the Si p i kwlan't' r K av i n att atn a minor
road, name the site Ek;d;;.;; oipi.uit6titu Vihara,-Ekad'r'5ra of.the
75

chronicle, and grant to it upalaclorlika tank (present Kayinuttatna.uriln).

ttum"cl- DoltrppaiavS,pi or Uppalavapi is rnentioned in the
Commentaries. (Iheie was inother Viharaname Ekadoraya in the'
Ii ur,wn ii gala district ).3e
Pdcinakambavitthi Vihara, to east of Antiradhapura, was built
by Dhatusena (+55-+75).no
I)varamaldalaka, also called Dovarikamarlclala or Vfi'ramalciala
or Demitigamu, -ur a village and sub-district close lo Mikintale. It
ri'as 9 yojinas (7o to 85 miies) from Kacchakatittha (Mahagantota)"

A tank

35 11. :S. 3S '. q1. rrg, r2o: q5. 27 ; li.X'L 25. 31.
36. D.Z. I. t(tt.
3;. I;.2.I1.6e.
r8. Xt. 4t. rq:qq. r-5, zr. It is possible that PAcinatissairabbata of the

is identrcal with the Pacinapabhata lsee belorv) of the M.

39.
4ir.

NI

.2\.5:35.58; M.7.4'zq:64E. s; D.H.B.

.-\/..3S.

1S.

r.20, r2r;

(rirf.

I:.Z.III' t(tz-t66-

160

'IOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON) Ner ,Series, l'ol.

VI,

Spec'ial Number

Near Dv5ramalciala was Hatthikkhandha Vihara, in the eastern

r-livision of llajarattha, buiit by Siiratissa (circa n.c. zoo).41
'fo east of Anura,dhapura were :-(i) Acchagallaka Vihara, near
I)ahegallaka or Rahagallaka, built by Srlratissa (circa n.c. 2oo) ; and
(ii) Sejalaka or Pejalaha or Sajilakandarlma foundecl by l{ahallaka
Naga (136-143).{:

Kanittha Tissa (167-186) built three Vihiras in the eastern

of Rajarattha :-(i) Niyelatissarama ; (ii) Pilapitthi ; and
(iii) Rejamaha Vihara rvhich may be the same as RdiasSla
Vihs,ra to which Aggabodhi VIII (8o4-8r5) grantecl the village

clivision
'

Cr-r I

avipiy

ag5,m a.

aB

l'Iahasena (275-3or\

built

Khanur.Spi which the Sinhalese

rvith K5,navipi, tire large,

Clrronicle calls Kaladiyaclora, identical

breachecl reservoir nolv knot't n as Kan'adaratta, abrlttt z miles north-east

al lIi,hintalL Sena I (E33-S53) assigned Ka,tavapi to Cetiyapabbata

Vilr[ra (Mihinr:ale) . Sena II (Es:-SEZ) bui.lt a darn at Katthantanagara to
augment the supply to,Kanavapi. An inscription oI Udaya II (.S,!7-1i98)
at Kanad,arara names the tanli Kanavdva. In the tablets of llahinda
IY (g5Gg7z.) al Mihintala tlie king decrees that the rvhole supply of
Kand,vdva sl'rall be utiiised for llihintale Vihara only, in accordance
rvith the custorl prevailing during the Tamil regime. Vijayabnhu I
(

o55-r r r o ) ancl Parakl<amabahu

r53-r

186 )

both restored l([navnpi

in an inscription of the latter the length of the bund of Karladiyadora

is given as r,6oo riyan.aa
Anulatissapabbata Vih['ra

in Gang[raji rvas built by Kanittha

'I'issa (rtr7-r86). A 6th century jnscription at Pfinavasankwlatn,
z rrr.iles north of Mihintal\, names the site Anulatisapavata. Gang[raji rvas, therefore, a sub-district close to ancl north of Mihin'tale.a5
At Dunwncadalahanda Vihara, g miles rvest-nortli-rvest oJ
.7,Iil'tintale, there are inscriptions dating from znd R.c. to rst -c.c. in
rvhich the follor'ving place-names occur :-(i) Ulajaka tank; (ii) Sitasaviya; (iii) Kanagamaka, probabJy associated u,'ith Ki,lavdpi;
(ir') 'fulataraviya; (v) Flanahagarnaka; (vi) Tisaviya ; (vii) Panahagamaka, identical with Pa4asagama in the Mih'intala inscription;
(r'iii) Malaviya ; (ir) Kalatagama ; (x) CLrjivilaka ; (xi) Natabarisaka; and (xii) Kadanrujita.ao

.+r. I). tc:. <3 ; II. ro. r'. r 7. 59'. 2r. 4 : 23. 23, 26 : lI.7-. 121 ; l7aj. 3t.
42. D. zz. t5-:'7 ; l,I. zt. 6 : 35. t'24 ; lI.T. qzq ; E.M. 35. tz5.
43. 1'1. 36. 15:. 49. +7 ; .il[.f . {.t59.
+4. M. lZ. +Z : 5c. 72; 51. 73: 6o. 5o : 79. 34; E.Z.I. rrz ; C./ S. (G) II.
tr5; A.S.C.A.R., rg37, to.
45. :'I1. 36. r5 ; C."/.S. (G) II. roz.
46. A.LC. t5, 20, 3:l; A.S.C.A.R., r89u, 6; Codrington, Coi,ns, rg4; E.Z,
III. r5.5 ; U.C.R. VII, 238, 7.

IIISTORICAL TOPOGIi-A"PHY 0F. .{NCIENT AND MEDI]iVAI, CEYLON I6I

Nilarejiya district

rvas a sub-division extencling over an area close to

Anur5dirapura. In it rvere :
-(i) Aritag5ma, (ii) Kacakaavuclakag5rna ; (iii) Jalaganeka tank donatecl to Abhayagiri Vihd,ra:
.ilIahaciili Mahatissa (v.c'.. 77-63) built f aiagama Vih5,ra, also cailed
Valagama; (ir') Cilqg6trta;anrl (r ) tialnirritisa tank or Ciimaniv[Pi,

and north of

present P erwnil

att hwl

a t tt,.47

Upalabijaka or Upalavi-bijika or Upalavi r.vas tLe nanre of a

clistrict in rst e.c. and early_-r.c. r'i.hich corresponded approximately
to tlre southern portion of l{d.nda Kdrale, the r.vestern portion of Kalpe
IioralE andthe northem portion of Kanatlaya Korale, its u'estern and
eastern limits being near St,ppikuktnur and ()alkandEganta rcspectively.
Within it rvas a sr.rb-district namecl Utarapura-atana rvhiih
r:xtended over Kahatagasd,igiliya ancl !{iittwthanda.

ln

Upalabijaka

'ilistrict r,vere : (i) Vadamana tank, present Palu-miihiccrTt,i, teai the

6.1th mile on the Anurdclhapura-Trinconmlee road, granted to Thirpariima by Gajabahu I (114-136) ; (ii) Pajina-Nakapar-ata \rehera, the
present ruins knor,vn as Tanontanahanda,3 rniles north of the 63rd rnile
Anuraclhapura-'llyiu,contalee road; (iii) Patagamal<a ; (ir') Ilahiya
1.tl -thg
I'iclaviya; (fl Navagamaka; ("i) Kutar.anagarra : (vii) pajalai<a
tank : the Sigiri Graffrti mention Pajalava ; (viii) Pala 'tanl<"
.rncl (it) Hal<anakaraka tank granted to Devarabaka Vihara :
Paclahataka tanl< at l)evagama rvas also grantecl to the same Vihara.
In tlre Utaral ,ura-atana srrb-, livision of Upalabijaka rlistrict \vere.ii) Honagariya or Honagirika Vihara, callecl Hunagiri \rehera in the
Sigiri grafliti,_the prcsent ruins on tlie hl1l l{titt.unitanda, abott f,
nr.ile r,vest o! tle 31d mile on the l{altatagastligil,iya-Ratntal,egah,eaciua
roac1_;_(ii) Drekapi; (iii) Pajina Honagiriya tank; (ir') Pajubata;
!:-) J-lt tank ; (vi) Paqli tank ; (vii) Sidaviya ; (viii) Karajayiya ;
ii-r) Datavil'a-1 (x) Kabaragama tank; (xi) Maducaya; lxii) Siviiaujyq; (xiii) Vijita; (-rir') Culatisa; (sv) Padiya; (x,,.i)
Patari
(xvii) Iralimahamada; (xviii) llalikiragama tanl< (not
i1"\;
llanikdragamakarripi _ in tl're rvestern clivision) ; (xix) Nilavijita
ilalravilrara, present Debel,gala \rihara, rl miles north-u,est of ihe
i:r7rL nrile on the Anurddhapura-T'rinconmlee road.as
uliya, a sub-district jn the nortliern division (Uturupasa)
,l{" _-ApSuo1-t
lfljafaltlra, is namecl in 3 inscriptions at l{ahatagasttigiliya,
the rrth mile on the ],Iadat,acciva-Horot'a'fioiino'ioia1',
l{irigolldta lat the 5th nrile on the sarne road) : it rvas an area
,:r-rrresponding to present Kandw anrJ, Pahala Kanda T-nlanas. The
Sigiri. Graffrti mention ,\mbgamJ<uli in Uturpas. The inscriptions
tlq*:l Vehera at Kibinilanr or Kibigama (piesent
1j!"!igl,-1i)
!,'a,util,hritiya) ; and (ii) Itnaruganra (present Kirigotlaiialyt
1'-ui,tlltciliya--(_at

antT

17.,11.

3.1.

9:

)L7'.

625 ;

E.,\1. 3q. t1 ; .1.LC. :.o ; E.Z.I. z5fi ;

C./.S.

{G) L

"t4i

tq. Ii.Z.I. ztt: III. r6fi,.-r79, rEr: I\r. 45; U.C.R. VII, No. q, zq6; A.S.
7th llep. 47-5o; Codrington, Coms, r95.
"19. E"Z.I. zgt: TI..1 ; ,{..S. 7th ltep. -i3; Sig.Graff. I, App.C.
i?;l-"h'

16l

JOLTIiNAL, R-A.S.

(CIIYLON)

New Series,

l'ol' VI'

:H

Speci'al Nutnber

In an inscription oI

Kumaradisa (5o8-516) at-,Nogirikanda'

l3amalagartya
5 niiles north-east of Madatacc-iya, the site.is named
Vihur" ancl the follori'ing tanli are mentionecl :-(i) Mahag.aril'a ;
(ii) Cugzrliva; (iii) Ka6uba; (iv) Katacanakapula; (r'') Tavaa;
(r i; \ ila-u I (r li r t iajaa : arrd (i iii; Pa'la.;O
An inscription of Sena II (853-887) at Kotibiin'duua, 3 miles-south
of the Sth mile on the LIar],a,accila-H'orottapottitta roat\, names the site
Kangiri \''ihdra.51
Hantlagala vihara, 3 rniles north-rvest ol Rakrtalegcrhaacitta at the
rzth nrile oi tn. LIarl.arLicciya-Horouapotana road, is a picturesque site
s'c' to the rst
;iiii ;;;";"us inscribecl iaves of tLre znd ce'tury
."r-rtorrr. The place-names occurl,i"S .il, these inscriptions- are,:(i) Panadika; (ii)'*r5
Anulapi tank ;" (iii) Nakodapika tank; . (ir')
be' tlre same. a> \lahatatitagdma. rtortlr of
V'"t"1rg.,". if-ri.
'e.""raTi.pi,ra and on ih" Uttarade"a boundary, where the,fi!*{t"=
inflictecl their shattering defeat on the army of_ Sena I (83r-E55);
i,,t l,l.ko-nukara : t his" 'ame occurs also ln the Tatntnanakanda
south, ancl ot?y l" the same as the roth
ilJ.tio;i;;, ,i-*il.t to the
Padauiya.i'
ncar
place
..rltui't -\5nnaru. a
The ruins at Karambatth.ulama, r mile from the 59th mile on the
e""tain"p"ia-Ttincotnalee toad, are calied Naka Vihara in a 3rd
century inscriPtion thete.r':|
the
In an inscription of Dappula V (Sz+-S:S)) at.Allatt'iaa' near
Kulaplace
the
roar7,
tai, AnurEclhapura-TrincomaLec
6S.d^t-[i1e

viliya

IS'f O]iIC]AI, TOPOGIiAPHY

oir Arnbatthala rvas the cave occupied b\r Mahinda Thera: the thera
tr-crrnasa Nnga livecl later iu the cave nanred Piyanguguha : a thircl
carle \,vas l<nor,r'n as ltajalelarin SeLddha Tissa's time (e.c. t37-uc1).
ri-etiyapabbata r,l'as so named because llumerous Cetiyas-Paral<kamabahu I (1153-1186) is said to have restorecl t;4 Cetii'as tirert,-rvere
iruilt on the hill at all ievels from foot to summit. See L.2. I. .Sr ancl
lJz

for further historical cletails. Fa-Hsien (4rr-4r3) says that there

r,ere about z,ooo monks at Cetiyapabbata Vihara in his time. In the

11th century the Vihara passed into the control oJ the Nrlahdvana frateririty of Abhayagiri Vihnra. Extensive repairs and restoiations rvere
c:arried gut- by Aggabodhi Y \7r8-7c+): Parakkamabahu I (r153-1186)
aiso carried out some l,vork of re-building.57

.1.}reprirrcipaifeaturesoft]reCetiyapabbataentourage

(i) The Tumbara

(ii)

Atautragollilta, near the 7th mile on. the Madauacuiya-Hoyoua*

callecl Velangima in an inscription of Dappula IV

potaii-"i""ri, is

forest: of the 3z malakas, llalfnda 'lhera

marked first the Tumbaru mdlaka;;8
Kattaka or Kalclaka Cetiya, buiit during or soon after the
reign of Devanampiya Tissa (s.c. 247-zo7). Ilouncl the
Kaltaka Cetiya rvere 68 rock-caves and 3z malakas constructed by Devanarirpiya Tissa. Lafljatissa (e.c. rr9-rro)
macle a stone mantling for the Khandhaka or J(antaka
(-letiya. In a znd century inscription in sitw, it is called
J(atalia-ceta. Mahadathikamahanaga (7-rg) held a great
festival u,hich Lrccame known as the Giribhalda fcstival.
flclaya I 1797-8or) restored Giribhalda Vih5ra. In the
ll[ihiettalE tab]ets of ]'Iahinda IV (gS6-clZz) it is called
Kiribandpavu dagiba. Its modern name is liiribat

(gz+-qss)"

Uttanad.eviVihara'toeastofAnuradhapura,existe<1intheearl}l
't.c:.5(i

The ruins and ancient sites in the Anuradhapura district r,vitla

inscriptions which contain no topographicai information or without
inscriptions are too n1lmero1ls for recapitulation'

Vehera.5e

{iii)

(B).

CetiYaPabbata Vihdra
Cetiyapabbatavihara, called Seygiri or Sl-g-iri in Sinhalese'
literature'aid inscriptions, is modern il[ihintale Vih[ra. According

50. E.Z.IY. tz3.

5r. C../.S. (G) II. rrr.
\". 'The Brahmi Tnscriptions at

tg8; M. 5o.

53.
5+.
55.
56.

Handagerla

Viharei', C'H'J' zz4; E'Z'

tr"

A.S.7tin ReP'

E.Z.II"

48.

E-H.8. to3.

46-

Na,gacatukka or Nagasondi pond, used as a Lrathing tank by

lfahinda thera and the monks of the Vi]rara. Aggabodhi I
(57r-6o4) ensured a permanent supply of r,r'ater for it. lt

is the preseri l{clga.t'alltna.\to

M.
'\rp.s7.
IJ3.

14.

A.S.C.A.R., r8ez,

ANCIENT .\.\D ]TEDII'V.{L CEYI,ON I6;}

.to the traclition, the Thera llahintla and his companions alighted in
B.c. 246 on the Sila peak, on the open tablcland Ambatlhala, on
lli-.akapaLrlrata : tlten .follorvr.tl tlre rncr.ting rr ith kirrg Der.airarhpiva
! i..e, tlrc vi:it 1t-r Arrrrrfr,llraprrra. 1lrr, convcr>iorr of tFc liing rrr,l rlre
establishment of llucldhism as tlie religion of thc Sinhalese people.
'.llie Cletiyapabbz*a Vihara on the llissaka mountain .,i,'as foundecl-by
I)er.anarirpiya Tis-sa ancl prcsentecl to Mahinda. A sapiing of the
.Bodhi Tree u'as planted there. Mahindagul'rd or Theranambattha-lela

"" Attaatitta) is mentioned.5a

(present

centuries

OT{

8.
I

58. IvI. to.z: t6. t5.

59. M. 16. rz, 15 i 33. 25 :34. 8r :

t. 200.

49. 29 ;

E.trL 16.

15

: 33. zq ; E"Z. I. to3

16i1 JOUIiNAI,, If.A.S. (ClU\.LON) l'etr

Series,.

l''r't. l'1,

Sp'ecictl. \'urnben

A Cetiya to enshrine part of the Reiics of I'Iahincla -I'hera

was bllilt by lJttiva towarcls the encl of the 3rci conttLry e.c"

(i.')

This Cetiya has been iclentifled by Paranavitana as the

smaller, ruined thupa alongsicie the NIal!6,thripa orr the

}TTSTOIIICAL TOPOGRAPHY

'I'he
(i)

to east of
the Uposatha Housc, ancl, enclosing it, Kanittha'l'issa (167186) built the Cetiyaghara or r-ata-cla-gi: (]othabhava
\24g-2q) restorecl it. In the 3rcl century I:laburana inscription tlre Agivadanrana tanl< (present Hiriaad,ttna tank at

Kntalianna Tissa (n.c. 4q-22) built Sila tietiya

I(utakaqrla Tissa (u"c'. 14-22) also built a great Llposatha

HouseandheplantccialiorlhiTree. In the reign of Karliraja-

(r.ii

rrutissa \zg--lz) there n'as a larvstiit over thc U1;osatita House

(r'ii)

to

clbatlr orr the Katiira

precipice 6o bhikhhus rvho tl'ere inrroli'ecl in trcasou;rj'j
'fhe Anrbatthala ]Iahtrthnpa or Ambuln C'etiya, on thc r-ery
sunrinit of the hili. iclcntifiecl by p111n21.jlana as the present
Xtalruthufa, the higtrest ancl largest thrlpa at I'[ilitilal.E, wa:
built bv Mahadathikanrah:rntrga (f -:rq): at the 4 entrances
\vere 4 bejervelled arches. I)hatusena (ISS-+Zi built the
Ambatthala Vihara and lranclecl it over to the l{ahar-[na:
fraternit-v. "llte XIih'intale.ja tablets of l'Iahincla IY (c.15{t-g7z}
rnention Amb r:lu-cligiiba
A roadr'r'av roun<l the hill u'itir 4 gatcn'ar.'-r n'as constn:cted
bv l,Iahadethikarriahanaea (7-r9) ;"'i
ro thupas t'erer built b1' Va"sabila 1fi7-,rrr) ;{tU
I(atthaka Lletiva *'as built b-r, the tluer:n r:f L.dava tr
ancl

tlie king hacl throrvn

c.lorvn

;1

(r,'iii)

(i")
(t)

(797-8ot1

',0'-

II (1i53.t167) ; a gtir century

inscription at a ruined builcling near the present cntrance to
the \/ihara refcrs to it as the Flospitai at Segiri;'r8

("i)

A Fiospital u'as founclecl bv Sena

(xii)

The Haclayurlha Parir-ena rva,s built lr1' 11t. general of Ka-qsa{ra

IV (Bg8-9r4) and donatecl to tlLe llaha.yana scct.61'

6r.

LI. zo.

45.

62. M. 35. ro, rr : 36. 9, to6 ; A.I "C" 6r ; E.Z. ItrI. rr7 r79 : I\r. rz6 ; C.J.S"
(G) II. zo7.
63. M.34.3o.3r.
64. M. 35. to, rt : 34. To-73 i 38. T5, 76 ; Pwj.''o i E.Z. tr. uz ; A.S.X[. Y, &.
65. M. 35. 8r.
06. .M. 35. 8r.
67. M. 49.23.
68. M. 5i. Z3; A.S.C.A.R., rgIo-rr, 20: r-e.52,. 4a.
69 JI. 52. t8.

i*

At veheT_(P. Anto-vihdra or Inner llonasterv) in which were

the-DaSe or \rata-Da-G6, ilrat is, the Cetiviehara built -bv
13)
],!anitlha f issa ; anrl (L; the .Check_.o.d;:b;i;;i;;;
At-vehera u.ere the,dagiibas on Udgala an,[ \'iitgaia,-tlre

rrpper and lou-cr rocl<s ;

(ii) the Bat-ge or Refectorr';
(iii) the Maha-Boy-Gi, or IJodhi lree House;
(i") Katumahasaya clagij.ba ;
(") Navaguna Mahasiya t1:tg:iba ;
(r'i) Ndteviya Mahas5ya, also calied. Niitiigiri;

Habarana)rl'as clonaterl to Silaceta on Abatana (ArnLratthaia)

in Cetagiri (Ceti1'apabbata) Vihara;1i2

(vi)

ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAI, CEYLON Itis

Llihintale tablets of Mahinda IV (SS6_SZz) mentio',

addition to the foregoing, the follorving:_

sumnit;(i1
(u)

OF-

r-iii

)
)

(i')
(')
('i)

Bolcl Vehera;

Nayinda shrine;
tire House of the goclcless l'Iininal;
{,ahiliya-pavu ancl the tu'o tanks on its upper ancl lor,ver
Porotlcnl pokrrna; arrrl

sicles ;

(-xii) Pahan:i"vil ponci.io

Tn

a rr.,. cave inscriptit_,rr a son oI l)e'anapi.ya Malraraia Caman;

AL:rra is str-lcd Lonapi'$la Sira. In ru.o

liin.e is styled l(alagama ltaja'fisa.il
"rii;;;,:;-;,.l.ip].,i.'"
'I'he clrronicles rt'cord trrc. foilr.,uing
grants to ceti1,;r.pabbatir

\-ihnra:-(i) Kalamattitia tanii. by

I 1zq:ii1j-i' 1ia
-l"itriatissu
i\l.Llrirrdatata. tank,
guraikrtini
at
Mihinta)a, "#iii ' .".1
_prescnt
,: r,rted br .\ggaLrotllri I (.i7r_r ro1 ); (iii) Amhillapa<lara rillage,
b5
lr;<eabodhi III (6zq-639) nn,r'li. yKaravepi b1- Seni i
iSs: :{;i;.".r"
rlre serreral inscriptio's at ilIihintatrr recorcl numerous benei',,1iorrs:-(r)tlrc

long. ilamag,'d inscrilrtion oI Firratir<abl,oiu i,.,.,.'rr.' . 7) name- tlre lolio*in{.|laccs:-(i) p.lckar.i iarrk,
\;k".;,"
(iii) \'a,laga.canal: jir ) pa4a.agAma. tlrc same as iiij
frln"i*c",n"
:'l,,tial,:
tltc Drtnunt,,tdaltrhtttdu in.cripl ion ; (. ) Hamarral<arla cana[;
,1.]
.a,rr,l ,Kacaka-ar utlakagamu in'Nifarajiv.,' iuU_airi.l.r,
: tdt,"gr,Tr
clea.It wrth; (vii) Kaiinigama tank iir Mujitag-ima_nakarika:
.,,'l:u:ty
is menrioncrI in sereril earlS.irrscrip_
:l]: p]i.i, -\lttjitaganra-nrl<ara.
it
*'ere (a) Konratala tank, granted to Ablrar.agiii Vihar;r,
'rurisand,rr

granretl to the llalrartrrrpa, and (r.1 Dakinigiri

l.^_;ltit^|"
,tank,
t\arrhrJa tank,
granted to Mihintal,e.,. (viii) Aganagama o. nganakoia,
tt-r *'hich rvas Kabota-agana tank; (ix)
Nakaragina ta'k;'a vihara.
rrattrd Nagarangana in ilre eastern divisio' u;s fuilt
u-y'vtatu^sir.a
Ta, E.Z.

T. 75-rt3, z3g.

7r. A"S.C.A.R., rgrr-r2, 95, 97 i

72" X[. 36. r3r i 42. 29 i 41. ]22.

Lt.C-R.

\-IL

z4a.

1ij6 J{)LrF,NAL, ri.A.S.

(OEYLON)

.rIISTORIC;\L TOPOGR,AP}IY OF;\NCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON t67

r:rttli;
elrlv i1 ilre -znd celltlrV H.(.; (*) t,oraka,latayilrag,'irrrr
(ri)- Curlaluealir lanl< irt Arrtaralarra :rrh'(li\ ision: (xii) Iictai,Llal<a
(xiii) Vihirabijaka dir''ision, already
ioit i"'the-sarnc s*h-cli'ision;
'ran'r.batikala
is mcntioncd jn an lith ccntury
(z)
rlealt rvith ;?,r
inscription.;. t:) i. field at'sandaganra is mentioned as a clouation in

"fhcse eariv inscriptions name two tanks,

Kalabutaka ancl
lialubaha.?3

{tentllry.

Ciilebhaya (:z-::) built Crllagallaka Vjhara, also known as

ilaggara'ra, on thc banlis of the (iorlaka-nadi. 'l'he Commentaries
rnention Gaggaravaliya-angana. Aggabodhi II (6o4-614) U"ifl
Practising House in cfllagalla vihara. cfllagalla-rattha is mentioned"
'rr the Commentaries.Tl)
Gonisa Vihara was some distance to the north of" the l{ala Oya.s0
Kalavipi-rattha, the district around Kalaariaa, was the scene of
,;rr-rch-fighting in_th9 civil war betw-een Parakkamabahu and Gajabahu
!I _It was in Rajarattha, the territory of Gajabahu. In ii u.ere
[i) Kalavapigima, where Gajabahu's commandei was stationed, and
iii) GortagSmuka, the scene of a battle.8l
Piliydna is mentioned in an Btli century inscription at Tamm,ana-

a roth or rrth"'centurv inscription;;; (4) tlie Mikintala tahlcts of

taniis as
I alrincla lY (c156-g7z) ilame the follo$'ing viliages_ancl
or
DanrlJamil'a
(ii)
tanh;
X'IanuvAsara
tne
iltiira:-(i)
assigned to
assignt:d for the maintenant:e of l{at*-rl'rhasiya
Dariiya, a
'iliage
ciificiali: Damgamu occurs in :r roth ceuturv
ancl ihe 1ay
a nraintenance_village for l(iribartd'av*
inscriptio'; liii) Atgami'a,
-be
Alagamuaa, near l{cikirdta; (iv) (iutagama,
dlgiba: this mry
for the Ilelic House; (v) Karanclliganre,
.'illug.
a Laintena'."
a maintenance viilage Jor the Image House: a vih5,ra uatned
n'IahS,karanjiya existi jn the rst century; (r'i) Talolagaura; (r'ii)
Sapugamiyai 1"ii;1 Vaclu-devlgama;

(it)

Snnubol-rler-agarrrr;

-(-r)

O"".i*"guttra;' (xi) l'languliva, r'vhich may be present ]lakulii"Lta'

6 milcs Jouth-east of. Gaigantuzra,' (xii) I)etis.isena; ancl (xili) Uin:i
tank.i6

(C). Kal6$am

Paldta

Thel{altl'oyaiscalledthe(io4a-nadiorKlllavapi-Iraclianclthe
tlistrict through *4ri.1, it florvecl in its lower course lvas kno$-u as the
Gorla or Gona district.iT
built KaiavSpi, present l{ak\tiir.a' and
Dh5,tusena (+SS-+ZS)
''-iwin'ivith
l{alrluriaa was Balaluvlva u'liich still
Kdlavapi Vihara.
bears the salne nanle, ancl rvas also built by Dh5tusena. Presunrably,
though there is no statement to that effect, DhS,tusena simrlltaneously
norv calleclYoda-:lla' u'hich
buililre .]aya Ganga, the artificial canal,
yom
l{al6tcualo T;ssat',iua at
oon.r"y, *oi", n clirtott." of 55 miles
its course'
along
area
iutg.
u
Anuradhup.tra ancl irrigatcs
-Par-akkanra('aig5:
as the Java
lvcll
as
Kalavapi
rJstorecl
(1153-1186)
f
i-,an,-r
as
I(alavapi
o{
bund
an inscriptiJn of this king gives the lcngth ol the
in
Hou'se
Uposatha
an
erectecl
i,7oo ,iy"r"t. Aggabodhi'i (57r-tro4)
Latla
ol
village
the
assignecl
(628)
III
fihtnuapi Viheral"ancl Jetthaiiisa
as

to the Vihara. Kalav"api'Vlnara is probablv the temple non' knc.rivn

Tl-re
Vtljitapwra Vihara at tlie northem errcl of the bund ol Kalatttiud
its
colossal'
rvith
distant'
z
m''les
about
b"iter-Lnooun Atukana Vihara,
l;t
stone lmage, was, as its inscriptions attest, in existence itr thc

73. A.I.C. 6o; I:[. zL. z; I:.2- I. 7o, z5i'

74. E.Z. LY" t48.
75. A.S.C.A.]t., rgtr-r2, 49'
;o. E.1..1 .;5 rrj: I\. ot:; l:ll B't:3'
77. Ll.83. t7; N.5. z3 ; Puj. 1z'

t:ft\a, 4 miles north-wesl of I{dgama.82

-In tlre inscription of Udaya

(7g7-8or) at Ndgama, ro miles south-

'.rrrith-west oI Kaliuiiva, the village Kolayunti (present I,Idgama\

l,itrrated in the sub-district Tanabirn, is assign-ed to the Image Ho"use at
't irtrrayagiri Vihara. I(olavapi
rvas donated by Siladeghavanla
ii':r9-6zE) to the Stone Image at Abhayagiri Vihera.g3
Ambilayagu, near which lva.s Nandivd,pi, was close to
. _I_hg r'illage
ilrl
p:,q..- 4*fti_lgrrmu was _a village assigned-to Abhayagiri
-Kakt Ambilahlla Vihira existed in the rst
!'ihara.
century.st
Caniganra
is
nrentioned
in
pre-Christian
a
cave inscription at
"_ .
"Jtlta
.Jlagarnu,ud V7he'q off the 54th mile on the Daniltwlla-kcikiraaa
r(,rd. This was a large monastery, with several caves, of earlv
,

,r'lgin.

Et

llahadatta tank, built by Dhatusena (+SS-+2il, is also called

.,i;iil:ita and ascribed _to Aggabodhi II (6oJ:6tO;.' Vijayabahu I

i,il55-11161 and Paral<kamabdhu I (1153-1186) both restoied Mahd;l;ritilra or n{ahddatta tg_nk.. It is presenl hlada.tuganta, near the grst
:r,ilir on the Dambul,la-I{cikirava road.so
of Mahinda II (ZZZ-Zgil a rebelprince adr.anceclfrom
" . In thetoreign
.i'.,ririz,iiua
Salgagdrna on the ioute ib Anuradhapura.8?

Ji.; ..rY. ?_8:_t.,_16: 42. z8: 44. ror | 79. 32, 59 ; puj. z7 ; A.S.C.A.l?., tg37,
{i.Cl.rQ. \rIII, No. 2, r2o, r2z.
';(,\. ,r11. 35. r3 : 42. 49 ; D. zr. 3g ; E.H.B. e6 ; L/.C.R.I. 89.
5o. J|.38. zt-24. There rvas no \.ihd,ra bythis name-see [/.C.R., XV, tz7.
::r r.
JI . 7o. 68, 7o.
,i:. l:.2.IY. t1g.

tt,;

,!l )1. 4. 69 ; E.Z.IL ry.

r-1. JI. .3E. i4, t5; E.Z.I. 6; E.H.t3.83.
.;j. .l .S.C.A.R., r894, 6.
rii,. -11. 38. 47 : 6o. 48 ; puj. zB.
ii;.. ,i,1.4.9.9r.

168

"IOURNAL, R,.A.S.

(CIIYLON)

-Vr:a; Szi'les'

ltol' VI' Sper:ial Nutnber

Ti f STOR,ICA I, TOPOC1 1TA P}IY ()F-,\

Kalducit;a-GalEuela

road, mention

(t)

IUatukapikzr, and (ii) Alakanuva tank.s8

fi

Moggallana II (53r-55r) made th-e,follorving three--tanks, -the

rst by- ?-amnrin g the K ad"Jmb a-n adi X'I alt: at t a O.'" a) - (1) P.att ap isa'n a
t

tank: Pattapd,sir:ra was aiso the name of a sub-district anrl

Patpaha4-birl occurs
I arn informed by Dr. Paranavitana that tl're
Nd,ccaduaa afea,
in unpublishecl rneclieval inscriptions in
tank:
Naccad'utta
pattapdsa4a
be
tank must
so tliit
-present
iiij.yrtrair" I (ro55-rrro) and Parakkamabahu I (rr53-r186) restorecl
eJititpasalta tanki tr'vo i'lttag"s in tbis clistdct t,u"tg- gi?119d to^the
jellhi,rama -o,l",it"ry built by thc clueen of AgSaLod],r1,]V.J99.2-91r] :
ii* gi"'d to this'monasteiy r".i tlt" -t:llt" Buddhabhel?c1-1:
also
\'ralpita is
clistrict. napgd.Dlianap(thi %)idpi!",.i:
tii) flf-r."*"api tank: aDatta
in it ;
VihS,ra
Datta
b'ilt
rvho
(683-684)
*6t-rti.""a in ihe reign oJ
XVI'
in
U'C'It'
Paper
7o'
tank.8e
(iii)
Garitara
it"
and
professoi paranar.itana identifies -"
I)hanar.a,pi or I)anir,r'iiva as tlre
earlier name of PaclivaPi) '

(D). Hurulu

sicle tire Sinhalese clu'eliing therc'l)(l

An inscription of Kassapa V (9r:1-923) at Altitig\'"tiva' z tnile;
south-east ot-I{iibittigatliit:a, recorcTs the clonation of I)emelinhetii.rava

(present -lvitigauriiai situated in Lohoiuvila-I{utiya (the sub-district

aiorrn.l l;AiittfrollAaa) to thc Tisaranr Nunner-v at Anuraclhapura.r)l

88. ,{.S.C.-',i .7?., r893, ro.

89. J1.4o. trr : 16. 27,:S, 1r-13 : t)o.5o : ,o. 31; N 'S' r7 ; Ptr'j' 3o; lhj' S7'
qo. 11. 7c.. 3q: E3. 16 : S8. rr4 ; Puj. rg; ]: Z' I" zo6 : II' t4z; A'S'C"'1'R"

{937, r0.

q]. E.Z.1l.

37'

in_an inscription of udaya

grriy-a Vihara_,
N

iralavitiva.l)5

the site of the ,inicription, ancl (ii) the"

village

, A pre-Chri-stian ca_ve inscription at fuIaha Kapugoll,dva on the

{l!"roval>otana-Klpug^olltit'a road, records the grant of i .^rr" by t}re
r iltage corporation of Tubadavasaka.e6
1-l: ruins a_t Alavi-yalgala. z rniies south of the gTth mile on the
"

r\nurddhapura-Trincomalee road, are named rotihumanakaraka

fihara in tu'o rst centurv inscriptions in situ.. 'I'he name',sue;ests

iver (Yiin Oya) is nor,v zl miles distant

I (u4-r36) at I,,il\vtiuu. z miles
i.ast .of lne
mile
on
the
Anirr[cliapva-frincoiltalee
road.,
-7sJ!
tlrer place is called Kubaragarna.l)i
..
. Hilltryamaka is mentioned in a tst centurl, inscription at
t aherabiind,igala,
3 '.riles from Horovapottina on tiic Mctriavucciya.
lr lorcl, bnt the

,.oi,
Sacldha,fissir(n'c.47-l:$butitisextrenreiydoubtfuirvhetherso
l"rg" . tank coulcl ]no" been constructecl at this ea.rly periocl.
Falakkamabnhu I (1153-1186) restorer,t Padivdpi and an inscripti.n
of this king states that the klrgth oJ the bund u-as 3,zoo riyan'

to his

II

inscriptions of ttre 5th century at Labuiitabcindigala,

_Two
T miles
rrorth of .floroua/>ottin"r on the ,I{apugoitdua road,'rnentio"n 111 'l_leva-

ancient reservoirs, Padivapi,

rvas uncler occupation by- Tamil

t-t,n lI (r4(t-tz7r)
jnvaclers, llrt his successor, Vija-vabahu I\r (rz7t-t273) brought over

mentioned.oa

kno."r-, as Padat'iya .' a Sinhalese Ctrronicle ascribes the lvork to

p2dlvapi a sanctuary for anirnals.

Nissanka M"alla (rr87-r196) tJ.ecrce6
The surrounclin.i clisirict'was known as Pacii-rattha and rvas in Uttarapassa (the ,.ortir"rt province). A roth ,century inscription at. Xlovathe
iqorlo, r',"a, Putlauil'a,- mentions the sub-clistrict P:idinnaru-kuliya'
Parakkamareign
of
ln
the
anclthe ta'li.
io.ui or". arcsvncl- Moragotla
'Paclirattha

Posonavulil (pre*ent Irilritutiyuua) in S_r_rlinnarugama is referred,

I (7g7-8or) at Iripinniv,,j'a. z nriles west
r'f ValtalkaQa tank : the Hoya (present X[ria Oya) ancl the clam
ricross it - (norv in ruin, one mile south of the-r'illage) are also
r..r

PalSta

th_e

EDIII\"dT, OT'YLON

corner of the Jarge, breached Vah,alha(a tank"er

l-he Pali chronicles, strangely, co[tain no reference to the

original construction of the largest of

}I

An inscription of l.ihatikatissir. (r4-167) at l,ahala Usgolliu,t,

4, nrilcs north-east of. I{iiitittigolldva, records the grant of the
lla.hatubari tract rif fielcis to a monasterli.{}:
Galincluru Gomanclla (present llatnbdva) is mentionecl in an
irscription of udaya r (7g7-8or) at Ra,u'tbdaa. near thc *orth-west

Inscriptions of the rst ancl 7th centluies al RwdwgeltinrL(t' vllTeta,

at the zirtir mile on tl'e

NCIU\T AND

In^an-inscription of Gajabi,iru

r,.r;,ttl-

At

.f the rfrtli mile o' the

a series of inscriptions of the zncl
i.r*tury.contain the foliowing placc-'anes :-(i) Marapagiriya vihara"
rame of present llasnakaaciaa vihaira; iii) 'baira'"tuiu;
11 1'ancient
(_iy) A.betlavaranalaganra: (r.) Culaviya
I'ti)
,Tojanahirralia ;.
1. ;,) Kara'iri.va..;. (rii),\latarihiliariya : (viiil f'abeta
: firl Alig._
Rasnahauiiaa YlLtara,

:l

miles north

:\,!adatacc,bta-Horoua.l;otana road,

'.l,,r

l(a tank ;

ilr" sa're,

r:cription

92.
!r3.
94.
rr5.
96.
97"
98.

(x) l,)alava.ar
probaLrlv.

belorv.

A.S.C. A.It.

e8

, r 89:,

ri ) Al,alx1.u*"U" ; and rii,1 pekarcva.ajirr,

Piliura'a*al<a oI trre p,rlttila Ta,unattiit,rt

;L :. l

a-

9.

E.Z. I. r75.
E.Z. I.

t6c,;1.

f:.2. ll [. :,o :.;:.

,/.1r.,.1..S. (C.I}.), Nov Series, \', 7i.
,4..5. 7th itep. .58 ; E.Z III. zqg.

A.S.C.A.j?., r89:,

7 ', J:1.2.

I\,. z.:.8; U.C.R. VIII,

rzo.

r70 JOU}iN-{L, R.A.S.

(LTEYLON)

The rrrins al Paitaltt Tarmnm,tdta, r rrrik' cast of thc rrth rrriiL: on

IlotmalEgah,euiiua-Kiibittigoll,i',.ta ro:rcl. ar-e nanltrrl llajinr:ri3rirrra
Vihara in two inscriirtions of thc zrrd ccnturv in sittt.'also tnt:u1 ionecl

HISTOIlIC.\I, TOPOCI.API{\' OF ANCII'N'I

AND }Itr]DIEVAL CEYLON I7I
ttarrtc tlagapar ata

thc

are :. (i) Pikaravasaka, vicle above; (ii) Iiavakavitil'a' (iii) llaniavil'a 1unL ; (iv) H:rnagamaka ; ancl (r.) -\latar.iya.
At Actrratritthigama. or Ar-urLrr,itiglrrr:t, 3 r'ojarrri. r )i J z flilv
(zo to 3o rnilcs) north-cast of Anur::itlh:rirur:r, golcl is said lo lravc been
founcl in the reign oI l)utthagtirnani :\bhaya (r;.r'. r(rr-i.17) : tht:

pltrce woulcl havc bccr-r in the area llallnalego/ttt:iiuo-Kiibitltg,,llri::u.r)

Kumbn.\t:tit,a \/ihara, r nrilc east of tirc 4th rnilt: oit tht: Jiaiutagasdigill'a-RahttaLe,golfi"t ira roacl. is c:rllecl Naliapavata YilrLra in a

inscript;on i;t,

3rc1 cerrtury

situ.10)

ol thc 7znc1 rnilr-r ori llre

is callerl Pif illi'1p2s'11r1 iri rr- preChristiirn cavc inscription thr:re. Possiblv r:onnectecl litli it u,as
Pi1,aga1 Pirivena built b1, Aggabc'dlri lV (667-(13.,;). r\iso rur:ritioned
in tlic carly irrscriptions at Ga'handcgonttkutla, is Paclil<:rrag:rnrrlka.r01
l)an:rteka r'illagc is narhecl in a Prc-(ih;:istian inscription at
Batnbaral'tela, 3 niiles suuth-suuth ta:t uf tlrr' 67tlr nrile ott ihe
('alkantlEganmlianda,

3]

n-riles nortl,r

Anurnclhapura-Trirtcornalce raarf ,

Annracllrapu

a-T r itr, :: om, ale e

In an inscription of

t o ad.1

GajabEhu

I (rr4-t3tr; rrt

tli,,'l',1rtttt':,,tgala.

ruins, z miles from thc Tth nrilc on thc SL.l) hihuLrlmt-(]altrtltiindtt',ttt;iit;a

road, the site is namecl (iutapavrrta \ rlri'rn. rrtt,l tlrc f,,ll,,i'11r1 pl1, r'names occur :-(i) Pahanaviya ; 1ii) tracts of tielcls nttt'tr.cl Hajiya,
Culavika, llahahrrmanaka, Haclar.ika, LIt:rra-zrral<tr, and Sir-ar,ik:i.Iili
At I/adahaltap&lahtnna, ne'ar lioltobF, the Pl:rr:e Flr.rrrtana.jrrrriilikcva
is mentionecl in a pre-Christian inscription, ancl thc lJllagr' \lahrrsama
in a znd century insoription.
A 4th century in-scription al ,ltnin,iccit'a, about t nliic uorth-east
ol the z8th mile on the Eastevtt l,[inor lloarl, narnes thc follorving
places : (i) Ala Abagama in Pajinapasa (tlrt: eastelrr rlivr.ionl ;

(ii) Davacakapatagama ; (iii) ;\banravipatagzur]a. ; (ii') \"':r.i;1.ava

tank; (") Kada-aviva tank ; (r.i) \"arlalralagantirk:r tanl.: ; (r'ii)
Nar.ada-aviya tank; (viii) Mahavava; arid {ir) Vijaganral<a.
There are 4 inscriptions of kings of the 3rcl centun" iit tlru nrins
caTled Velteraqala, near f intbiri'uizta,:1 nrili:s crast oI thc zNtli rnile
on the Dctstern, J[inor Roatl, in rvhic]r the site is namecl ('ag;r;xrvata
Vihara, situ:rtcrl in the sub-district c:r-1iecl (iagavi : tn.o tanll;. one
'lhe
also called (lagavi, and the othcr Tinisativa., art-' nt.rntiolrc(i.
<)ct. X/l. 28. t j; Tha. 7t.
roo. A.I.C. Q; Codrington, Coitzs,
ror. Pwi. zrl; Rai. s7 ; E.Z. r..;.r.
ro2. 1..S. 7th I cp. 5.3.
roi, zl .[.C. t :..
f o.l. .4..S. Tiir ll<:p.54; E.Z

r-'u\\ :

irnplies-i.lr"

nr iles aw_ay

Irc rir.er. lrrrt tlrc

.h.r,
and appears trl
ha'e cha,'gcci i t.

tlntes- -see also .l'otahgma'nskaraka abor,"" ro;

rir.cr ( \.utt O.va)

."urr.' i J'niriori."r

'lhe

ruins at Galafitagarr, ,r"". ,i*-fii"*,r. on the If

,
ayadankada_
road, iri: 'ialtea D".;;;"j; a rst centurl, ;ns..ipti,i,,
;,::;?;t{|ir*'na
Hakulaviva is mentionecl in a rst- century inscription
at
Hittala4nuta-h,l,ina

near

anttal1.,ofi.lir'-'

(la'aratissa vihara, also

called vardrama

ivas founcled

ancl

a'ara'ala_angar.ia,

bv Bhetikatlsr_a (ra3 r6)t. il; ;;'f.i"g-fr,,iftt.ra

rl.'Alerl ro this'virrara. rarrarnanil,i din,o,''i
t",,t . Latcr, MarrAmani
trrrli. rrl;o callorl'ahaminire, i,
1o .l\lalrascna (rZr_:o,'jl
"r.ilniAihc r itragc-ijrr,anrruir.aBama
ro eravana
ilfl:-_"11.'ll,+,]]l-1ui:*)jule
\ rritril r rre Sigiri (iraffiri rncrrlion r\rahaminir
i1 a. lrah;niani and
tts lariants
f

stand for moclcrrr klamirril,a,ite narne^of a Korala,village

ancl tarrk, 3 miles south-east .t ur.;riiiiriatale}o|
"I'he rnins

ort tire Easteyn,

irI-criJ,t i,rr.l'r:r

at l{arrwahhtrla,t, 2
of the rzth mile
'riles 'ortr.r-r,vest
I[inoy Road, are."lf"ii-ii.,:"
Vihara i" ,;;J;;,rl;ry

llairinikl<ha'atti tank, also callecl Mahanikklia'itti,

Manii,kati
ilanikavrti ulas buili tli l'"*irf,"^"tOZ:iii),
;r'-pl.r";t
i[,7ttartliuiili1'd, near trr" rzir, ;i]" ;;;;"bosturn
""a'Ro(ld.\\)
Minor
(:7.5-3or) buiit Chalhtra tank also called
Suralla and
..._^,1t^.,,r.,t:la
.-uiiuia. Later, Surrrlu tank is ascribed to l)lrAtusen
a
At
e55_47).
5.rulla, i' llaharatilra.,-1 part of pararikam"bdrr.r,.
Jorces was trapped
rrrrl tater retievecl.' Ati ir,"r"
irTr;;;l:.lrr,
.crccritlv restored, near ydkrilla on
"";r;;';;i;';;-;..;;
the giiirr,, Mirro, 110)ri.tit"""'
righest mountain range in
):lli$g:* .lI:::"1,u,,,Ritigara,.the
pi.uri.r"t" til."1),1,r' tii"Zi'n1"1')*i,o,,
I,::::::r:,tf::tg;,ihi:r,
B1!,TIJ:, is n,,? mc,,ti;;J;.;h;;;if;;f; "1"il#"#:i:
;l:.f:]1.:l,ll_:
tii,i\1:t*11;..,::,illlJu:o r,i-,"1i^i".';'),;"*'il;i,'J';",.i':Ht""J;:::
.rL
li.thc
Lrrij iuul
foot ur.
Lle mountaln,
of ttre
mo'ntain, 5aratlssa,
S,ratissaj carly
aiifiir'ti
i11 tl_re zr.rd
r'i,; centurv
.;;il;r" ;.,
n.,..
rnilt f{akulaka
irnilt
J{akulaka or Marigula \.ihara"'
"
Vihara"' tu"i."i"rl".rtrir,l"',ii#,.l,,.,
ru"i."i"rl".rtrir,"'.ii'.J"*.a
ul z,,cr's.c,.'^i'
zlrLr u.(r, aT iiiig'rr,l"il'
Kltlgdla,
ttgdla, tbe f"ffi:iil;
:,, -'. iil..Jilti1i,
. ,,.
1"l."l,Lrvlr or
loundation
l,T:,
\'lllxge Arita_rnahagana
'r ttrr. .*^ll
is recordecl I anothr
anothcr it'rscription of
t
i",,i,. "' i]lt: ll
rrssii 1r,.._'.
i,:,i',
.'::"_10:
lll:,s.l,1,,
3, 1,.t * tlttl*" "i-ir,"i" i3i.l -i"is3._Ijrl
rr9-rro)
extenclccl
Arittha Vihara. S.i
:rrtci

I -r,

ro.i. ,:1.S. 7-rh R"p. 55 ; E.Z. I\r. 2.27.

06. A.S.C.A.R., r893, ro.
ro7. ,f.ll.A.S. (C.ts.), Nerv Ser.ies, V. 6.
7
r .i.
D. z:. 9, :o : .'l1. t
J' ''/' I 7:
I

iD;:;.s

crirT.-r' App:t.''
]oq. A.S.C.A.R., r8g3, 7.

-r,p.

rrci' ll'1. 3s.gq: E.M. 35. 95; pwj. zt

r. M" y. q7 : 72. r3a-rlo ; puj" zq,

rr

4q.

zr; Puj"

Rtlj.5z.

; Raj"

52.

172 JOURNAL, R,A.S. (OEYLON) ,\eu

,Jeri'es, Vol.

VI, Speeial Nttnite'r

built on Aritthagiri a large, well-equipped and richly endowed Vilrara

for tlre Parhsukirlika bhikkhus. In this king's inscription at Ki"awlthaila he is styled the founder of Ritigal-aram. The Sigiri Graffiti
mention Ritgal.1l2
From Girilaka, I)utthaganani Abliaya aclvanced to llahlanagara.

In a 5th centur\r inscription at Anurti,clliapura, the tor'vn of Nlahelaka

or }la.kalaka is mentioned. 'fhe Makulaka Vihara rvas at the foot oI
Ritigala (see under Aritthagiri above). If ttre equation n'IaLri'lanagara:Nlahelal<a:Makalaka-Mal<ulaka is correct, the[ ]'Iahclaragara \\'as rlear Ritigala. At the spot where Dutthagimali turneil
asidefromthe roaclto Anuraclhapurain ordcr to march on X'fahelanagara,

he founclecl the village of Nivattagiri.rls

The next point of DLrtthagamani's advance beyoncl I'Iahf:lanagara $/as Kisapabbata, also callecl Kalapabbata, Kasagalbada and
Kasagalugama. It was at this same Kasapabbata that Paldukabhaya,
neariy two centuries earlier, had begun ]ris eastward march. (ieiger
identifies Kasapabbata willn Kahagalgam,a, 18 miles south-east of
Anuradtrapura, but this name does not appear on modern maps and

village lists: there is a l{ahallEgantq. between Eruucit'a anrJ Labuttorrr,ta.

Near Kisapabbata was tiie town Pana, also called Palonagara ; this
place is iclentical with Pajjotanagara which was nained after Pajjota
tank r,r'hich Dutthagama4i built near KS,sapabbata. The Sigiri
Gralfiti mention Polonaru. In an inscription of Vasabha (67-rrr)
Palo-nakaraka tank in Tihalaka district and the assembly atTiragama
are mentioned. Aggabocihi II (6o,1-(ir4) built a Practising House at
Palarnnagara Vihara. l-iragama irppears to be identicalrvith'leriga,nla,
southlvarcl of Anuraclhapura, rvhere Parakkanabtr,hu's Jorces \\:on a
clecisive victorv. CIose to Kn,sapabbata, I)utthagtr,nraui built the

IJISTORIOAL T( ) POC.I R;\PHY ()F A};CIEN'| AND trIED I IJV;\T, CEYLON

r 73

lladul<ola ; (ii) Eraha ; (iii) Niliba ; (irr)

Nalra-nakara (P.Naga-nagar:r), already nrentionecl rincler Haitdasala V'i/tu/a; (v) \rahanikupida; (vl) Acavivika ; and (r'ii) llayiha.lii
'l'he constmction of llalratombnva rtr llatombu tanii is ascribed to
-fel,thatissa 1. (zg-z7S) a-ncl to Aggabodhi II (6o,1-614). Aggabodhi IV
(667-683) built tlre ltlatambiya Practising House. The nanres
iiahatonrbuva, llatrimbu ancl lfiitambiya appear to be preserved in
mocienr l[Atuntbuaa lirjyalt anc] 'I-ttldna. fo tlie Practising House
'rver-e assignecl:-(i) Ambavapi at Ilirkakalia
; (ii) Tantavayikaca,tika
viilage ; and (iii) Nitthila.vetthi r,'illage.ttti
Velur-ana Vihara, also callecl Velunntt, Vehera, in (iangavita or
{iaganavita, lr,as built by .{ggaboclhi II (6o4-6t4) anci ruacle over to.
the Sagali sect. King Samghatissa defeateci in battle east of Anuradltapura, rvent to Veluvana Vihdra .nrthere he assuned zl inonli',s robes : he
rvas proceeCing tlience to cross the l,Iah,atiili Gailga and escape into
.Rolrana wlren ite rvas detected and seiz-ecl at Min,nEriya.. It is clear,
tlrcrefore, that Velur.ar.la Vih:rra u,as r,vestlvar d oI' Miineytyc arid probabiy in X[a,totnbwt,a l{oralE. In the inscription of ]Vlahinda IY {956-97z)
,at Abhayagiri \,-il'rara, it is statecl that he repairecl the pasada at
Viluvana Vihara- Jetthatissa III ({rz8) grantecl the \rilrnra thc village
-

inscription are :-(i)

l(

akklrala virt lri.

rr7

tanl<, also called

AggivadclhamS,naka

Abhir-aclclirananaka,

(67-rrr)" In
of the 3rc1 ccntury, Agivaclanrana tanl<,
present Hirit:atlwnna t:rnk, r ilile lrom Httbarq.na, is rnentioned : it
rvas clonatecl to Sila Ceta on Abatala at Cetagiri (Xlihintal,E).tr8
Sumanar.dpi or Samanvtiva was ,1 yojanas or 12 gav (3o to 4o
Akvadunna ancl Abivadunna, w:rs brLilt by Vasabha

thc

Hctltayana inscription

or Kulatthavapi or Kalat5viiva., present

.rliles) south-east oI Anuraclhapura ancl precious stont.s are said to have

lrlt rr forrnd lltr.rr.in llre reign of l)utrlrlg,rnrani \hlra1.a (rr.c. r6t-rJ-).
lt r,as 1>robably in the Hab"trutttt ai,:t. Aggabodhi I (57r-tto4)
,built Sumanapabbata Vihrira in liclivA,ta.lrl)

Panclukabhaya, in the 4th ccnturv e.c", lought his clecisrve battle

at Labugrlmaka (near Aritthapabbata), idcntifreci by [ieiger as present

togctirer ancl situated betrveen Anura,rlhapura ancl the Mah,aztcili GafLgu.

'fhe latter viilage r,vas granterl to
Javasenapabbata Vihara, built by

tank

KuLanta.vapi

Kalattiha.lra

Labu.ndytr,zta.

Kortilarag:rma and nlahumnriira

In an inscrjption of the rst century at

Vad,a,halrnsaLa

{Tatnman,agala), z! miles nortli-north-east ol Lttbltt'rnruttra, t}re name

Labunakara occllrs : Libugflmaka of the 4th centurv e.c., Labunakara
of tlre rst century, andmodern Labu'norwrta areone anclthe sarne place,
a remarl<able instance of the survir.al of a village name Jor over z,ooo
years. Otlier places named in tl'rc I/atlakaltagala (Tatnnmnagala)

trz. :/'I. zr.. 6: 33. 2T : 50. b3, 6q; I'),.M. zt. 6; li.Z. L r3-5 : III. :9r ; Sig.
I, APP.C.
r13. )\tt. 25. 48 ; X't.7. 48o, 3 ; E.Lt. 25. r oz ; N.'S. z6 ; E.Z. IlI. tz:..
rr,l. 1[. to. z7 : 22. 5l-: 25. 2r, 5r, 66 : '+2. 19: 7tr. r33-r17 ; [J.I'l. v;. 36:
25. 16z; M.T. 48o, t8 ; Raj. p; E.Z.I. 7o ; Sig. Graff. T, -\pii. C.

,Graff.

thr: qucren of flclaya

i15.
rr{:.
rr7.
rr3.
I"Z.IlI.
r 19.
i"?o.

)1.

tt>.

7z;

or

I'{aha,ummar-a rvere close

(797-Eor) {or l)amila bhikkhus.r2t}

1..S.C..J.1?." rrl93,

7.

Pttj. zq, 28.

)1. qz. q3: :lJ. r3-3o : 1q. gg; Puj :t ; llai. i6; L.Z.I. zz7.
l). 22. 7" 8 ; il'I" 35. 95; Ptti. zt ; Ra.j. +l ; .4.1.C. 6t : C.J.S. II. zo7;
rr7, r79: I\r. r^26.
i1. :t. r E : +2. rg ; Thu. t6z.
,1{. 4tr. 19 ;

.1/. 43"

r:z

r, ta6; lg.

21.

,HISTOR,ICALTOPOGIiAPIIY OF ANCIENT AND MIIT]IEVAL CEYI,O)i I7T

CHAPTEIT XX

THE CITY

OF' PULATTHINAGARA (POLONNARUVA)

The earliest lithic record of human habitation at Polonnaruva is

a short cave inscription of the rst century. The lirst allusion to the
place in the Chronicles is a reference to the construction of the tank
'lopavAva in the reign of Upatissa I (365-4o6). But its antiquity
goes back to much earl:er times because there are good grounds for
iclentifying Polonnaruva, or a place 'u'ery close to it, lr,ith the fortress
rramed Vijitanagara u.here a clecisivc battle r'vas fought about e.c. 163
betr,veen thc forces of Dutthagamani Abhaya and the foreign ruler"
Elara. 1-he position o{ Polonnaruva was one of great strategic
inrportance since it commanded the crossing-* oI the Mahaulili Gahga,
the defence of u'hich u'as vital against rebel forces advancing into
Rajarattha from Roiraila: at the same time, in the event of invasion
by a South Indian po\\rer, its position rvas clistant enough to give time
for the organisation and manning of the river defences so as to halt
the invadinS forces on the river linc, and, furthertnore, if those defences.
failecl, to fa.cilitate retreat into ltoharla. So that it gave greater
,cecuritJ.,

to tire king from his

enenties both rvithin ancl outsicie the

kingdom.l

The first king to found a Monastery at Polonnaruva was Aggabodhi III (628) who built the llahapanadipa Vihara there. Aggabodhi lV (667-6.93) temporarily removed the seat of gor.ernrlent lrorr
Anuradhapura to Polonnaruva and died at Polonnarurra. This rvas
the first of several occasions on rvhjch the kings vacated AnurS,clhapura
and rvent into temporary residence at Polonnaruva on account of
invasion or civil lvar. Hence, it came to be called Kaidavura-nur-ara

or 'the camp-city' .

Aggaboclhi

YII

(772-777) rulecl from Polcin-

naruva during the lattel part oI his reign and died there. Nlahinda II
(ZlZ-lgl) built the Sanniratittha Viliara and added a Parivena to the
existing D5,ma \rihara, both at Polonnaruva. Uclay'a I (797-Eor)
built a Hospital at Poionnaruva. During the reign of Sena f (833-E53)
the Paldyans invacled Ceylon and inflicted a crushing defeat on the
Sinhalese army : the king fled from Anuradhapura, ancl regained his
throne only b1, surrendering ail his regalia ancl treasure and paying a
verv heavy tribute, and thereafter he resided at PolonnarLlva. He
built there the Senaggabodhi Shrine, an adjacent Atrms Hall besitle
Thusarrapi (Tcpdveiva), another Alms Hall in Mahanettapabbata
\rihara, and a Hospital to rvest of the tor'r'n. Sena V (972-g8z)
reignecl at Polonnaruva during a very disturbecl time. Anuradhapura
continued to be the capital in the 8th, gth ar-rd roth centuries although

r. A.S.C.A.R., \g\r-r2, roo; Puj. z6;

Polonnaruva r,r'as, from tine to tinre. Jor military reasolls, temporarily

userl as a royal residencc.2
In 993 occurred ttie Coja conclucst which lasted till ro-7o' -(ie5'-lon
became a feuclatory province of the C6la llnrpire ancl the C01a Viceroy
establishecl his seat 1t Polonnatuva. which was re-named JananrL,thanrangalam. Whcn, at tlie enri o{ 77 years of foreign rulc, Vijayabaltu I
liberited the Sinhalese pcople, lic ceiebrated his consecration as king
"at AnuradhapLrra, but -short11' afternl'ards transferrecl the capital to
Polonlaruva. 'lhus, in roTo Polonnaruva rcplace:1 Anuriidhapr-ir:a as
thc cairital Citv of l,arika. \/ija)'abar,hu I lr'allecl the City and built a
Palace ancl a Tenrple of the l'ooth. 43 years of iriternal clisrrqrtion

I in rrro. Then Parakkamabahu I

(rr53-rr86) united. the rvhole Islancl uncler his sovereignitv and
inauguratccl an rrra of por'ver ancl prosperity which endured for half
a centurl'. His reign corrstltutes an epic period in Ceylon liistory'

followccl tl-ie death of Vijartabnhu

'fhough not thc founder, he n'as ccrtainly thc buiicler of -PolonnarLn'a.

He enlargecl anrl ern'oellished thc tor'vn, fortiff ing it secureiy and ac'lcling
to it rnany nerv, statcltr builclings. Nissaiika )talla (r187-1196), \l'hose
'vainglorious inscriptions are so prolific at Polonnaruva, succeeded
FIe continued the constructional w-ork of his
Parakkamab:1hu I.
predecessor ancl aclcled to the Citv some of its most hanclsom': structures.
After his death began decline. In rzr5 came the invader \'Iagha, a
Kaliriga,' the scourge of Lanka,', rvho conquered Rajarattha and ruied
Jrom Polonnaruva for 2r years, subjecting the peopie to ivholesale
pillage, plunrier and oppression. fhis period of great tribulation rvas

continued for 8 years aftel his death b1r his commanders. 'lhe
Sinhalese monarchy estabiished jtself at Dambadeniya ancl began
graduall,v to regain its lost possessions '. in rz41 Polonnaruva rvas
besieged and a decisive victory u'as won. But the expulsion of Mtr,gha's
followcrs was followecl by a new concluest by the Javanese, Candabhdnu, rvho ravagecl the country anern'. The Sinhalese king, Parakkamabdhu II, and his warrior son, Vijayabahu, completelv defeated
Candabhanu in rz68: he celebrated a festival of consecration at
Polonnaruva but neither he nor his son resided there. Ihe capital
continued to be Damhadefiya. Two invasions by the Pd,ld5.'ans
iollorvcd : the second took place about rz83 and the P5,ldyans ruled
Irom Polonnaruva for about zo years till their orvn Emi>ire fell to the
\{rrhammaclarrs. From 993 to roTo Polonnaruva was the seat of the Cola

i'or.ernor o{ Ceylon. Sinhalese kings reigned thcre frorn roTo to r2r5,

nearhr r50 -vears. Then foreign conquerors again occupieC the tiity till it

t'as temporarily wrested from them in rz68u,hen some work of repair and
restoration was attemptecl, but very shortly afterlvards it lr,as finally
abanclonecl by Sinhalese rulers. Polonnarur.a reached its peak of

Rctj- 5q; XI. 25. rg.

qq. rzz: 46.34-38: 48. jq: +8.r34; 49. 19 :

:6o. :-23: C./..S. (G) IL ar.

:.. )1.
5+. 04-72

5cl.

S5-sr ; io. 73-7.j l

.l()t.iI'"NA],. }t.A.li (('l'l\-1,{l},1 r

lr:r: t\yrir.,.:. I'r'!. l'1. ,-\'ltetitl \t1t!itl,t:r

rrlir-gniflccltc{r in tha"t pcriod oI tli){)irt 5ri lcars uircrn liarakii.unabiilru

and Nissarilia l,Ia1la sat 11lx)n its l-ii-,lr 1'lrrone.'r

Yija,1 ai,-illru I. rvho becarnc l<rng or.cr ali (.erlol irt ro7o, buiit tlre
u'al1 roun(l the Citr; : it \\'a,. a higir. strong u'ali tlitli 1nan1: f1s1ie1ls,
alr,l it \\':ri :llt rrllin.l",l l,r' a l,r,,,r,l rlt.t 1r rrro;rl. Pat'llililini;rl,,r!,rr I

first

(rr53,-rr8(r) remo.lelled the Citr. ,\ chain of l.alls r:nclosccl thc tou.rl

ort trll si,lt.-. \Vitlrirr rlt{.ontr'r cliaiir urre I \\alis,lecrearirrR irr rizc

\\/itlrin tlrc innernrost

charLr \\ns a sccondiri,'chain of l'aiis n,iriclr

or
lloval Enclosure. -thc salls r.,ere l,icrtrccl by
-l'hc
outer clrain of rr'alls appear: to har-e crunrfiled arvay,
_r4 gates.
but the inner chain is jn a fair statc nI preserr-ation. J'he rvest lvail
\vas rcally thc bund of Paralikamasarnudcla r,t-hose huge slreet of tvater
protectecl tiie City on the north-\i.e-st, west ancl south-\i.est. The
rlost \\'estcrlv part of the Citv *.as a Promontory rvhicli projectecl into
Parakkanrasamudda ancl rr.as calleti the l)ipp[r'ana oi-' Islancl (,arclen ' :
on it rvcrc bathing pools, tlie Auciience Hall, Cor,rncil Chanrl;cr and other
buildings, and it vras territor-y rescrved for tht: use of the king and the
court. Acljoirring it on tirc east u,as the Citadel or Ror,al Errclo-sure
at the southern end of rvhich stoocl tlie Palace. Outsiile thc soutireaster:n part of the Citaclel $'as the r\andana Parl<, a pleasrlre garden
for the king. Adjacent to the Citadel on the north rvas the 'I'errace
on lvhich stood the 'fcnrple and al)purteilarlt fanes Ior tirc Tooth Relic^
Thc 'n'liole area to north rrf the Citaclel for about z nriles rvas occl,rpied
by llonastcries. There u-cre no religious erlifices u'ithin tlie rvalled
space soutir and east of the Citaclel. flie City li;rcl 3 snburtrs on the
north, east :rnrl south.a
cnclosccl the Citaclel

Dlppfryana 0r Fromontory '

The Dippnyana \\ias laicl out bv Parakkanlaba,lru I w'ho built
u'ithin it :-(i) the Dhar.al5ghtrr:r or ' \\'hite House ', nraile cntirely of
stucco ; 1ii) the Vijjimandapa. a \:inrina built ' to shorv forth the
various branches of science' : (iii1 the l)oilrnrarlqlapa or 'Swirg
Pavilion' : (iv) tire Kil:rmanclapa or 'Sport-s Par.ilion' ; (r.') the
Saninrar.-rr,lapa or 'Pat'ilion ol Saturn', made of _ir.or.\' ; ivi) tlie
I'Ioramar.rr-lapa or 'Peacock Pavilion ' ; (r.ii) thc i\dir,sarna!.rdapa or
'lllirror Pavilion' u,hose tverlls u'erc rlirrorecl ; (r'iii) the Singilravimanir
o[ | stolcls, adornetl ',r'itlr Pict rrrc; : (ir) tlre Ananrai'okklraranl.
a. poncl of stone r,vhose la.yers resenrblecl the coil-* of the Scrpent king"
Ananta; and (x) the Cittilpokkharani or 'Picture Poncl '. aclornerJ
6

r'vith pictures.r,
None oI tlre ruins on tire f)rotnorttoyl can be iclentiheci with an1
of the bnilclings or ponrls rnentioned al.rr-,r-e ancl it is cviclent ttiart
Parakkarnabahu's arrangement oi the Dipphyana tvas considerably
"1.

4.
5.

,11" Caps.

6o,

j,

75, 79, 8o.

,\,9.

: l':1. 57Jro, r6o-15j.

,U. 73. rr'l-r23 ; Ii"Z. II. r,+.5. r-13 : i\r. 4r : C. /..S"

:11. 6o. r-r-5

f[.

r 37.

allererl bV Nis-.iuilia llali:r : tlrc. chroniclcs t:ontain no:tccount of tlrese

b.t Nissa'rka llalla's i'scriptior-rs gir.e the r)Llr[)os(] ,ri,.r.,,

alteratio's

gl. t1:9 structures :--(i)_ a.stoner poliuna-u.ar ilr,. hathiirg 1,r,rrr{ 11.i1611s
Fiis )'Iajesty.c-ornplcted tlLe.ccreilonl' r f b;rthing ,, nnd (iI) it,., L,,.,,l.11
-r'irrone,
charnber

hcicl the Li.n

trrer scat of 1:ire r.,r.,).ri1u, ,*ii'tt,.i:,usiti.'s. rle'otecl bf i'rscription-s on ilre. pilrars,-occuPi.,cl L1l tlir high
clignitaries assemblcrl in council. An iriscribecl stoirc ,.ui .to." lrr.
u.t-.rrsctl br Ni.sanka.-\l;rll.r llrilc rratclrirrg darrcirrg arrcl li-t.rririg i,i
ntrr'jc i:r tlrt' li[liriglr l';rrli : jf tlris seat Irl: not l,cen rnorr,tl-ir,,il ,,,
original site r:lselvhere, jt lriis to bc as-sumed ilrat the I)ippiln,rn rr.o,
re-nanrecl tle lialiriga Irark b1' \issank:r llalla.,r

The Citadel or Royal Enclosure

\vitirin the cita<lel or llo1,'al linclosure stoocl the king,s palace anci
its_ appurtenant buildi'gs. \/ijayabirh' I built ilre fi?J -rlriii"
Potr,:'naruva _D*llg the rer-oit'of tire vEiaikkaras tiiir-p.iuJ" *",'
"t
lrurnt dou'n. Parakl<anralralrrr r brrirt a paiace,.oii,,,i-ili"-r:,,iri"na"
Ilalace, of 7 stor_ey-s .ld t:9o9- apartrnents, ,,ragnifi.erri1i a"t?."t".i
and cr;rrippetl. Nissanl;a lrailrr st.rcs irr orre
ni.;nri.i;t,-;;;: _
' I,ar irg belreld the l)alact' rrlrich a former king Jr
had ,,r..t",i il, ,';:"^r_
and 7 months ancl decl:rring-' a llonarcrr like Us"sho.lcl ri"" i"-..'p.i**
of LTs' Ifing. Nissarika ]laiia causecl to be built,
'o'o.rrhy
able
magnifice'ce, ir-r 4i da1's a.c* palace of z stoie'i:.^-x";rr.""t.
".iiirl"lo,irrorMalla's asscrtions are'ot all to he taken iiteraiiSr: oo" ,nav'i',r.ri,"."liu,
he c'largecl and embellislrt-cl the palace b'ilt "bv p"*i.ri"i""ta',.1
parakkamabnhu I b'ilt:-(i)the "'r"
$ppurtenant tothe Palace.
Hema.,,r it,e c{,rcrnonies or expiarion by'ii;l,,;;;..;
;:i1,1::hl::-.^T_.'Jil_c
tjl: Dll"rapiglrara,.{or recital ion oJ rnacic"incantatilns ; t;lij" tnt
1,,,]

{or li:tt'rrirrg t,.fntal;a:tories; (iv) tlre ''panca_

for receptiori of. magic. u,ater aricl'
tfr.loA ;
{r'i a Sernor Huuse, adorrretl rr-itlr .4"olden Imaser', "i"gi;i.,;i',r,"""',1
l\l.rnt.lalamarrrlira,

sattatimandira,

p'";;;i;;i'iJ'o',i=rl'ii,;':'.,ffl',
;:llf,li,l.pl,:l:llsffl:llill,_.;:;"J
[\ ni rrlc r\irrAvcsrl)llnlalrga-rnltntraprr, j-storolctl , snrrourrtlcrl lr\
vctlilias anrl decorated rr itlr crloirr,., I l,rinring. : tlre irrin*
rf ,ir
Iralr{lsornc <tnrt'lrrre :rlr\.i\e ;. xn(.| iriiit tlr."l:liatiira"in" "i'
i;lf.i',i"
(
)n--piliar
(
Paslda') . tall. enrli'g irr . maiara spire anrl
,i gor(rcn cnaluDer.

"a"i,',rr"rr-rtl'

l:ti.l out the Na.r<lana parri irr uticir u,cre ma.nl, r'arieti., oi iiurl'or.i
flo*'e.ring trecs a'd the following structures :
-- (i) A lr.ii, H""r"',r,ifi,
(?) slios'er-baths ancl a (?) fou.tain; (ii) a pa'ilion

.lttrlrlttoo,l, "oirininirig":tn rlclagollaI rnar.r,.lapa ,".",nl,lingt,,n'',]u._

"itiiriri,.r.'"r
; iiii) a Nan,.laP:r *.lriilr rrar[ , ri,i. il,rr,,r of irlorr,'or
serpcrntine rvancleri'gs ' ;_ (i'J the Sil5pokkharani. "
_
" ..,.]i..r
Kuma.rafohu,n,a ; (t) the Nand.ipcikkharani ;
a porA
ivij".i"'orrrarnerrt

6.

,4-S.C.A..R., rgor.

rr] r?:

r_qoo. E,

q, ro.

l-ol' VI' S'pecial

N?'tmt)er

HISTOR,ICAI, TOPOGR,APHY OF ANCIEN'I AND MEDIEVAI, CEYLON I79

(viii) the n'Iangalanokkharani.Later,the'NanclanaParklr'asextendecl're-named

ltollo\v

Alahana Parivena
the large nlonastery named the Aldhana
Parir-ena. Its lirnits were marked by ro boundary stones ancl jt
conrpriscrl :-(i) the I-ankdtilaka Inrage House of 5 store1.s, decoratecl
rvith figures of flowers, creepers, gods and brahmas and enclosing a
colossai, stancling Image of the Btiddha. vijayabahu IV restored tlie
buildins. Its ruins still bear the same name; (ii) Rnpavati Thirpa
built by,' clueen Rupavati of Parakkamabahu I : this is probabh, tle
present l{iri-z,ehera; (iii) Subhadda Cetiya; (iv) the Badclhjsina
Pasada, the Uposatha House of the l,Ionastery, of rz storevs, wjth
turrets, apartrnents, halls and cells : its ruins have been conser.u,ed.
(r') Klianciasirrra, a sacred space ; 1vi) a Pdsada, for the MahSthera,
of 3 store-rrs ; and (vii) sel'eral other appurtenant and subsicliary

178 JOURNAL, I{.A.S. (CEYLON) New

'9et"ies'

hoiding perfumecl \ rater ; (vii) the Vasanta cave ;

t\r'o-ponds
i;kilnyy;"" ^"a *"a" over to the Sarigha:
in'7
bathe
to
monLs
the
for
;;"La ;#" constructed

belor'v

The Tooth Relic Terrace or 'Quedrangle'

elevated enclosure
The Tooth Relic Terrac e or Qt'tadrat't'gle was an
the inscriptions
ancl
on which stoocl, accorcling to tte Chronicies
or-footh-[te1ic
Daladege
The
:-(i)
tt'r" following struitures
i*
:i;;il,'lin," "'fn"
rrr.t femple o{ .the t'oot' 'n r built by Vijavabah' I
Parakkamabahu I briilt il"
and is the ruin ,tow talLcl Vilt'ara No z'
but this was probabiy a
torvn
the
of
'
nuluaaga in the micldie
;;;
for public exposition o{ t6e
" nclic after its recovery

;;;;fi;,rtiii"g

fromtherchelqucenSugal[.Nissanl<a']lal]lrbrriItatliir.ll)uladagtl
: vija-vabllni IV
saicl to have b"een completed in 6o hours
;i;;
lltittt-tla-gE ;
the
callecl
now
toitt
the
is
it
it ancl
with
adornecl
and
tt:rrace'
p;sada with a 'moonlight
""ri"t"J'
iiif" f .pf""aia
zr' l'righ
Mahinrla,
by
ttelic
thc'looth
of
;;i"l;;';;""s built in honour
builcling-nor'v
5l;;;:; "r puiuLL"*abahu I: tliis is probably the
-rooth ilelic
b_uiu, on trre
(iii)
Nissarika
;;iffi"i;r;;r,iio, Vatageva-orVata-di-gc'
{fla
by rvhich latterr nante
d;;;; th'" Ratnagiri igistat-ttta-tat,'-rnanclapaya'
so-kno*'n
th
e
(ir':)
-t9.r'av'
t,; r;tli [.o*'t ;
: from ir 1e u,orslrippecl rhc Tootli llciic.s
N1alla
xtssa',t
;; iliit;;
"
Intlieareaimmediatelyorrtsicleat.rcltclnortlroftlre.ljlotlrtrte]ic
namecl \-irtlavanT"rr"." were :-(i) a rrth century Cola temple
Detale No z; (ii) an
now knot{n as

'*;;;;i
ei,,',

rsvaramuclaivar,
.'Sjrra
t'v Nissarika
H"ff narned iribhur,-anasrava Nissairkir S.tr:aya built

.rclrard rvhose bo.nrla.ries

il;ii;, to it ovas assigned thc Sairoclya1.1.,i1the
sirill and moat.oD the
*"r.,_,rr. Kamboji gate on thg south,
(by ir,hich nrime
Nissariliasanruclra
;;;ih, the city wall orithe east, anci
ir{r51 ; (lii) the
on
Nissauka IIalIa re-namecl Parakkamasanruclda)

,the

Ratanavd,lilhupaorRuvanvaliDagriba'nor'l'kttolt'na::Ilott'kot
^;;;;;;,
llalla,
;^=, accorcling to the clrronicle, restored by Nissanlia
(iv)
anci
it
b*iit
ha'e
1.,
;
claims
Ur.t tn"t monarch in tis inscription
(ja\ie
'ras
nlollaster\a
$'hcre
rocks
of
group
Copalapabbata, a smail
, a 4th ccllturv inscriptio*
the rst
""ttitt1'
Vihara'l)
as Culagala

*st'aUtistrea

i.

7. M. 6o' 38 |

73.6c'-7c.,

7r-1r2; It'Z

17' 95' ';'5' r(t2

gir''ers

Parakka:nabahu

l built

,:

buildinS;s.i')

The Northern Monasteries

To north of the Alahana Parii-cna u'cre
<:allecl Calt;ih,qya,

:-(i)

Uttarard,ma,

nor,v

built by Parakkamabdhu I bv breal<ing down the

rocli near the l{ahathripa or Damila Thupa and constructing 3 caves,

(a) the Yijjadhara cave, (6) the cave with the Sedent Image, and
(.) the cave with the Recunrbent Inage; (ii) lfatrethripa or
I)amila Thnpa, to builcl rvhich Paral<kamabd,hu entployed Damila
prisoners-of-rvar: it was intended to be the largest thupa in Ceylon"

but the original plan was abandoned and a clisproportionate doms u,as
sttperinrposed on the vast basal terraces; it js now knou,n as (Inagalavehera; (iii) JetavandrS,ma, the largest monastic establishment at
Polonnaruva, built

by Parakkamabahu I. It comprised :-(a) the

Tivanl<a Image House for the Tiva.nka Inrage, now popularly known
zts Deurgla-ruahasd,_\,a; (b) beautiful, circular TempJe of stone for

" circular ruin to south of the Tivarika

the Tooth Relic: this is the
Image House ; k) 8 stone ponds, of rvhich 4 are named .\rattanal-ranal<ottha, Guhanahanakottha, Padumanahdnakottha, the
present Lotu,s Ba,th, and Bhaddanahanakottha ; (d) a vast pdsacla
for the f{ahithera Sariputta; and (r) several ot}rer smaller
buildinEs. 'l'he Nanrmacla canal branched off from the Canclabhd,gd
canai by the corner of Jetavanardma.ll

its n'rme

; C"/'S' (G) II :o3

Other Structures
Nissanka
encl of the

llaila built the Priti-danaka-mandapaya near the north

tank, and close to

it

the Nissanka-ddna-r'inoda*nraf dapava"

209.

8. M. 6o. r-t.q'. 73. a2+r35: 74. r98 : 8o r9 : SS ro t 1' ; ['uj' 34 ; li'r';i' 6o ;

E.Z.II.8s, so, tzt, t76; C' I'S' (G) II t{r7'
g. lUl.78.65: 8o :o ; Pu.i'34; E'Z'il' r36' r4r ; 1 '\'C"1'R'' tqoo'' ::\t' 27"
r9o9.27: r9t1-r2,

Loo'

,I!.78.

48-7o; N.,S.

zr ; Puj. 3t; A.S.XI. II. rr ; C../.S. (G) II.

-rr,
.4.5.C.A.R.,
rgrr-rz, 8r, 8:.

16r ;

M.18.3r:47,74-78;-N..S.zr;Ptt.j.34;R&j.59;A.S.M.II.16;C../.S"
-^ r_r_.
II. r 6i ; E.Z. IL z73 ; A.S.C. A.R., tgoT. T, 3+ : rg+o-+5, 30.

{G)

180 JOUR'NAL,

R'.A.S.

(CEYf,ON)

Neu: Seriee,

Vol. VI, Spet'ial Nuttt'ber

He also built the Nissanka Vihara, which appears to be the same as

Polonnaru Vihdra, and 3 AIms Ftralls nam.ed Brahmalasatra, Bauddha-

satra and Bahujanasatra.rz

I also built :-(i) Kapila or Kapilavastu Vihara ;

(ii) Dakshipirama; (iii) Pacchinrarama; (i") the Suluvddenige
of golcl ; (v) Punarama; (vi) Atubadalena Vihara , (vii) Isipatana
vihara in the Rajavesibliujanga suburb ; (viii) Kusin5r5 vihara in tl're
Sihapura suburb ; (ix) Vefuvana Vihdra in the Vijita suburb; and
(x) betu,een the Palace and the 3 suburbs, at each gavuta (about z

CHAPTER

Paraklcamabahu

aliles), a Vihfr,ra with Sermon and Image Houses.l:]

XXI

THE POLONNARUVA DISTRICT

. Several places in this district have arreacly been en'meratecl
'under
Chapter III.
vif itanagara or vijitapura
,havevijitagama-or
been iorrnded by'one of Yijava's

rvas a settlement saicl to

rinisters, but a latcr traclition
"brotbers-in-iai'

that its founder wa. one of the

oi p""a""i.;;;;-" ,
the older clrronicle, the Dipa'arirsa, does'ot narre vi;iti'ai o"" oi ilre
latter. Bhacldakaccana and her companions, r,vho ,ir" .oia ln t urr"
landed about this tirne at the mouth oithe f,,Iahorciti cai,ga', **
or.,
their rvay to Upatissagama (a yojana north of AnuradhapLrrri'*t..r,
-lt,J."irr",
thc)r 11 s1q met at, vijitanagara by tlre Sinharese rirristersl
\i llltanagara rvas betrveen_ Anurfi,dhapura ancl the east
coast. After

;is

p,itt1"ge11*ni, Abha1,a, aborrt n.c. rb3, had reducecl if-,""ri.nu'iort.

Elara's troops alo-ng trrc rine oI rhe Marmuriri Gafig"a {rom
l':tg.by.
llahrvanganar o the sea, 'all the Damilas on tlrc bank of the rii er-who
had escaped destruction threw themserves for^pro.tection into thl
crty
named. vijitanagara'. It is evident that if'vijitanagara-r*.
irr.
present vijita'lura, near Kard,ztriva, EJd,ra's retreai trod tn" .i'e.
to

this place rvould have

uncovered_ and ope.neclJle ri,ay to ifi.-.uiiul,

Anuraclhapura, which was Dutt'rragr,mini's objectivJ. \',jli";';'gur.,
where the fiercest resistance was- offered by Elara's trir.pr;'";"r,
'olviousl,v, the.ke5r-fortress supporting the numerous small foits along
the de{endecl river line and the main-obstacle to progres. b"vo.rJiir"
river torvards Arruradha_prrra. opposite Viiitarragara,'ri,.t -.ornrru'
li'rr"iir".n

it

and the

pitcrrerl ,.amp"in op""

-Dult6-agarrra'i
organise ttrc'ivcr,
assault on the fortress, and the camping ptro."

known as Khandhavdrapitlhi or Kanclam.nna';

."*"ii

to
rr"

ii i', iiotl.", .rtJt.a

thatafter crossing.the river Dutjhagama'i had his t".ut ut-g.it"rril"t
tavalahaka or Batbunnri.tota-and then proceedecl to xlra"ar,ao ar"oiirrri,
therefore, Khandhavarapitthi m'st have been a r",,
the rir;er. In Si'halese literature, polonnaruva is someti'res
"rii".'l;;."t*."a
to as Kandavuru-nuvara, 'the Camp-City ,. A suburb p"i;;;;;;".
n_arned-vijita is mentioned in the ieign of parakkamalanu
"f i. -iilita,
the rzth century :uburb oI Polonnarrrra, I(handhavarapirit,i iun,J',,
Dutthagamani's camp in front of Vijitanagara, ancl t<".nii""."_";;;;r,
",
the- earl1z
for Polonnaruva., are alr associatecl with vijlL;#;r,
'ame
and paranavitana
.r,.,ao.rt i.aty
:,1*.
rlgl1rI1}:::,1.:._"ry.',.9odrington
rn l.catlng vurtanagara at or very near the later
"r. pol0nnaruva.
Near T(lrarrtltravarapit t hi ivas Hatthipora.r

'12. !1.

8a.

zt ;

j. M.

73.

rgt-ti4

-r

Rttj. 6o ; E.Z.
. 78.

II.

r 21, a71, t7E ;

7t-73, 7g-8o,

A'S'C'A'l?', r9oz, 8-ro'

9z-95; N.S' zr ; Pu,i' 31; llaj' 59'

}TISTOIiICAL TOPOGR,AP}IY Or'ANCIENT AND ]T}']DI]IVAI, CIIYLON

l82JOURNAL,R.A'S.(CEYLON)Nea-Series,Vo|.|,I,Speciu'lNunther

A{ter the capture of Vijitanagara,- I)uf fhagima4i advancecl to

Girilal<a, also callccl Girinil-nuvara ancl Giriniilankada, and fougtrt
o ,.r...rifol action there. ((,irinelar'[lianaka Vih:rra, to the north of
Xoi',:"ntguta or Kanclara, \\'as hirilt b1- Srrrati'sa e-arly in.:rrd s'r ')'
r''-ent
fi.il;"i, pindukabhaya, on his east*,ard rnarch from.Ka_sapabbata.
(6o4-614)
II
Aggabodhiriver'
the
io Gltii-tqla ancl tlien crossed
tanl< and Parakkamabahu I
l"iri C;iiil;ia
' or Giritala or GiritaliLka
Giritula tank' In. all
prescnt
is
iiii: tt8bj restcrecl it : this
same- place' modern
the
for
stand
p.oii"f,ititrt,
variant-q
these
all
'8.,*..n
Pan<lukabhaya's line
ott
ri'er.
tlrt'
Girikanrla a.d
h;rit)ii.
.i i'**f t. rvere 1i I Kalalranagara. \er:\' prtrlrabll'.present,Kalahaula'

of Polonnarttva, an.l tii) I-olritai alrakhanda'i

Bac.laravalli r,vas betrveen },Iayiirap[sala, a ford on the Maltavtili
Gatiga, ancl Polonnaruva, closer to the latter':i
Kondivata r'vas betu-een Anurdclhapura ancl Polonnarut'a'a
Dtrratissakavi'pi \rilara u'as built- by Saddiratissa (e'c' ttr7-:tg)"

5 rniles sotttlr

rebel Minister, aftei' collecting tloops in Malaya'

aclvanced to\ua"tal Anuraclhapura and camped at lir^ratissakar-ii'pilfof raitag^ (SbQ-SZr) grantecl i9 tlie ascct.ics a tlrotrsand fields ilrieated
x[inniriva when he
;;tii."il';;k;;;pi. "udoyo t (797-s.91) was at son
and general, who
hlard that the boicler land was iii'ieUettlon. His

Uuftat.it";t 1il53i9

king then
;i;;"- ,.fi to quell the rebellion, joined. the rebels' The
to
to l)lratissa, defeatecl ihe rebels there and proceedecl
tank'

aclvanced

Folonrr"rorru. Parakkamabd,hu I (rr53-rr86) restoredDuratissa

Tlris tank was in the Dantbwlla-St'giriya-Giritale area'"
of
Tissavaddhamdnaka distrjct \\ras in the eastern division
Raiarattha,'ancl in it Vasablra (07-rrr) built the Jlucela Vilrara'
Rattisa
ii.ji*1;.-t r 75-3" t I fr"if t Tissa'acldhamS,naka tank, also called(q4-9zz\
\r
Kassapa
of
inscription
Mritlirigiriya
ttr.
or Ranniya.'i"
the site is said to be in tiuttil.e. Paral<kamabeliu l (1163-1186)
repairecl Sur.'afnatissa tank. Nissanka }Ialla (rr87-r196) declared
equated
Rantisd, tank a sanctuary for anjrnals. codrington has correctly'fissavailChamdnaka tank rvith Rantisa tank, the present' breachecl
'l'he Rantisi sub-district
Iio,ud,ui|a-t,ara, 6 miles north of Xtiry,neriya'
.ivas tlre area around l{aawrJulla anrl Miitlieirit'a : 1t ]:1' p,"tt^?f. 1
'larger
clivision knotvn as Bidenatukuli,va (Bijervatu-kull ln the Slglfl
C;rifnti; rvhich extencled over thc greater part of the northern half of
Sinlta!a Pallttt a.tl
2. IlI. to.

z7-41

'.

zt. 6'. 25. 17 :

N.S. z6 ; Pui. z8; Raj' 4o.

3. nL 72.96.

42. 67

: 7o.3rr, 3rr : 79' 33; E'M' zt

4. M. 5o.3t.
5. II. 33. t9: 37. 17-tg: 4T.99 : .19. 5-9: 79. 32.
6. M.35.48:37. 4E '. 79. 32 ; XI '7. 652 ; Puj. z4 ; Raj' 5z ; E Z' II'

Codrington, S.11., :+'

32' 712

183

In Nlandalagiril<a Vihara jn Tissavadclhamanaka district, Kanitiha

Tissa (167-186) built an Uposatha House. 'I-he son of Aggabodhi IV
((.167-683) built there a costllr DhA,tugeha or Vata-da-ge for the Cetiva.
Scna II (853-887) granted the Vilrara villages. Vijayabihu I (ro55trtol restoreci the Viharii. 'I'he Chlavarhsa states that the rzth ccntury
treaty bet'nveen (iajabiihu II and Parakkamabihu t'as engraved on a
natural rocl< at Manrlaligiri ViLrlra : this epigraph lias not yet been
discor.crecl but a copv o{ it has been found at Safigauru \'ihara in
.Knrun,d.gala district. Nissaika I'Ialla visited l'Iiincliligiri \rihirra.
The ruins are now knoll'rr as lttritlirigiriya Yihara, a beautiful site ro
nriles north-cast oI I I i n tJnriya.i
Ma4iiiira tanl< and !-ih5,ra, also callccl )'Iirtitriri, llir.rilonr ancl
1\{i
Criya, present l,[irt:rr,Ariya, rvere bui]t bv ],lahtr,sena (275-3or).
-l-he
Sinhaiese Clrroniclr:s say that I'Iahasena clammed the Kara (iariga
ancl brought tlte ivater to )IittttEt,i-va tank along tl're Talarratu canil.
f'he I{ara Ganga is mentionecl in the Pali Chronicles much lirter:
Parakkamabahu I (rr53-rrEfi) clammccl it anrl conveyed r,vatBr along
the Akasa Ganga (prcscnt ttnpatncitlilla-tita) lo Parakkamasarrruclla at
Polonnaruva. The l'fahavarhsa states t]rat,the Alisera canal (present
Altkcira canal) u'as in existence in the reign of Vasabl'ra (07-rir), trvo
centuries before Nlahasena, ancl that shares in it rvere assignecl to
Ilucela Vihara which rvas near tire present Katudulla tank : therefore
the Alisara canal must have existei beforr: the Minneriya ancl Kctttudulla tanks were built. Vijayabahu. I 1ro55-rrro) restoreci Tilar-atthuka canal ancl fillecl lla.nihira tank oirce asain : the name'lilavatthuka
or Taiavatu is preserved in present Talt,atura Ola u.hich flor,t,s into
AI i.nneriy a tank. Apparently the'lilavatthu]<a canal r,vas that branch
o{ the niAin Alisara canal which fed Mi,lt,ncritta tank. Tarlavatthu
Vihdra; probablll also knol'n as Mahlistna'Viirara, tvas restorerl by
Ilanavamma (684-718) : this Vihdra, in ali probabilitrz, was close to the
Tilavatthul<a or Talavatu canal. Sena II (853-887) made a grant to
Mahasena Vihira, anci Vijayabahu I (to5S-rrro) restored the Vihdra.
MS,n avamnra (684-7 18 ) granted the village Pannabh atta to'Iillavatthu
Vihara. Dhatusena (+SS-+ZS) built Pantavallakabhflta Vihdra, and
in Palrlasalaka Queen Kalyanavati \tzoz-rzo9) built Kalyanavati
Vihara. Sena Il (8S,r-882) built a sluice on Minr.t\tiya tank. Parakl<amabahu I (rr.53-r186) rcrstcred MinnEri,)'a tank and madr: the canal
named l{elindi which flor'ved south fronr the tank's soufhern outiet.
Nissanka llalla cleclared the tank a sanctuary Jor aninrals.s
Pafrca Vihara was 7 to rz nrilers westward of Poionnaruva and
\l/as probably the same as Perflcaparivenarlr-rla restored by \rijayabnhu I
(ro55-rrro).1)
7. ),t. 3(t. t7 : 46. ztl: 6o. 58 ; E.Z.II.27, r,.7 '. IY. t.
E.,'11. 35. 84:. 37- +o, 47: 3E. 4Z: +2. 34: 48. 8: 5r. 7.2., 7(t'. 6o. 53, 6:
IC). 31..5+ :!o; 36 ; Puj. z4; Ra.i. 5:,, 5z ; E.Z.II. t4z ;C./.S. (c) Il. :o8 ; a.H.J
IV. ;:,
9. :1,1. 67. br : 72. rr4-r2o.

:
"

l84.lOUR,NAT,,R.A.S.(tjttYLON)rVetr"^\'eries,Yol'l'f,SpecialNtt'nber
Near ancl east$,ard of Kalapilia \vas l'Iadhuka\''anaianthi:. both
plnce, .""t" lr.ao"..n Foionnaru\''a and Kotthasara' Tinimakulla was
irorth-u'est of Polontlaruva.lt)
parisa-kuliya in Paclumpasa (the eastern clir.ision of ,Raja_rattha)
rvas a iub-district in the rotlicentury extending o\rer the Giritale atea '
in it rvas the land Purmigana.lt
Andug.{ma'uvas a r-illaFle close to Polonnaruva'u

\Iahaldgama i,s rnentioned.

in a roth centurv inscription at

'fhusavipi, also callecl Toyav5-pi and Topdvdva' present Tdpavriua '

to'Upatissa I (36i-aoti) : near it, presutnabll" was the
village Thusavatthika.ll
'fhe construction of Gitupvdva is ascribed to Mahasena Q1S-Sot1 t,, ." i*.'ipilo.t oi p^*rl"i'.lUat'" I (r153.-1186 1at ,Anio!111!111ls glven
lTk'
north o[- Polonnaruva, the length of the tank bund
zI miles
';;i; "iiy"".
rn. Sigiri Graffiti. mention Gddrrbavana. The
;:
to
Abhal'a(Bor-8o4)
III
c"tt-ilirin" 6anal r,vas assigied b1' llahincla
giri'Vihara at .r\nuraclhapura.fi
'.It it^"ppotentlf identrcal
InKuld,titissa\Iihdra,alsclcaliedKundalatissaandKtr.telitissa"
Vohdrika f issa (zog-z3i1 "i..r.tf a plrasol'
Inscrlptr()ll
\\-ith Ki-rtatissa vihdra endou'cd by Sena I- (6J3-U53). An r19er.l ain
prove-nance
(9
aruvg
)
Polonn
at
:
(95
6-9
li"f.i
7 )
Yct
"i
K"tulii.-'ult ip Kirtatissa) ]lahdviirara of the llahdvilrfi'ra
;""ti;;; "'JtiV
itt, Pcdumpasa (the
nif.aut ancl states thJt Kinigama nlonastetJ
K inigarn, do.bt :
T)emel
ir
to
;;i;; ai"i.i", "i lt. jaral rha )' bctongs
also mentioned"
are
canal
a'neighbiouring
and
oi t<iqt*^;",
il;;;
tfhere
modern KiTr'igamt' r mile
iG;J;" was close to the river'P allasiv aisPaattu''\
;;;il!; P;/.;s a a, in L a ge al a
and
l,Iuhunclnaruva in the eastern division of Rajaraflha. I\of J{ahinda
inscriptions,
t$'o
in
mentione<-].
are
Nluhundehigama
il:;;;;;l^ :;J- i.n" I (s3I-8s r) respecti'elv' at Polonnartr'a'
iiiil,,i;i'fr".;va is ,loultlcs'"iclentical rvith lluhunnaru'a, one oI tlre
fords on ttre river.li
..llre seconcl, ancl rrruch lar:ger, Parakkamasamudda ..that King
"ptuc".
'gi""n
in the Cirronicle in the list of
pride of
oi ,.r"rvuiii;,, is
;orG %i FJrakkama-barhu's reign. It rvas {ormed " by

ir r."iiu"J

tt

ilil*"
II.

12,

r3.
r4.
r5.
r6.
17.

M.

damming the KSra Gangir by a great dam betrvecn the hills and bringing its riighty flood of r'vater hither by means of a vast canal called
the AkestcarigS ". The identity of the ancient Parakkarnasamridda
rvith the present, restorecl reservoir at Polonnarur.a to u'hich tlie same
name has been given, aclmits of no doubt. King Nissanka Nlalla, as
he rvas rvont to do, re-named it Nissankasarnudra, but neither this
rame nor the name wliich Parakkamabahu gave it endured, except in
literature. Jlefore the modern restoration cormnencecl, there r'vere two
separate tanks, Toptiaiiaa at Polonnaruva and Dwrizbwtulttaliaa further

south, but the anCient bund, though breached arrd eroded in places,
It is clear from the Clrronicle, too, in which 4 channels
rvhich jssuecl from the great tank are stated to have passed close to
specified sites outsicle the t'allecl City, that Parakkamasamudda r'vas
at Polo.rtra.r,ru. 'fhe remains of tl-re headr,r'orlis and of the feeder
canal therefrom (also nor'v restored) provec'l that tlie dam at Ahgauttitlilla onthe Anrban Gahga and the Aiganuid,illa channcl u'hich conductecl the r.vater diverted by the dan, ltrere the main sollrce by r'r-hich
Parakl<amasanrudda rvas forrnerly filled. As Codrington-ancl Hocart
concluded, the Kara Gangir is the Arnltatt' Gahga ancl the Aliasa Gariga
the Ahgam,tidilla channel. The Phjar.aliya states that king }llahasena
to supply
" clammed the I(ara Ganga
- r'vater to l{if ihirir-iir-a." : the
-clam
rvas continuous.

Polonnaruva.l3

ro.

IIISTORICAL TOPOGI],APHY OF ANCIENT ANl] MEDIEVAL CEYLON I85

7o. 285, 325'

E.Z. TIl. tlt.

ilr. 59. 5C./'S. (G) I' t73'

M. 37. tzq 50. 73 Puj' z(); Rt;j' 54'

lt. ag. ar; Pt'tj-'24:C.,I'-S' (U) I' i73; Sig' Graff' I' App' C'
rrr ; l')''Z'II' 56"
M. :6. :3 '. 5r.7+; E'Ill' 36' y; E'H'B' 66'
Roi'
t'o
37'
'
E.Z. llL.2(.,4 : [\-'

is to the
on ihe Ambau, Gaiga al Alah,cira.
,!m,ban Gait,ga r'vas, tlierefore, knorvn as the Kara Ganga in ancient
and medieva.l tirnes. Some ro miles further up the river the rlistricts

reference here

'fltc

througtr rvhich

it

florved u,ere callecl Ambetvana and Sura-anrbavana

in the rzth century, and even today a part oI this region is knou'n

as

Ambana : the oldcr nante, Kara Ganga appears to have been replaced

by Antbaii, Gehga in comparatively recent times. Its main tributary

is nor ' l<norvn as Kaht, Gai,ga rvhich is an ecFivalent for- I(ara Ganga.
The l{oht, Ganga t'tas dammed at Hatto{a Qtear PallEgama) al an elevation of 5oo feet and the tt'ater tt'as conveyecl northrvard along a canal,

now ruinecl, rvhich appears tocome to anabrupt termination afterabout

16 miles. The local tradition is that this cana.l fornrerlv continuecl a
l-urther rz miles ancl enterecl the Antbatt, Gahga just abov:e lhe Alah,iira
anicut, but only one short length of tire olcl bund is no\ r recognisable
on the grouucl in this section. Rrohier conjectures that over tl'ris section r.vhich is ' ' particularly rugged ancl broken up by parcels of precipitotls
country-the rvater r,vas carried orrer these rocky ledges in a scries of
aqueducts of lr'hich all tra.ces have vanished". lf the tradition is true,
tlrerr the Hattola Antury,a, some 30 miles above Atahcira, r'r,as the sollrce
of the XI innEriy a-G iritula- Kauu(,ttlla-K rmtallt y irrigation svstem, anc1,
as s,iil be shor.vn later, a subsicliary source for the Parakkamasamutlda
svstern.

'The Chronicle gives the names of 7 sluices on l'aral<kamasamudcla

rr channels r'vhich lecl rvater arva-v from it : these bear the names

and of

of ancient and sacred places in India ancl appcar to be honorilic. It

'loyavapi. To1'avapi
'firusavh.pi, ancl, accoruling to the Sinhalese
is
also
cailecl
{Toput:iir.,a)

is also statecl that trvo canals issuecl from thc tank

lE6 JOI-R,NAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

New Serils, TroI.

VI,

'Spec,ial

Number

Chronicles, was built bv a 4th centlrry king : when Parakkamasamudda

was conrDletecl T'obatciaa r'r'ould have been absorbed by it, butthe old
name r\ras apparently retained for the uppermost portion of the great,
new reservolr.

'Farakkamasarnuclcla had a subsidiarv source o{ rvater supoly

fronr the north-lr'est 1'l1' channel from Giritalakar'5pi (Giritata) throrigir
two intervcning tanks na[red Kaddt-rravaddhamanaka or Kaduruvarlunna (probabll' present, breached Durn,balcn'riua) and ArimaddayjJ a-vaggerrra (probably present, also breache d DiuulanahaQat, alaa ciu a).
l lris link connected and united tu-o gigantic irrigation svstems, both
originating in tbe Antban Ganga, the older system rvith headr,r'orks at
Alalttira (.? or Hattota) ancl including Minn\ritta, G,iritala, KauuSwlla
anrT Katttulu,y tanl<s, and the later system u'ith headworks at Ahganzridilla and including Parakkamasamr.rdda ancl the network of channels,
ancl snraller tank-s under it. 'lhe mingling of the waters of different
rirrers, florving in different directions, by artificial connections is one of
the nrost impressive features of the ancient Sinhalese irrigation
syste,nr.

"fhere rvere two other large tanks rvhich bore the king's name.
One rvas Parakkamatalaka : the scant5z information available about
it does not admit of its identification. The other $'as Paraklianasagara
or l{atis:r,gara which, like Parakkamasamudda, lvas filled by the waters
of the l(ara Gaiga"_(Amban Cahga) by nreans of a canal named Godd,vari. From the Ak5,sa Ganga a branch flowed far to the northw'ard
and this branch \,\ras, in all probability, the Goddvari canal. Parakkamasagara appears, therefore, to have been a reservoir sitnated to the
nortlr o{ Polonnamva,

betr,r'een Parakkamasamudda and

the Min'neri

Oya.

' Of the zq canals mentioned in the Cfrlavarhsa as having been

constructed bv Parakkamabihu I, the Prljavaliya mentions only one,
Aciravati. This canal took olf from the Maltaudli Cafiga r'r'estward,
and it hacl 4 branches which flowecl eastward (tou.ards the river) :
from the pcint at which the Aciravati canal originated, another canal,
named Gomati, florved eastward to east of the river and it had a branch
'w'hich florved northl'ard. The site of the dam fronr which these two
canals took off to right and left is about I a miie upstrearn of the
island 'in the rir.er norv called Rnl,ihea nuuala. The left bank
channel, Aciravati, is no.uv knor'vn as Kalihga Yotli-cila' .18
The Pujavaliya gives the name l{ahdsamudra to the Parakkamasamudda at Polonnaruva. The canal system associated with Parak*
kamasantudda is dcscribed and namecl in the Crllavarilsa as follows :*

(i) (iarnbhira canal, from the Makara

sluice ; (ii) Hemavati canal,

rnain resen'oir in the direction ol the Mahdmeghavana park; (iii) Nilar.'ahini canal, from the }I[latipuppha slllice;
rn'hich floll'ed from the

r8. ' Thc Irrigation \\Iorks of Pzrralikamabirhu L ', C.II.J.I\-.

52.

TST

OIiICAL lf OPOC IiAI'}[Y

Olr'

AliCIIl \'1'

A ND

IIIIDIEVAL CEY LC) N 1 8 7

(iv) Salalavati canal, Jrorrr the Kil:rkaruyyana sluice; (v) \;ettavati

canal, lrom the Vettavati sluice ; (vi) 'lungabhaclcia canal, lrorri the
Dakkhjna sluice ; (r'ii) I'laigalaganga cana1, lrorl the \'{angalaganga,
sluice; (r,riii) Campa canal, from thc sluice near the Calcli Ga+"e; (ix)
Candabhaga canal, r'vhich flor'ved through the Lakkhuyyana garclen ;
(x) Nammada canal, ',vhich branched off by the corner oJ tlre
Jetavana Vihdra ; (xi) Sarasvati canal, rvhich floi,ved fronr Ibr.-ar,rrpi
and lecl to Pulnavaclciharravapi ; (xii) Venunlati canal, rvhich flolvecl
from the west side of To-vavapi ; (xiii) Yanruna canal, r.r'hich llorved

rvest lrom Pufqavadclhana tanl< ; (rir-) Sarabhu canal, r,r'hich florvecl

north trom Punnavacldltana tanli i (ri,) Neraiijara canal u'lrich
florved north_; (xvi) J3hr,rgirathi canal, wliich started from Ar.iotattavnpi; (xvii) Avattagangd canai, $'hich flou'ed south from Anotattaltrpi;
(xviii) Tambapanni cana.l, rvlrich flo.,r'ecl north from Anrbtriavtr'pi ;
( xix ) Ka veri ca.nal, u'hich convevecl'*,ater from Giritalakavipi (present
Giritaliu cia a) to Ii addurzrvacltiham:rnakar.5pi, also callcd KaduruvaclunnS; (xx) Somavati canal, u,hich flowecl from Kadclfrravaclclha-

ma,nakavapi to Arimaddavijayaggamavdpi. The Aciravati canal

flowed rvestward from thc illaha'urili Gafiga; from it branched
ea,strvard the Gomati, Sataru<ldhe, NibbinclS, Dhavala and Sida'
canals, and northt'arcl the I'Ialapahara4i canal.

TIISIfOIiICAL 1'OPOGII,API{Y

OIT

ANCIEN1' AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON I89

Iiallaka Mahdvihara; (ii) Pettangavilika Vihera; (iii) Niipiyoba

tank : (iv) Sddigamuva tank ; (r') Kiindala tank ; and. (vi) -Maha-

CHAPTEIT

gurunalo tank.e
Ulikanagara or Ukkd,n[,ngara Vihara existed in znd e.c. and there
\Irere 7oo monks there. A place Unhd,nagara or Huqannaru is
tnentioned later: the Sigiri Grafliti name Hunaru-bint.l0

XXII

UNIDENTIFIED PLACES IN RAJARATTga

Ratand,kara-rattha r,i'as a district in Dakkhinadesa. To Unnavalli
!'ihara, Aggabodhi I (574-6ol granted the 'far-famed' r'illage of
Ratana. The queen of Aggabocihi II (6o4-614) built the Ratana
Vihara for the queen of Kirlinga q,ho, rvith the king and a minister,
came to Ce5t1611 as refugees.l
Sitthag5,nra Parivena u'as

in

Dakkhinadesa.2

lltaralar or Uttar:ila tank in Dakkhinadesa was built bv Sadclhdtissa (r.c. 47-rr9) and restorecl b)' Parakkamabailr I (1153-1186)":r

Thc village Boclhisenapabbata u.as in Dakkhinadesa.l

Vijayabaliu i (ro55-rrro) restorecl in Dakkhitaclesa:-(i) Sareheru ta.nk; (ii) Dighar.atthuka tank ; and (iii) Parag:r,iriaka Vihdra.;
Parakkamabdhu restored the follor,i.ing tanks in tr)akl<hinadesa :(i) Katunnarii tank, built bv Saddhatissa (r.c. r37-r19) and previousil,'
restorecl by Vijayabahu I (ro55-rrro) ; (ii) Chattunnata tank';
(iii) P[taia tanh ; (ir') Ifalavalli tank, also callecl Maiaval]i\:a ;
(v) I{ittakanqlaka tank ; (vi) lallibava tank ; (r-ii) Dhar aiavitthikagd,ma tank ; (viii) Nalannaru tank ; (ix) Lrclurnbaragama tanl<;
(x) Mhlavnrika tanli ; (xi) Polonnarutala tank ; and (xii)- \iisirntthala
tanl<.6

UjjenI u'as a settlement founclecl bv one of Vija\/a's Ministers

it is not mentioned again. Rt-imagona ilas a settlement founclecl b1'

one of the brotliers-inlan' of Panclur'dsucleva. Kanittha Tissa
{It,Z-rSri) lruilt Ramagonal<a \-ihira. near u'lrich ruas RAmal<a or
Ramuka or Rarnmaka,rarna \rihara built bv Gajabahu I (rr4r36).7

Devanampiya 'l'issa (r,.r:. 247-zo7) bLrilt Colakatissa !-ihara :

tl're Conrmentaries mention Coral<a n'Iah5r'ihara ancl Coral<anclaka
Vihara"8
Saddhatissa (e.c. r37-rrg) built the folJowing tanks and Vihd,ras:(i) Kallakdlena \'ril-rira, also calleci I{dlalena, I(allahilena, and

r.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

M. 42.

18, 47

M. S+.6,

: 69. 3t.

SS.

M.68. 47; Pttj.

M. fi. .\a,.
M.6o. 48-6o.

18.

M.6o.49: 68. 43--5o:7o.67: Puj. t8.

D. zz. 14; LI. 7. 45: 9. g: 35. rzz : 36. t4; Att.T. 659; Puj.
D. 17. gr ; E.H.B., App. IB.

z.

- llinisters of Vattagdmati Abhaya (s.c.89-77) built Saliyarima

ancl Dev5,gara Vihd,ras. The village of Kupil<kala mentionecl'in ttris

king's reign was also knor,vn as I(emgalla.ll

Itahacirfi Mahatissa

(n.c'.

\'-arig5,vattakagalla Vihara"r I

77-65)

built Vankd,r,attakagalla or

Viharas existing in rst c.r;. or rst A.c. rvere.-(i) I(orandaka;

close to it rvas I'otaliya Vihara; (iii) ISlapitthika ;
(ir') \rajagaragiri; (r') Khandacela, in which rvas the Meclitation

(ii) I{olita :

Flous_e na,med Kar:rik:r,ra;

(r,i) Dipa

or Dibba; and (r'ii)

Sudha-

r-nunc1aka.i3

Ihe sub-district Ullabbhakola-kanlika rvas probably 5 1'ojanas

distant from Miltintale. -lhe district l{uggavatana-rattha \vas a
dir-ision of Rajarattha and in it u.as a village of fisherrnen.r+
In Kunrbhigallaka Vihara. Vasabha (67-rrr) brrilt an Uposatha
House. This king built the follorving tanks:-(i) Kdlikolomna or
Iirilanikolonna; (ii) Kalusimbala, (iii) l'{akulumuniunl1 or } akuila;
(ir') Rejuppala or Ratuppala or Racluppala: Upatissa I (365-4o{r)
i-s also credited with the construction of this tank, (v) I'Xahflrametti ;
ancl (vi) Carrrbuti, aiso cailecl Jambuti ancl Cambutthi: Upatissa I btiilt
Anbutthi tank.15
llahelllaka Naga (136-143) foundcd:-(i) llanar.eli Vihnra, also
callerl 'fanavela and Canarrela, in Rijagrtrna; ancl (ii) (iotapabbata
\iih[ra, also calied Kotipabbata ancl Gotapasanapabbata. to soutli.
of Anuridhapura.l6
Bhatikatissa (r4.;-t67) built:-(i) Bhativanka Vihara, also calied
Iihatikatissa and l3hati5'avarilia; and (ii) Ranclliakanclaka Vihara.

also callecl Karanclakalcla.lT

g.
ro.
rr.
12.
13.
r4.
15.
rb.
17"

D. zo. z; M. $.8; E.:I[. 33.7; Puj. tS ; E.LI.B., App, IB.

M. 32. 54; Thu. z.r3; Puj. 3o; R&j. 57.

M. ZZ. +g, 67, 9o; N..S. rr"

M. 3C.s; E.M. 34. t1.
E.H.B. 76, 83, 8q, r'2:, r'2+, rz1, t37"
E.H.B. 85 ; E.Z. III. 93.
D.

z,z. 7, 8 ;

M.

M.

15. 86, S3-q5 : 37.

i85

E.l[.

35. 95 ;

Pui zt ; kai.

35. rz4, rz5:. 8.1[.3-5. ]25 ; n/I.7.657 ; E"H.I]. 7'o.

M. 3o. 46:. 36. 4; E.II. 36. 4; L,I.T. 6o6.

46, q7.

VoI. VI, Spccirt! :\'umber

I{ISTO}iICAL'IOPOGII,APEY OF ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON T9}

Nandatissa-ardrra was buiit bvKanittha l'issa (r67-rE6)' llhrrtaranra existed in tiris king's reign, but in a later pas-sage hc i-s .said
to irave b';ilt it: Aggabodhi VIll (8o4-8r5) built lllrrlta Parir-ena'18
Dassam.rlini-:irama rvas foundecl by Voharika 'lissa (:or;-z3r)
who also restored Kappukagama Vihara'le
.Jetthatissa I (2fu-27$ built the follor'ving tanks antl Viluiras:tank; (ii1 Heluggamuva tank; (iii) I)cmatava tank;
Alanibagana
ii)
(ir'-) Pisannava tanl< ; (v) Vacluganlu\ra tank; (r'i) l3arti.lrntlgatl'r.uva
tanl< : Parakkamabairu I (rr53-r186) restored Rrahnranaggtrma tanli ;
(vii) Pdr.ldla Piriverta, also called P:ilangiriya; and (r-iii) Elag:rl or
Elugal Vih5ra.20
I'Iahasena (275-3or) built the foliolving tanks:-(i) Ciraviipi, also
called Sirir.alassa ancl Siruviiia: I'Iahindga (S6g-Slr) grantecl Cir-aniitikav:-l,ra canal to thc }fahdvihdra, (ii) Mahdgamavapi; (iii) ]'iaiLr:rclaragallakar'5pi, also calied Madaragal: a 6th century inscription at
Abhaltaglli Vih:ira names a resjdent of \'latradaragala: -[e-tthatis''a IIT

-lhe follorvine Vih:rras are ascribed to Dh5tusena (455-17! t(i) Vaddha: Parakkamabnhu I restorecl Vacldhana tank; (ii) Antaramegrri; (iii) I(zrssipitthikadhatusena or Kassipitthikapubbaka,
(iv) AttAlhiclhtr,tusena; ancl (r') Bhallataka, also called Radulu: earlier"
Badluiu \rihara lr,as ascribecl to Detutissa : Vijayabahu I (ro55,-rrro}

190 .IOURNAL, II.A.S. (LrftYLON)

(628)- gianted Xfahadaragiri

Neu; Series,

to Abhayagiri Vihdra; Vijayabhiru I

I r r 53-r r 86 ) restoretl Nlaliaddraga.lla

ro55 -r r r o ) and. Parakkamabdhu

tank ; (ir-) Sakummboru or Puskumbura; (v) Belpitil'a or tr3elipritiya;

(vi; Ponnava : artd (vii1 Sorngalla.2l

llahSsena (z753or) also built tire {ollowing Vihiras:-(i) t-iaig'rsenakapabbata; (ii) I'Iigagdnra or l\'Iuvagamuva, aiso describecl as a

tank; ind (iii) Huiapitifiior Culapitthi or Cfllavilthi Vih5ra.:1

Upatissa I (365-4o6) built :-(i) Palsvatu Pirivena, later ascribetl
to l)eihopatissa- I : it i.s identical with the Sakavatthu Vihara oJ
Palirratu-rrehera
Kassapa tt (65o-OS9)
- : the Sigiri Graffiti mention
ancl PalSvatu-vela; (ii) (;ijjh;kfltavapi; (iii) Pokkharapisal'ai'api:
(ir') Valaha-ssava,pi, also cailbd Siravalashd"tiya: Aggabodhi II (6o4O-i) is also .ridit"d r.ith it: \rija]'abahu I (ro55-rrrci) antl
Parakkamabd,hu

(rr53-r186) restorecl it.!3

l,Iahdnama (4o6-428 ) built antl presented to Abhayagiri Vil'rrlra

(i) I-ohadvara \rihara; (ii) Italaggaira \ritrara; and (iii)

:-

-Ko-tipassa-

vana Vihara: Dhatusena (+SS-+Z! is also credited with this last.:a

Chattaggahaka tank u'as built by the usurper (42.S).:r'

{V.

24. M. 37. zrz:

25. I[.39.3.

38. 46.

f)hatuscna also built the follor'ving tanks ;-(i) Padllaka;

(ii) Hambatthi (cf. Ambutthi) ; (iii) Kalunnaru: this tank is later

attributed to Aggaboclhi II (6o4-614) and the name occurs in a roth

century ir.rscription; (iv) DanavallS; (r') Udanviti; 1r'i) I(itrnini;

(viii) l{al5su; and 1ir) }1[ahanridel.e?

.Aggabocllii i (57r-6o4) built Bhinnorudipa Vihara and granted
to ri ti'rc viilage Vattakarapitthi. In Karapitthi, Moggallana lII
(r'ii)

1\,tahaclabara;

(614-1119)

built Moggallana Vihdra.28

Aggabodhi

II

(6o4-614)

III

(614-619)

built:-(i)

Jamburantaragalla Vihara;

iii) Mntikapitthi Vihara; (iii) a Practising House for the king of

Kiiiiiga i.n \{attapabbata Vihara; (ir.) Hovatu tank; and (v) Kiingomu tank.ze
Moggallana
Vilrara.'ro

built Pitthigtlma Viirdra and Vatagdma

To Gangrrmdti Viha,ta, Jetthatissa

III

(628) assignecl the village

Iietreta.3l
Roclhitissa Vihara and the Parivetas named MahS,kanda, Cullapantha and Sehdlauparajaka were built in the reign of Aggabodhi I\r
(667-683).32

Mdnavamma (684-718) built the following VihEras:-(i) Girinagara \rihdra in DevapSli: the Sigiri Graffiti mention Galnaru;

(ii) Rajamd,tika VihS,ra for the ascetics; (iii) the Siripasd'da in

Sirisamghabodhi Vihara; (iv) Rajinidipika Vihd'ra for the Dhammaruci sect; (r,) Vadrlmula Pirive4a; (vi) Alagiri PiriveTa; (r.ii) Satr dliya Pirivena, and (viii) Uturu Piriveta.'r3
Mahd,rdjaghara Vihara existed

r.1r.

:S6.

:6

in the reign of Aggabodhi VI

(733-772)."u

r8. M. 26. 7, rq: 49. 46.

19" D. zz. 37-q5; J[. 36. 29.
20. jl'l. 36. r3r : 79. 3) ; Puj. zq; Raj. 5t.
'2r. XI. SZ. +2, 19 : 4t.roo: 44. 95 ; 6o. 50 : 79 3z ; Puj. z4; Rtj. 5: ; It-Z.
22. M. 37. 4t, 4 ; 1).X1. 37. +8 : )1.7. 6E4 ; Puj' z1; Raj- 5z'
23. XI. 37. tE5'" 42. tr7: 4+. r35 : oo. 50 : 79. 36; Puj. 26, zE, ztl; Ittj.

restorecl lJhalld,taka Vihara.

54'

2.6.

-14. 3E. 46-5o : 6o. 6o

27.
zE.
29.
3c.
jr.
32.
3.j.
34.

,[1. 38. 5o ; Plrj. 27, z8 ;

.lW. 42. 46: 44. 50.

|,t.

42. 43, +6;

M.44.

Puj.

i Tg. 36 ; Pwj. 24, 27.

1].Z.IL zr8.

28.

5o.

M. q4. too.
X[. 46.24, 3t.

lI. 47.65:48. r, 3, 1; Puj.3o;Sig. Graff. I, App.

II. q6. zt.

C.

IIISTOI{,IO.AL TOPOGR,APHY OT'ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL CEYLON

T93

Aggabodhi VII (lf z-ZlZ) built:-(i) Vapd,rani Vihera; (ii)

IlSnaggabodhi Vihi,ra; and (iii) I'Iallavata Vihara. He improved

Punapitthi Vihnra. \zdnijagama Vihara existed in his reign.:]5

Udaya I (797-8or) granted (i) ltlahamaga viilage to an Inr.age
IIouse at ._\nurddtrapura; (ii) Kir,iussa village to Nilaranra nronastery;
and (iii) Aramassa viilage to an Inrage House. At Paclavi he built

are mentioned in the chronicles and inscriptions in reference to these

Viharas:(o)

Kahrla Vih5,ra r,vas endou'eci by Aggabodhi VIII (8o4-8r5), and

L5,varavapabbata Vihara lvas repairecl by Dappula II (8r5-83t).'"
Aggabodlii IX (B3r-833) granted to the smaller Viharas at Anura,dhapura the villages:-(i) Kantfrapitthi, an important village ;
(ii) Yabelagama ; and (iii) Telagima.s8
Sena II (853-887) built an Image House in Sobbha Vihara.']e
Savaraka Vihara u'as built b), Kassapa IV (898-gra) ancl handed
over to the Mahavihara.ao
Huligam Piriverla is mentioned in an inscription of Nlahinda IV

(b)

th_e,

(r)

.45

I (rr53-rrti6) restored the foilorving tanks :(i) Ekahavapi; (ii) Mahanqar'5pi; (iii) Maclaguvdpi; (ir') Viravapi;
(v) Suranranavapi; (vi) Kahallivapi; and (vii) Tetaggallakavapi.a6
In Nissanka l'{alla's (rr86-rrq3) inscriptions the following towns
are mentioned:-(i) Sonarra; (ii) Nissarikapura; and (iii) SrivEsa-

td)

pura.aT

In addition to the grants alreacly rnentionecl as made to the

\/ih5ras in the City of Anuradhapura, the follorving unidentified places
64-7o:

49. q7.

rg.2r,3o:

5o. 8o.

M. 5t. 76.
M. 52. 3t.
E.Z.I. zz8.
li.Z.lII. tq3.
M. t7.511 :.5.+."5r ;1i.H.8. t6.

(d)

'+9.

79. z8-37.
E. Z. lT. t7B.

5r.

M.
M.

cbflea Mahanagama.
(6jg-667) donated Kasagama' and

II

Abhayagiri Vihfr,ra:-Kanittha Tissa (167_186), in his

11;c11n{i9n in situ, donaied:-(t.y Xititavitilia lanpl
(ii) Kubigamaka tank_:_(iii) Mahabati tank; (ii,) Nalibil
aviya tank; and (v) Ilicaiaki tank. Khudda'p5rinda
!j.-l+,Js.o) in his inscription nrcntions:-(i) Acabalana ;
(iii; Kadabananrabaia. Ilahanaga
il,l Val+al1;
(5b9-57r)
gifted3n+
the weavers, village, Jambelambal:a.
In inscriptions of the 6th anrl 7th cintu"ries in situ Lre
mentioned:-(i) Gutakadara-;
.-(ii) -Madararayana; (iii)
Pt?yl;_(iv)_Lava-arana; and (v)'Nadanagarnu. iggul
bodhi II (6o4-611. granted Anganasdlak"a villagei'l
inscription nrentions :- (i) "Laha_
9.th- ."lLyry_
-Sanskrit
(ii) Urulsonu
;
; liii)- Hunele; (iv) i(iia ; (u)
ii5e
_.
u_ravannant(hanirgrama; (vi) pall5ya; and (vii) Sunag_
ri,ma. Kassapa Y (914-94) granted Valigamu;ro
Dakkhina Vihd,ra:-Gajabahu I (114-136) granted Varu_
kaviya. In the Dakkhina Vihari tinfitd o"f the znd centurv, the.l.o.llorving place-names occur :_(i) Lanavilaka_
i)alry^a ; (rr) Kanrrkaya ; (iii) Patagama : (iv) Abayar.ika;
;. (vi1 .Rajaka dam; (vii)' Coni-a'i5 a i
1:t |+y:flmala,
and
(virr) l. kahalal<a-ati-var.i.
. I-n a Ttlr centurv irrsciip_
tion, Matakagama is nrentionecl.5i
Jetavana Vihdra:-Mahdndga (S6g-SZt) donatecl Vasa_
in Uddhagama. Jeglhatiisa itt lozS; granrcct
ftiaSfla
uondrg_dma: Upatissa I (jb5_4ob) built Gondigada tank
and -Vanavarnma (084-7i8) restored it.;z'
IV.

5o.
5?.

575-c

tI

Samanagdrqa,

+8.

ItI. 6o.

6E.
6o. 59.

village

Punneli;+e

Parakkamabahu

49. 15, rZ,

Itt. q9. 47, 76.
M. 49.89, go.

rst

llahavihara :-Buddhadasa (337-365) granteci the \,.ihara

-iiso

Dathopatissa

Handinnarugama is mentionecl in a roth century inscription.r!

Gallakapitha village is ntentioned in early times. Civaragunrba
tnonastery was also ancient: bathing tanks were built at Civaracetiya and Kappd,sagama.as
Samghatagdna was grantcd to the ascetics.4l
Sitalaggama cave temple r'vas restored by Vijayabehu I (ro55-

48. 25,

ln a

the Vihara.tlre village Ambitapika, and Dbrnopa"tissa

(tt59-667) tlre village Senanxgarna.rs

(956972).a1

M.
LI.

Tanacaclaka.

following placc-na,mes occur:-(i)' Latakatala j

lll:
(rr), Abagamiya; (iiit Sahasavarala; (iv) Durusar a;
a,nd
-(v) Sakanakana. Jet thatissa III (bzg,1 granted

completed Dappuiapabbata Vihara.36

35.
36.
37.
3E.
39.
40.
4r.
42.
43.
41.
45.
46.
47.

sila mention Taladara and

century inscription, -A,yibaravil<a tanl< is granted ro tlre

Vih5,ra... In inscriptions oI the bth andltlr ccnturies,

a hospital. He endowed Nagavaddhana Vihiira. In Ambuyy5'na

Vihara he buiit the Dappulapabbata House: Sena i (E33-853)

rrro)

Issarasamana Vihd,ra:-pre-Christian inscriptions in

r33.

256 :
44. 97

48. 9.

I\r. r4r,256.

FII JTOIT,ICAI, TOPOG}I,APIIY OF A\CIENT AND }TEDIEVAL

CEYLON

,,,,l|unurdgatissa

XXIII
UNIDENTIFIED PLACES IN ROHANA
Mahanaga, first ruler of trlohana in the latter part.cf tire rrrl
century r.i., buiit the \,ih5,ras named (i) Nuvarangunu, (ii)
CHAI"TEIT

Senalena, and

(iii) Vilpita.l

Gothabha-va, ruler- of Rohaqa early in the znd-century n'c' built

there :-(i) Ogia Vihara, rvhicli rnety be the sanre as Selantara-samuha-

'(ii)"Gothdbhayzi Vihara; (iii) KumbhasEla \rihara; (iv)

pasada;
Tinciukalena Vih5ra; i") Karandaka-iela vihara, identical u'ith
I(urar.-rclaka nlahalena and Karanclakola, near MahSgama: tbe thera
Cittagutta lived in the cave rvhich r,vas Jul1 of beautiful_paintings;
(r'i) ,iVtattikalena Vihara in Hatthottha district: in this district I'r'as
also Kukkutapan'ata; ancl (vii) .Ambasela Vihd'ra.z
I(S,kavanna'ljssa, r'ho succeeded Gothabhaya as ruier-of Ilohar;a
in the first halJ of the znd centurrr n.c., built the foliorn'ing v;haras:(i) Kalaka; (ii) Kolcnrtissa Gaivihara, (iii) Vjlgam: this .,a-s- tirer
aicient name of pres ent s ertn ai:il a inTrincctttalrc di strict : (ii' ) Dukkha palaka; (v) Uclangulu; (vi) Kotitissa; (vij) Knt5li or-Krittali-; (r'iii)
I-utherahalpn"; iii,l Giriuturur'5ra; (x) Niyangam; (xi) Ratkarar' ;
and (xii) Dora.3
Nigroclhasdla or Nugahalkacla r,vas the place r,l'here ve]usunlana
killecl Nandasaratti.a

In Kulumbari-ka4lika or Kadalumbari was the I'illa6e'

FIunr'larivapi.5
Sadcihatissa {e.c. r37-rr9)

built (i) Ka.iambaka or Kalunrbtria or

I(alurnbara \rihara, and (ii) Lenamaliamala tank.6
Alinclaka \/ihara was the abocle of the great thera i\Iab[phussader a
in the rst century e.c.?
I{apuvena vihara r,vas probablv in Ilohana and connectcd r.,iih,
the Venu-nadi.8
Kuddarajja or Kuddharajja-danavva rvas the name of a district
and of a Vihara.e
r. Dhu.3o.
2. x,1.57.38:6o.84; D/n.24,3t; E.FI.I). tzz, tz6
z. ' M.:tz. z3; E.M.22.65:, I'ui. t6; Dhu- 83.
4. M.T. 44r, rz.
5. X'1. e3. 4; X[.7. 45r, 3o'
6 Xtl. y.8: E.M.33.8; Pttj. 18; .8.'11'8. App tD.
T. E.H.B. 68, 82, xzt, r'26, t49'
5. E.H.B. r23. API). T \.
9. Rsz. I l, 4 ; SJltlk zq9.

\/ihara

r,va_*

repaired

I 95

by Voharika Tissa (.2o9_

Penambangaqa or padhambanga4a or, probably also, pennanrarra,

presum?.bly a place where mediiines weie clistrrbuted.ll
,". _l)hd,tusena (455-473) built the following Viird,ras in Rohata:_

nvas

(i) Dayagem"_;.(ii) l4","dna: Dapputa of Roiiana i,

(iii) vibhisana, Diretusena arso btiilt"tr".r.ati"Ji*r,,
x"i",,,rL'i. i,

'this work, and

fhe,_fo]lowingVihd,ras.in IlohaBawere built or restored.

by Dappula,
of Rohalra in the middle of the 7th ce'tury:_(i) pariveaa
Vifraro;

'ui<:r
(ii) r\mbanrnla Vihera; .(iii) t\ltuttotamba, Si.i"uqiqlhu ;";'i;i;*_
bila Pasddas, probab\,allin
Mahagnnra; (iv) nai; Vrrra.",

l'as granted tirt'.r illage (ionnagarna;

rr

iJlrfri.n
) Kiiola 'villarl;-i il"B;;^": tanks

qrrr or_
_boragul Vlhara;. (\ Il) \'adunnd or Vadunna Vihira
namedvadunna and vadunndva are ascribed to Vasabha o"a

l,t"nar"rr.

Graffiti rnention the clistrict iuJ"""a_r".",

i:.:li.lyily:_1,h",liclli
{.vttt) Dalakasrrlrgiri : (ir) \'eher.aganr: (x) Kevilla-vagam bi i;"riff.._
qgnr;.(xi) Velalu or yera; (-tii) Hrt- or'Hilpul j-'iiiiit" lt.r*ai"

llalradivu; (xir,).,sanrbogarna; (sr.) \'agame, which mat. be present

"1.
t p!,ent.t, ncar IJtrttld; and (xi.i) \'ival Vihara.tj
, Jh". Sigiri Graffiti mention (i) panclLrlagam, ancl (ii) Dalanre_
hombu. both in Rohana.ia
Uclaya il (887-996; buiit l.umbarup or Mahatunrburui;pF
Viharrr.r5

I' Rolatula, Vihd,ra. in Rohana, Ilahinda Iy (956-97z) installed

a gol'l ltnage.to
,,
, l\lalrirrrla V.in 99r set-up an arnrcd camp at Sidupabbat agirna in
.Konana alter hls escapc fronr Anurddhapura.r7
xlnlasald, rvas trre place rr Irere thc prince Kitti (afterrr.ards
*t",,
vijal'abahu I) dwelt :
_piobabrl near ir ,rul tsrr.r"rut;rtt i,,1t,'parents . were cremated
and 5 rarge dweling. ror uriir.tn"r
lq
"..r"
Rohala are- :_ (i) Titthar '""O
(ii) Mapatunna, which m,1y. be^ identical'with nlac1a1r"p"i",* ila ;
Paflhama4dapatthana.; (lii) .anclhai'ula
(i;t-'i;rji^'"puru"",
(v) Sagamdora ; ancl (vi) Koturukaclu vihiraI ;" iirrpaaul#"..-.,
erectet.l.

Other places rnentioned

ro.
rr.
12.
t3.
14.
r.5.
ro.
t7.
18.
.r9.

in

M. 36. 3q.

E.fLB.6r, App. IR.

M.

38.

+S:

45. 45 ;

puj.

28.

xI. +s. +s, 55, 56, 58 ; puj. zr,

Sig. Graff. I, App. C.
Pwj. 3r ; Raj. 58.
E.Z. II , 69.
M. S:. 8.

M. SZ. ++: 6o. 57.

Dhu.4r,42,49,53,73;

21, z9

Rtj.

Sdhth 5Eo,45r ;

q5. 52, 57; Sig. Graff.

E.IJ. B. IB.

I, App.

C.

IIISTOR,IC.{L TOPOGII,APHY OIT ANCIE.\T AND M]IDIEVAL CEYLON 197

CHAPTEIT

Galakita ; Gatlbagiri ; Hedigama ; .fefagala ; Jivitota ; I{anamdeiri

Kayabura ; Kobala ; Malapala ; Ifahaviti,: lfon. Amuntlira
llevivana ;_trli4iber-p5_, l'Iobbtl , Namadagama ; Neliya ; Niiaklat
Nilka, Ia :,.Patlaganr ; Paral ra ; pesili : pil;li : Itaja)n-; Rajanama
Rajviti ; Ranaliala Pirivena; Salagerla ; Santmandu-; Sanlacl_i<ubu.r,a

XXI\/

Sapugasa-vdliya

UNII,OCA'TED PI.ACES
TIre inscriptions, particularll' those of the qth to tzlh centuries,
contain the villige narles of the offrcials 1\'ho attestedthe documents, and
serreral of these-p1ace-narnes cannot rvith certaint-v be assigned to any
one of the three, major territoriai clivisions. They are :-Ataragalu ,
Akuriili ; Balinotgamu ; Divdvtilla ; (ialuklihAla ;- Gangulhusu ;
Goluggamu ; Guligama ; Halikagam-, Hival.i ; Kah-ambalkulu ;
Kahau:a ; Karagani; I(atiri ; Ke151a: Kilincliri; Kolaba.; Kilinggarn or
Nlahakilinggam ; Kuburgamu ; l\Iahakubrss5lu ; l\'Iahanavagam ;
l\{anitil5. ci"Manitaia ; Miirugama : }'I'lavada ; Mulavasa ; Nilavasii ;
Nilaya ; Nilgonna ; Niligalti: Ramukkadu ; Sab6,vadunna ; Sumangalu'; Sumeiagamu ; 'l'aknaru ; 'I'amburugamu ; Ukunuhusu ; ancl

Vatrak.l

Senpavu

Serittagama

Suluva

Talaboya

llalapn-pirive4 ; Tambagola ; Taquiclagam ; \rahagalu pirir.in

Viivakiiti ; Vehelnaru Piri'e' : \riiatere I yahagarrr.i ; yiitiligar.
a nr

Yehar rgiri.s

Ii11.apa-II (65o-659) repaired tire du,elling of the l\{atritlrera of

l1Sa.1ta and granted it the village of Mahanitlhjla" Aggabodhi IV
(667_-6E.3) granted to Nagasald- \rihara :*ii)
Kataijhakara or
A'dhakara, also known as Katakanrlhakara, kai,akanara, I(atakanclara, KnlandhakEla __q1c1 i{elcliancia ; (ii) fevattagumtlnira ;
(iii) Bharattela , (iv)_Kihinrbila :' (u) N"t"t a': (vi) And'hanaraka ;
'(x) pelahnra
: and
!rii)-|1t_ur.9li; _(_viii) Bdlaia (ix) DvaranEl.aka;
(xi)
xlah[nikkaddhika.- The same king birilt'the Aggabodhi practising
House in Nagasald, \'ihflra.a

Ttre Pd'li Commentaries name the follor'ving places :-Ambangana:

the Sigiri Graffrti mention Arirbaga4a-v.atu ; Antarasamuddha vihd,ra,

existirig in the reign king Bhativa iRhaggari or Bhaggiri l:iryra ;
Bh5tarigaina ; Blibkka'taganra or, Bhekkhantag5ma, near Kallakar
Vihara;toriyassara ; Devaputta Maharat'tha ; Gavilang-ana-, Kqbttpelancla; Kdiagdma ; I(5lhd,la Vihara ;Kallav5lagd'tna ; Kankanaka ;
-Kassaka-lena
; Kilafljak:i"sanas5ladvdra ; Karavika ;
kdrali,'a-gi1i ;
Xolapiv-Vihd,ra ; Mahdkaranda Vihara ; Xlahd,nrunigma;.Mah6pun*
naedirra : nlald,rdma ; llankulakd,rflma ; Ilflluppalavdpi VihS'ra;
Nfl"nfimukha and Licchikali : t]re pirrase denoting Lankd' from end to
end is 'from NEnd,mukha to Licchikali, from Kalyafri to Nd'gadipa :
since Kalyani is in the west and Nagadipa in the north, the other two
olaces should be east and south ; Pahecivatthu ; Pu44avE'lika or Pu4iar-allika ; Pflvapabbata ; Rajamatu Vihdra ; Sakiyavarhsa Vihdra ;
Setanrbangalta '; Tdlavelimagga ; fatthakasala Parivena, existing in
the time " of Saddtra Tissa ; Valliyavithi ; Vattabakka ; andi
Atthasallhilena.2

The following place-names rvhich occur in the Sigiri Graffrti are

not found in ttre" literary lvorks or in the inscriptions ;-Bagona;
Bonuva; f)evalagama,; Digalavd'na ;, Digalu;
Bahilir.atugama;
" Navehera
DtlnurrS'gam ; Elenela-kuli ; Galagombu ;
DunaturS

I. 136 ; E.Z. I. zo6 ; E.Z. E. 79 ; 8.4: IY. zrz ;-E,Z-' IV' 4j t-E'ZII. 5 ;" 8..2. I. z5r ; E'2. I. r7t i A.Z. tt. zr8 i E.Z' IV' +3 ; E'Z' lV
zoS ;'E.2. fiI."277 ; E.Z. II. $; E /'. I. z5t ; E Z.-I. t75; E'v'.-III' 269.; D'Z'
itt. '.o5 ; E.Z. i.' io : III. z6s ; E.Z. I. z5t ; E-.-4. tI. ztr -8.-z-. ry T4: 2,Z' I: I\t."r85 ; E.Z. iil. 3oo'. E'.Z. L zo6; E.Z.III- 8:. E.Z.II. 8; E'Z' ]]' SZ;
!'n.2.
w. do' ; e.Z. I\t. -i+ ; E.Z. U. zt9 i E.Z - I. :16r ; E.Z. III. z69 ; E.Z' II' 3z ;
E.Z. ilI. 8r ; E.Z.II. 48 ; E.Z.II1. r9r ; E.Z.IIl- z69.
2. E.H.B.3r, 66, 68, 69, 7r, 7 4, 7 5, 82, 83, E6, 89, rzr, 122, 123, rz7, App' IB;

t.

E.Z.

IT. 8 ; E.Z.

"

3.
1.

Sig. Grafi.,

XI.

44.

I, App.

C.

r5t:45. 3, 58 : 46. 6-E, rz, t3; E.H.B. 68 ; U.C..R. I,

So"

trndex of Ancient PAli and Sinhalese Names

Ancicnt PAli and Sinhalese narnes
q'hi1e rnodern place-names.are printccl
The relcrences are to page numbers.

..
Abarlalaha."
Abagama
Aba-atasa

92

Abadaka

.. r7r
6r
44' r93

Abagamiya.
Abagara

45

Abigiri

I4I
96

Abagiriyaviya
Abahar'giri . .

74r

Abalar a
Abalavasava

154

r69

Abalavatuka
Abalavi

56
I IO

Abamavipatagama

r70

Abatala

16+

Aba tol a

Abavclaka
Abaviya
Abayanagara
Abayavika.
Abedavarana
Aplraya
Abhayagallaka

rob

65
54

., ror
.. 169
.. r4o

69, 96, tcg3

J7

Ablrava5i: iYihirar29, t 40, t 4 t - 4r,, ,.,3

Abhalarajr

'

Abhavaturir

Abhaya-uttara ..

Abhaya-r-api

Abhivacldhamina
Abivadunna

..

"

,\ca

Acabalana ..
Acagirikatisa

.. rro
..I4I

".

r4r

..
..

r55
r93

727, r3r
" r73
" r73
88

Acanagara ..

QA

Aciravilhi3Sma ..
Acavivika

77rD

173
6q

Accha
Acchagalla . .

Acchalallaka ..

Acilavati

..

64

16o

186, r87

4dhokurarlrgAma

4dipida-jambu

Adipid a-pu n nigahhanda

Aga4agima

Aga4aka
Agar.rakola..
Agavatura..
AggaLbodhi .

::

"

Aggivadrihamina . .

. . II2
53
53

..
..

33

165

toz
r<)7

r73

ii:,fl;T::.

in ordinary type in the text,

Agivada.mana
Ahalaviya
Ahali,araba
Ahalipavata
Aharavika ..
Ahidipa
.\hunugalla
Ahuravika ..
Ajunahivita
,lkalayugu ..
Akasa. Cetiya
AkAsa Gairgi
Akasakayotir
Akejikadari
Akuju
Akurri,li
Akvadunnir,
Ala
Ala-abagama

r6q, r73
33, r55

z8
33

69

..
..

56

61, r25

r83, 186

..

56
156

6r

. t<;6
. . rj3
.

63

. rja
. . 169
.,a7g
.

Alagiri

Alagocla
AlalranaParivena..
Alakandara
..
$lakanuva ..
Alambagima
-|lgamiya ..
Aligdma
4li(ga)maka
Alinclaka

2.6

.. 168
.. r9o
.. 166
.. rr2
: . +L
. . 19.1

4li.ata

Alokalena ..

r\lsara
-$lu1ena
Amala
Amaragalaka
Amaralana.,
Ambadugga
Ambagalla . .
Ambagima.
Ambagamuva
Aribagana-vatu
Ambaggama
AmbAla
.\ rnbalala
Amba-mAlii..
Ambamu
Ambangana
Ambariya ."
r.
Ambasela ..

8,1

t2q
1r
r57

..rr4
. . r58
..tr4
83

. toz
.. tb6
,

4r
4E
35

..

.. rt6
.. 196
rt6,tt7
97, t87
+g

.. r95
.. rrr
.. 196
..

66
r9.+

200 JOUI3NAL, R.A S. (CIIYLON)

New Series, Vol'.

Ambatittha

Ariyako!,i ..

36
36

Ambatota . '

r06, r07
ro3, 164

Ambat{,hako1a

Ambatthala
Ambatuva . ,

36

Ambavana ..

I I I, I 12

Ambavipi ..
Ambavd,siv6,pi

Ambgam
AmbilagS.ma
Ambilahila

'
.
..
.

16r

167
767

..r93

Ambilipika

'. t67
.' 165

Ambilayigu
Ambillapadara

Ambilapassava . .

Ambulu
Ambunora..
Ambu-tlhi

97

87
164

..
,.

1r7

r89, 19r
.. t92

Ambuyydna

I6I

Amgam

Amu4dora ..

r97

Anama
Anantarabharldaka

..

Andhakira

37

197

.. 797
.. r84
..156
9:, t 56
. . r93

AndhanAraka
Andu
AigagAma..
Aigamu
Airganasdlaka
Anjat

Anjani
Anotatta

52
JL

r87

Antarigairgi

Antaragangdya ..

+r

..I9I
-. 196

Antaramegiri

Antarasamudda ..

AntarAsobbha

Antaravaddhamina

Antaravilthika

Antureli

Anulatissapabbata

Arimaddavi j ayaggama

'li

Arita
Arilagama..
Aritagama..
Aritt5,rE
Ari!!'ha
Ariyikari ..

Badaga4a .,
Badagiri
Radagiri

Badaguna ..

Bamanagariya
Bamarahagam
Bamunugama

BIna

BAnS.gama ..
Ranahagama

Bariganada.

Batagama ..
Batasa

Batbunniito!a

Batigama ..

Battabhuttav alihaka

Bauddhasatra

Biyavii,va

Rejala
Beligala

Bentota
Berangul

/J

r95

Beravd.gama

73

Bagiri

Bhaggaii' ..
Rhagiratthi

. 77r
.. t7r
.

16r, 165
z8

.. r7r

29, 57

Tla.hadurasen

Rahilivatu

Bhallitaka

787

Bahujanasatra
Bahumangala
Bahuppala ..
Bakag'al1a -Uddhavd.pi

Balagama ..

Bhallatittha

Bhinakagama
BharattS.la . -

42
o7

III

84

39

.:

.: r45
\97
r96
9t)

Rhltikatissa
Bhitivanka

109

I5I

I9I

Ihayolluppala
fineflpasana

r38
r96
r8o

796

r96

BhS.tiyavafika
Bhattasfrpa

r96

73

Bhaggiri

rrij
I4I

Bagona

/J

Beravigo{a

67
(tz

I9I

r90
r90

Belpitiya

99

57
179

Ra.ddIiasimA.

98

86, r87

Baddhaguna
Raduila
Badulu
Baeli

,. t92

Badalatthala
Badaravalit
BadaribhitikamAna

724

Belipitiya ..

Bh6taragima
Bhatavabi ..

Badalaka

Barabbala ..
Biranakha . .

3r
to2
r8z
r56

160

Radakara ..

Ba(na)vitiya

enanaiH ..

29

67

Bamanagama

B5.na-Samudra

r89
r89
r89
54

Bhettagima

38

Rhillivdna ..
Bhimatittha

67
73

Bhinnd,iavanagdma

rz6

Bhinnorudipa

I9I
r96

Bhokkantagima .,

Bhrlta
Bhitirima.
llidervatu ..
Bijagima ..

201

.. r8z
. . r23

Bijervatu ..

Bilalvi!,i

Bilava(na) ..
BillagAma . .

Billasela
Rilora
24
Bira(.)gayara
q8
Bis6valu
Bodhiivati
93, r62
Bodhigd,maviLra
r03
Bodhisenapabbata
r90
r o.+
Bodhitala ..
Bodhitissa..
39
r54 Bodhi'Iree (Anuridhapura)
704
BodhiuppalavannS.
Bodhiuppalavan4i
3r
BodhivAla ..
49
Bogamiya ..
3()
Bohogiri-Nakapavata
62
Bokusala
754
Bolagima ..
722
r8r BolatulS
r55 Bolutuddva
Bo+d.
rSr
r8o Bonuva
127
Bordgul
Botal6
.5o
t97
r96

Rali6otgama

tlama

rt)2

.. tlr

Arikdri

56

Badagaldora.

3o

Balasataka , .

Bilava

Badalagoda

66

Ardmassa . .
Arambo{a ..

Badadavara

rr6

Dalapasana.

16z

66,93

i\rakipipala

-)u

II6

Ralaluvdna.

..
..

Apahayagara
Arigama

Ilaba-atara.

Balalu

Badahibadaka

.. 16o
..75, r27-r5r

Anuru-maha-p5,

Arnugam-pefavaga
AsmandalA.piliya ..
38
Assama4qlala
38
. . r59
Asunpiliteya
65
Atada
Atagama
42
..196
Atafagam ..
Ataragaga. ..
1\
.- t96
Ataragalu ..
Atarandimahibodhikkanda .. tz6
Atavaka
47
. . r93
Ati
Atiku (ci)ya
93
.. r9r
AttAlhi-Dhdtusena
At'lhasahassa
52, 67
.. 196
Att'hasafthilena ..
.. r8o
ritubadalena
..r5r
Atula
Aturaba
37
Aturoba
37
At-vehera ..
.. 40
Audumbaragiri ..
2,+
Avadaka
.. r87
Avattagaigd
r6t, 165
Avudakagama
Avulada
92
..r7o
Avuruviligama .,
24
Ayapavata. .
.. roo
Ayibara
. . r92
Ayibaravika

INDEX

r97

..156

Anulatisapavata ..

.. 57
.. rrq

Anufapi

Special Nurnbt:r

57
r 5.;
84

Anulapavata

Anuri.dhapura
Anurarama. .

37
66
35

VI,

r5

r, I90
rqo
r8z
r89

67
3q

rz+

g+

23
6z

. rz6
..rr3
.. r88
."r17
..r9r

r30-r3r

.. r48
.. rro
69
.. rrr
22

48
.

30

r95
73

.. 165
.. 196
.. r95
. - rr7
Boya-Opulavana-Kasapagiri . . r48
Boyigam
.. rr3
BrAhmanagima ..
23
BrihmanaggAma..
.. r9o
Brlhmanasatra ..
.. r8o
Bubbula
.. rrz
Budalavi!,thi
. . r95
Buddhabhelagima
.. 168
Buddhagima
.. rrr
Budhgam ..
.. rrr
Budgamiya
.. rrr
Budgamu ..
.. rrr
Bfrkakalla..
.. r73
Rurudatthali
38

Cadulagama
Cahanagama
Cahanila
Cakora
Cambuli
Cambutlhi ..
Campi
CE"navela
Candabhdga
Candagiri ..
Candana
Candanagdma
Canigama ..
Cataha
Catanagama
CS.thamairgana . .
CaturvedalBiahm.pura ..

CdtussilS,

..

6z
96

3r

,. io7
.. r89
.. r89
. . r87
. . r89

t7g, t87
6r

..

136

5o,5g

..167
.

94

ro6
43
46

r29, r35

202 JOLIRNAL, R.A.S.

(CEYLON)

.' r53 Dabara

". r55
Cayanti
.. r55
.. a22 Dad.amakula
Cema
. . 164 DahadiYa
45
Cetagiri
.. 169
CetafigAma
" a57 Dahanakara
16o
.
.
.. 157 Dahegallaka
Cetavi-gama
2r
Cetiyapabbata . ' r3o,742, 162-166 Dahuliya
3:
Chagama
30 l)akaPahanaka ..
,. r53
Chaggima
30 DakapAsirla
22
.. 77r DakaPunaka
Challira
.
.. r57 l)akavahzrnaka
5r
Chi.ta
.. Trr
." :'57 Dakiligiri ..
Chitavdhapabbata
Chattaggiliaka ..
".i65
'. r9o DakinigiriKarahija
63
.. r5o Dakinitisa
Chattapasida
.. r17
Vihara
. . 136 l)akili
Chattavaddhi
., rE7
.. r88 Dakkhina ..
Chatunnata
I ir, r5l
ChinclagAma
39 Dakkhinadesa
.. ro1 Dahkhildgiri
Cigaravaliya
" ' rrr
Ciia
'. 19o Dhakkhrl:rgiri-Da1ha
-- 152
Ciram5.tikavira ..
'. 19o l)a.kkhirtapassa . '
Cita-naliara
42 Dakkhila Vihira 135' r47' r18, r93
2r Dakshiirarama
". r8o
Citagala
16' !5?
i55, 16r l)akunpasa
Citafama ..
r 4o, r 78
63 Dala-Da-G6
Citalapavata
63 Dalakasubgiri
Cittalakuta.
". r95
.. 195
63 I)alame-hombu ..
Cittalapabbata
.. 50
Cittanakara
12 DalataPava
.. rro
Cittapabbata
42 Dalha
..r74
.. 732 Dima
CittasA.]i
-' rg2 DamaviYa
93
Civara
1o5, t'7a
.. rg2 Dambaderliva
Civaragumba
."
ro8
.. r88 Dambululena
Cola.katissa
. , r93 Dambunnaru
Cona
40
..
165
22 DamgamiYa
Cora
..r79
.. r88 L)amila-thiipa
Coraka
.. r88 Damiya
1l612ft2rldaka
'. 166
..r.+r
Corambagima
54 l)amsangunug6 ..
87
.. 196 Danddakadara
Coriyassara
27
. . 166 DAnaPabbata
Cudali.gala
.. r7o
82, r53 Danateka
Cudataka ..
.'l9r
(.ugariya
.. t6z Danavalli..
87, 168
.. 16o DandvAva ..
Cujivila
".r,1o
Cui<arida
56 Dantegeha..
.' r78 DaPalagama
4r
Cufagala
" ag2
.. t61 Dappulapabbata "
Cuiagallaka
" rr3
.. 22 Rl:llg:
..
cfrlanigalena

cnlanilapabbata
Cilanganiyapitthi
Culapitthi
Culasumanagama..
Culatisa
..
ClrlavApiyagima
Culavika- ..
Culaviya
Cuiaviitfri ..
Cutlamitika
Cullanaga..
Cullapantha
Culuf.a
Cu44asili..

.'
-.
.
..
..
..
..

22 SXiifi"lir; ::
53

r9o
t54
t6r
t6o
r7o
169
r9o
+2
38
.. r9I
3r
.' tz6

INDEX

Neu Series, Vol. VI, Special Nutnher

l)ar.gama
Dassamilini
Datavika
l)ataviya

.:

Dathaggabodhi . '

l)ithakondania ..
l)athivaddhana "

l)atta
Davacaka-Patagama
DiYagama,..
Deberapatun
Degalaturu
Dema!'ahal

'.'.":Z

". r2o
..r9o
..

99

16r

62, r4q

.. rro
"
"
"

'19

..r90

f)ematf;,va

l)ematavala
DematthapAd
Demel

atthali

Demeiin-hatihaya
- .
Demeliyagama
"
L)emel-Kinigam
Demitigama
Den5.

Denagama

..

Deninaka ".

Detis5.sena..
DevA.
Deva
DevSgama .,
DevA$ira ..
Devagiri
Devagiriya
Devalagama
Devanagara
Devapdli
Devapdli

L)evapura

DevaputtaDevarabak
Devatissa
Devinuvara.
Dhammaca.

DhamnradhAt

Dhammird
Dhamma.ra

I)hammasair

Dhanapitthi
Dhanatisa. . .

168

r46, t47
36

r46, r+7

..
., rt66

. r4g

37

:16r, 166

..
..
.:

r89
rt-o
1611

70'

72

.. r9I
7o
. .. 196
.; .16r
-- 31
7o
7o
7o

.'

r40

..

r,+r
146

..

r4r

..
..

9+

168

87, 168

Dhanuvillik

..

Dharmanandan
DhAtusena
Dhi.tusenapa
DhavalA.

Dhavalavitthil

Diihmarakkha
Dibba
i)igabayago
Digahalaka

DigalavAna..
Digalu
Digama

Digimaduil
Diginaka

I9.5

Dighibhayaga

U4

Dighacanka

()9

Dighali
Dighanakhi

48

II5

73
84

.. r54
176, t87
. ' r88
..

4o

r89

37

.' ro3
.. 796
.. 196
..r48

24 ff.
24 tr.

Digamadull
I)igamandu

17o

54

Dip61a

16r

Dhanavd.pi
Dhanumand

Digasivagama
Dighabahug

168

r84
r59

II5

Devitihaligama
Devunuvara

II2

Dighibana
Dighasandasendpati
Dighathupa ..
DighavS.pi
Dighavatthuka ..
Digh5yu
.,

54

..
..
..
..
..
"

24 fr27

-'r55
-.

203

37
37
136
12

136,

..
..

r5r
136

r32

24tr.,

56

24, 25

Dipa"

Dipigala

..

Dipikulika ..

too

Dippuyyd,na

DivScandantabilava

Diva$una
Diviya-ataradaka

Diya
..
Diya-ag ..
Diyakavlna
Diyasen
Diyiiviilla

49

..

..

..

..r47
. . r90

55

Dohala

Dolaiigapabbata . .

40

Dolapabbata

4s

Dolosdahas.

Dona

Donivagga ..
Donuppala

36

..

.. rz6
. , r5E

Dora

Dorirdattika
Doratiyiva,
D6varika
Dovatigama
Dubalagama
Dubalayahat'i
Dubbalav6.pitissa
Dugga
Dukkhipaiaka
Dumbara
Dumbuldgala
Dunatur6-Nivehera
Dunumugania
DunuvAgam
Dunuvegama
Dira
I)uratisa
Diratissaka

Dfrravapi

Durusara
Dusatara
Dvd.dasasahassa
Dviramandala
Dr.drani.yaka

Ekadvirika
Ekahalaka-Ativaviya
EkahavApi

97

,.
..

ro6
r59

ro9

6\
63
63

..
..

4r

1g4
rr.5
40

.. 196
.. t66
.. 196
. . 196
6o

6o, 6r
...

. t8z

.. re2
.. t2z
..
..

Ehala
Ekadora

Ekadorika
Ekadoriya
EkadvAra .,

r57

69

r59
rg7
49

IOI

ror, r59
ro

r, r59
r59

r59
r93
r92

204 JOURNAL, R,.A.S. (CEYLON)

Neu,t Seri,e.s,

.. r9o Gang6,
36, 44
22 Gangidoni ..
43
.. r9r
..137 Gangimiti
.. 16o
.. rr7 Gairgariji ..
.. r9o
. . 196 Gangdsena ..
.. 116
.. r9o Gairgisiripura
.. rro Ga+gatale ..
16
., ro9 GangAtala
46
r73
Gangavlla
'. r73
32 Gangavila
30,
30,32
. . rga)
q8 Gangulhusu
.. r73 Gantaii
46
' . 136
1; Ganthikara
. . ro9 GantlimA,na
7o
24
.. r93 Garadara,
.. rro
. . 16r Garadida
45,93
5.1 Garimahalaka
.. ro8
Garitara
.. rg7
2a Gatabagiri ..
Gabi{atatiri
.. r84 Ga{'ika
99
Gii,{ubavana
..r84
.. r7J GaPUP
Gaganivila
.. r7r
.. rio Gavarattssa
Gagapavata
.. 17r
,. r7o GavaravAla
Gagavi
. . 167 Gavilla
Gaggirnma.
54, 53
.. 196
.. t67 Gavilangana
Gaggaravaliya
63
Gavita
. . t6z
Guiuu
63
. . ro9 Gavita
Gala-araki
., 196 GelgamaGalagombu.
43
.. rg7 Getthumba.
Galakiila
'. r84
.'
..
I9o
Gijja*nfa
..
r-58
Galambatittha
. . r.56 Gikitta
Galamburu
49
116, tz5
Galataraha
5.5 Giiimalaya
Gimhatittha
65
Galedarapu
73
68
24, z8 Giri ..
Galha
Giribi
2+,
zg
92
Galhoy
.. 163
..' rbg Giribhan{a
Gaiin<iuru-Gomaqrdla
. . rg2 Girigama
Gallakapi{,ha
50, 54
98
Gallam6a!'!'hika ..
3r, 56 Girigima
..
rr.+
Girih6.lika..
..r9r
Galnaru
Girihandu
Galpita
Galpita
45
'.
ll
.. 45, +w'toz
..+r,
Girikanda ..
(Jalu
Gafi
46, rgz
;\ urlrKdrr\rd..
73
Girikandika
.
rs6
Galukihiila.
45
'
26
.. r58 Girikumbhila
GAma
r7z,
t8z
Giriiaka
Gimaqi
39
GS.manigdma
55, 68
39 Girima4dala
.. rz(t
..
.. r)7 Girima+dula
Gima4itissavdpi
rz7, :r6t, t7r Girinagara ..
G6malrivipi
". r9r
.. r8z
65 Girinelavihanaka..
GamantapibbhS.ra
68
Gamata-dala
.5; Girinil
.. ro7 Girinii-nuvara
". r8z
Gambivasalava ..
r;2, 186 Git'inillankaqla
Gambhira ..
". r8z
Gamepdavdla
-'r]+
.. t57 Girisalikirima
GAme',rdilalika ..
GirisigdLmuka
ca.mininsam
.; Girisicermuka
o4
91
Gii,mi4ingam
.i9
t8z, t86, r87
Giritala
- . t6i
Gamir.itiia
t8z
Giritala
Gami!'thapali
54
23, 32
Gami!,!'havili
.54 Giritisa
8r Giriuturuvira
". r94
Ganagami . '

Elagal
Elamuka
E|Ara-thupa
Elasara - ,"
Elenela
Elugal
Enderagalla
Er:{6ragalu
Erdhulu
Eraka
Erakavika
Erakivilla
Era4degaila
Eraya
Erei<api
Etumala

Gana{ma)taka

1t

Ganayagama

Gandhamula

55

. rg.i

Girivadunn6.

Giri VihAra..

Giriyi.

INDEX

Vol. VI, Spaeitr'l Num'ber

33

98, ro3
98

Giriyala
Giruvah6bada
Givulaba
Go{apavata
Godava
Go{i.vari
Godigamuva
Gokanegama
Gokanna
Gokannatittha ..
GoJabigamr
Golabiha ..
Golagam
Golagama . .
Golapana ..
Golapd,nugama .,
Golobigama
Goluggamu
Gomati
tlomayagimr
Gona
Go4a
G6na.
Go4agS.maka
GonagAmuka
Gonagiri
Gor.rdigima.
Gonisa
Connagima
Gonnagiri ..
Gonnavitthi
Gbpdlapabbata ..
Go!'apabbata
Gotaptrsdna
6otha
GolhAbhaya
G6thapabbata
Govakadatayiha.gima
Govindamala
Govin-nii,miipitiyir
Govipala
Gukana
Gulaviilla
Guligamu
Guralalthakalaflcl;a
Gutigama
Gutakada'a
(Gu)tapavata
Gutaviya
Guthala
Guttahila . .
Guttala
Tlabugoluva
Flabutagala
Hadavika. ..
I{aclayunha.
Hajiy;r

'ITakanakaraka

".

70
.. 86
30
67
67
. . 186
33
gg
32, 44
44
..-39
39
gr
.. . 6o
92
92
39
gz, 196
186, i87
30
.. 166
gz, t66
44, 166
44
.. 167
ror, r5o
. . r93
.. 167
.. r95
.. r5o
63
,.r78

Flakaragorla
tsIakkagam
Hakulaviva
Hilakola
HilavahAnaka
Haligama
llamanakara
Hama4avira
I{amara
Hambatthi
Hamsavatta
Hambugallaka
Hanagamaka ,.
Hanahagama
Har,rdinnarugama..
Haikana
Hankira
I{ankirapitthi
Haragama
HaritakivAla
Hastisailapura
Hattanna
I{atthilaka
Hatthapanr.iika ..
Hatthavanagalla . .
Flatthibhoga
Hatthigiripura
llatthikkhandha ..
Hatthikucchi
Hatthipora
.
Hatthotlha
Havi(,ika ..

.. r89 Hedigama . .
.. r89 HgtlillakhaTdagdma
6o Helagam
.. r94 HeligSma . .
67 Hellola
.. 166 l-Ielloligima
57 Helloliya
.. 156 Heluggamuva
.. ro6 Hemavati..
gg llidatagama
zg Hihobu
..196 Hil
.. tz6 Hilisela
. . 166 Hillapattakakhanc.la.
.. r93 Hilpul
.. r7o l{inabi
65 Hintdlavanagima
.;o, .52 Hirafiflamalaya ..
50, 52, 53 Hiravalugocla
5cl, 52 HitadalaYa
Hivafii
97 Honagariya
:o tlonagirika
." t7o Hopitigamu
.. r(r4 Hopitiya
..t7o Hotavata ..
-. t6r l{ovatu

205

. r58
.. 196
. . r7r
.

37
38
.

98
165

2r
68

. . r9r
.. r3r

20

-- r7o
-. 16o
.. lgz
65

..
..
..

r59
r59

..

ro5

..
..
-.

r4o

-.
,.

ro5

106
.56

rr2, rr3

137

r2G
47
16o
93

.. r8r
.. 8+

+z

-. g7
39

66
66

. r49
..r+g
, . r49
.. r9o
,. 186
. . 169
.

..
..

30

r95
ro9

39

.. r95
.. rr3
.

r, 56

ro6

.
..
..
.

69

63
196

16r
16r
+9

.. 156
..r52
.. r9r

206 JOURNAL,

Ii.A.S. (CEYLON)

Hubiligama
Irujikada ..
Hulapitthi..
Huligam
Huligiriva . .
llumana
Humana-atagama
Humanajanalikeya
Hunagiri
Hunild,
Ilu4annaru
IIu4aru
Hnndarivdpi
Huragama , ,
Hrlra.tota
22,
Hi=rva
Hirvacakanniki . .
lluvatraka
$uvaragama
Hu5'ala3ima

..

ro9
23

..
..

r9o
r92

..

-54

r-55

42

.. r7o
, . 16r
.. 193
.. riig
.' r89
. . 19+

Netr Series" VoL.

Jetatisapava

jeirtanhrima

VI,

S1:ecial Number
-55

(Anur1dhapura)

13(),

tq6, t47, r93

Jetavanirima (Polonnaluva)

77{}

r68
5r

Jotlharama

Jetugama

livitota
Jot

ra sa

pi

".

\97
r95

sii r ra

Jotivana
Kabaragama

Kabarajitagama .-

r2g, r3o, 146

, t6r
..r55.
.. r6.t
.. tlz
.

Tlabota-agana
Kabuba
84
Kabuba-Kadaraka
9S
. . r9a)
47, ra6, 725 Kerbupelanda
22
Kaburagama
,. r5,l
22
I(aburaka ..
.. r7r
. . r55
Kacagala
6&
Kacaka-a.r.udak:r ..
16r, 165
56
Kacchaka . .
3,E
Kacchakatittha ..
. . 33, 38, 42
igaha
.. r58 Kacchar-61a
Ilubarata ..
3E
I{ada
Ilubiissa
,. r7o,
73
Kadabanamabara
Isamviti
. . r93
73
..r3.5 Katlacadaka
Isibhimairgana ".
65
.. tSo I(adagutaka
I'ipatana
9i)
.. r48 I(adahalaka
Isiramana..
89, r.5+
Issarasama4a ..8r, 98, r48, tio r93 Iiat{ahavapigama . .
5r
Isuramenu-Bo-Upuh.an ,.
9E
'. r49 I{aclalagama
. , r,19
Isurmanu
I{aclaligAma
116, r2S
g+
Kaclalinivitzl
Itata
99
. ' 16r
I{adalipatta
Itnarugama
T2
IiaclalTsenagima ..
.. rtE
..
16r
Kaclafumba"ri
.
.
rg4
-fabaviya
.. r53 Iiaclamba..
j1,r58
Jabo-aviya
qo
Kadambagona
.. rr.+
-Jaggara
lladanaka..
.. ro-5.
90,97
Jajjara
.. 737 Kat{aragama
.. r5-i
Jalaka
.. 16r Iladaragama
50, 59, 9t)
Jalagamer ..
.. 16r Kadaroda . .
lilagama ..
42
.. t57 I(adavataka
.. ro9
Jalakrtaka
..
r88
I{adar-iti
33
Jallibiva
.. r93 I{a<lcliragAma
. . a\z
Jambelambaya ..
inaka
r86,
Kadrlt-rravacldham
rrz,
r87
40
Jambu
.. IO5 I(a.disagagama
.. r-5a)
Jambud,loni
'fambukola
83, 8+
Kadubala . .
87
. . ro8
Kaduruvadunni ..
186, r87
.J:Lmbukola-lena
.. l9r Kagada
. . ro2
Jamburantaragall:r
.. r89 Kahabatara-yatan:L
5.5
Jambuti
. " 175
I(ahabagala
Jananitha-mairgalam
-55
..
rr2
..
Ka.haqama
38, 4?
-[anapada
rzg,
t36
I{i}ia1li
.
.
a92
Jantighara.
Kahambalkulu
. . rgb
53
JavamAla
.. 196
Kahiva
90
Jayagama ..
t1o. tu{' Kajaraga.m;t
r
JavaSaigA
.. 1i3 KAjalagima
50, 5r, 52, 59
Jayasenapabbata
Kajidora
. . r2o
..r57
Jat'avadclhanal:otta
." r27 IiAkalaya
45
Jayavipi
.. 197 Tiakelakuvahanaka
45
Jetagala
93

.5

INDEX
fiakkhagamiwa
I{akkhalar.itiLLi

"

Kakudha

-Kakuiuvagala
KalabLrtal<a

liaiarl agavi

1{:rladrgh:rgima

Kilarlighavipicl r':1ra
KAiadighavika

..r57

I{ilinga

.. r34
7 3
-. tul
.. r55
.. r2o
. r:(r
..r55

)ialiniya
ll:i,livasi
lialivasamr
l{allagim:r

196
r:6
.. r8z
.. rr8
.. 15r
.. rr8
. . r9l
. . r)c)
..rr.+
.. roB
. . t97
.. r88
28
.. r95
.. t07
".r5r
. r()5
..r58
.. r<l-l
,.r58
.. rriJ
2 .1, 2
. r,,-

Xalubaha . .
I{alilla
lialumbala

..
.

l\.llr.l\:tlil
l\il l.r:l |d \ .l

. ;';i tr{alnri.qam:r

KAlagi.m:r
.Kilagiribha

rl

rla.

Iia lahanagara
I{a.l:rhomu va.dora

Ka]ahumana

l(alaka
IiAlal<a

.Kalakacch:rgam:r . .
"I{ilakaqarna
1{alalahallika
Iirilakandar"

Kila-1ena
I{alalviili

"

I{alam

Ka[:rma

Kalamalran:rka ..

KAlamattika
Jtalamba

l(alambaka
.I{alambatittha
,KAla-nadi . .
Kalancla

-J

Kilanrlha.ki.la
Kalangar.eia

Kiilani
I(a1anu

l{alapabbata
Kalapahalaka
.t(AlapAsAcla

Kilapasdna

Iialapilla

lialapili

,t.t

.,

l{a1at:r.

I{alatagar.nir

Kilatittha

I(aiavahanakaja ..
]ialavalIi
I{alavilna

I{zilavApi
I{ilavapi

Kalavipi-nacli

I(ilavcla

33, ro8

.. r jz
.. rlo
.. rrE
..,,.\
5.l
.. r53
lr,r', t{,-

.. ,,1;l

I r.l t.1,r

.l{aliryana

lialerligevi ..

Kilhiila

Ilali

Iialinrlr

lt{'
I i, '

. ,a,, I
.. rE,)'
".r5(l
,. r-)
. r if
". r30'
.. Ti.l
. ri I

1{alapika
1{iilanikolonna

".ri7
.. r6.5
tr!, tzr">

E9

89

Kal1ethilena

iiallalrr

ii;iil;i;;;*. :
i;:
ro3 I(alombilaka

I{alagalan;r.

Kil:rgallaka

lr)7

{.),

'

))
rjj
I (li)
j,,
J' j

J{allakilerra

:.

.. r14
. ^ IE8
rEE, r96
.. r88
.. 196
.. ;b7
, r{)2
.. r9.1
." r9q
.

tr(alumb:r"ra.

Iialumuhuclu
Iialunnaru
Iialusimbala

53

., r9r
.. r89
.. lq?

I(a,lussa

Kaluvala
J{alyanirvati

49,53

lialyinr

..

IiammaragS.ma ".
liamuhajivi
l{:rtradivadora
l(anagama

rr8, rr9,

.'
T2C)

72

, riio

tlo,

l{:rrr:ilniidiri

liilniimiigiri

lianamula

i(lin:rptrcldiud:l ..
li:in:r'talavana.

'. 156
. . rr7
". r97
.. 156
..

37

ibo, rb5

Ji:rlirvutagama ".

li:rndrka,
iiiinclala
Ir:tixlarnunnlt
Iia.ndanagara
Ii:rr:Ldar-a

ii:rnil:rra.hiu:tlia" ..
Iirrl,i;rr llt ll. rrrr\',rre
l\irll,<lrl

liiinl3omlr .,

..

26, r82
r74, rEr

..

16z

..

I19

ii:u.rlt:rr.itzr
irrrt.ril;;rt;r
.Nar.riliilrasGIa

lr.rr.rll', r.'1'.rii

t,,

ii,',,,it,i,1.,.,

Iiantlrli:r
Iiental<:rdi'ii.r:rlirta
Iia.rtt:t lia r,lttt:r
li.'itt;'1.-r-.

u.t.r l:

rr8
56

r89
63

liitr.ijliirraviiiilia. ..

il 't.rt.rlll

16o

.. r63
,. i89
.. r8r
,. rSu

"
..

li:rnlranarli

Ii.,

tI')
\)()

]i.1trat.1rk1

t:r
'

r 5-5

6z

Ii:lnagarna

r'22
68

liilagama

r83

..

..

..
,.
..
'.

()3

63
196

loo
163

r{r3
5.1

4()

.' 4{r
.. rr-!

208 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

Kanthapitthi
Kanukaya
KapS,lakanda
Kapalan6ga

Kapailakkha4da ."

i
,

li

Kapir5,
KapirAmfrla
Kapikandur-ho . .
Kapila
Kapilavastu
Kapittagdma
Kapkanduru
Kappagallaka
Kappaka
Kappakandara
I(appalagoda
Kappanduru
Kappisagdma
Kappukagdma
I(app[ra
Kapugam ."
Kapuvena.Karadipa ..
Karagam
Kara Gairga
Ka.ra Gaigd
I{arajahabaka
Karajavika.
Karajaviya.
Karajinitisagama . .
Kiraliyagiri
Karandd,gama
Karandaka
Karandakanda
Karandakola
Karapavata
Karapiflhi..
Karavdlagiri
Karavika ..
Karaviti
Karavittha-vilatia
Karihiia
Karinda-na.di
I(arindapabbata ."
Karuiikeya.
T(asaba
Kasabagiriva
T{asigalbada
Kisagalla . KasAgalu
T{asigalugama
I{asagalugoda
Kasagi,ma..
KasAlla
KS.sapabbata
Kasaf,apitiya
Kasitota
Kisavigama
Kdsikhanda
Kassakalena

.. t92
,. roj
.. r59
.. r44
..r59

rq4, t46
.. r44

.
..
.

66

r8o
r8o

..

..

66
ao7

Katari

Katelavasaka

. r72
73

r93
ro8
r7z

r97
r97

797

r97
9E

4r

KativA,pi
Kaliy3.gama

r56'

Katthaka ,.

Kattikapabbata

TlatumahasSya . ,
Katuvandu

r56
r37
r64
r6o
6r
r65
56

r88

Kauddpulu
Kavarasaka

r56,
45
63

Kir"veri

r87

Kavuddvulu
Kavudu

45

Kavudumigalu ..
Kayabura ..
Kayuabaliya

-55

45
197
-56

Kehila

8o

Kehella
Kehelsdndva

r59

T(eheta

I9I

rrE
rr6

Kelagamur.a

Kelil5,

Kelapavu
Kelisa

r96
..

64

Kelayaigana
KeiivAta

8q
68
173

84

Kelavasd
Kelscna

va

Kemgalla ..
Kenahisa

38

Kereligama
Kesigamu ..
Ketavalaka
Kevattagambhira
Kevillagam

96

KevillaSragam

93
196

Khadirangani

.5o

163, r97
99'

64
796.

Kalunahabiya-tatar
Katunnart-

68
68

4&
53

Ketiri

gg
16r

9r

r38

Krirtigama ..

32

Ka!akandara

. a48
.. rj2

KatandhakAra

Kallhanta

165
52, 66

,.
..
..

Kafaka-nakara ..

..r58
.. r55

162

.. rgr
. . ro9
..196
. . 169

..

Katacanaliapula
I(atadorivada
Katagima

Katthalila

24

I9I
r45, I5I

84
196
186
186
156

. . 196
.. t66
.. rg4
.. r89
.. rg4

1+7

Kassipitthika
Kasub-rad . .
Kasub-senevirad . .

Katakanira
Katakandhakira ..

32

r48'
15r

Kassapasena

Khadirali

INDEX

Specittl Number
t3g, r45

I{assapagiri
T{assaparijaka

66

.. rgz
., r9o
.. r44
66
.. ag4
r83, r85,
r83, r85,

Kassapa

Kataka

66

..

VI,

63
66
39

..

Neu: Series, Vol.

rr8
r89
r55
r54

8E

166

r97
r95

r95
7o
.53

209

.. 116 ]!o]agam1 ..
Jlfajjgta
., r: Kolambahataka . .
$hajjfrravadqlhamana
..
. . r8e I(olambalaka
.,
{!}a+{a9eta.,,,
Khandakavitthika
Kolapav
-t\Olapav
^ual.rgaKavlullllKa

III:I4::9",
Khanclaslmd
I{handava.gga

Khaadavaiapitlhi

5ll?"91'qt*
Khandigima
Khi.nu

I(hinuka
Khdnuvipi
KhemirS"ma
^nemarama
ilfrrnayapi
$]riragi-ma
I(hirasila
5lf?Yapi..
l{huddavAiigdma
Khudda;aiigama
I(ibabadi
IllFlgern" ..
Kibinilam ..
Kidakehigama
..
SiFlply"
Iiihimbila ..
r\Irualr
Kihirii,li

I(ilafljakAsanasiladvira ,.

Kilind-d.efrgdara..
Kilindiri
Kihnngam ....

I{imbulviga
Kirhsukavatthuka."
Kipigarna ..
I{ird
Kiriti
Kirs.vd,pi
I{irbanrlpavu
Kirbimb
$1r1ga4a . .
Kirindagim

Kirind-ho . "
Kirind-ho

Kirola

I{itkevuva . .

Kitmini
Kitsen
Kitsen

I{ittakarrqlaka

Kitli
I{ittirijavilukagama
Ilivisi
I(ivisipi{,ini.
Kobala

Koboyateliva

I{oddhangulikakedara
Kohila
Kohombagima . .
Kokavi.ta ..
Kokefa
I{okkidannava ..
Ilolabi
Koiabhinna

33
33

42

Koiaia

.
.. rZ9 KofavApi
pz Kolayunu ..
..tq; r<oiit"a
.. 163 Kolomb

tr2, rr3

39, 16o
39
., 16o
.,169
36
39
..^ 36
+8,

i+

Kolombii
Kolorhbagahr

Koiomba[amaka ..

I{olomgaiu
Kolomsalu
r\vlvru5dru
fi,olom Ova
Kolom
Oya
I{olomtisia
I{omatafa

"

5+ Konc.livAta . .
85 Kontivita
63 I{orandaka

,. 16r

..
..
..
,,.,

16r
r.55
roo
\v
rg7
/
7y
70
.. 196

..ti9
.. ry6
.. 196
196

Kosavagga

Kosomlirira
Koladora ..
Kotagala
I(oialama
$wgdtsdrud

Kotanagara
^oranagara
Kolapabbata

Kota;;;..
Kotasara
Kotqam
$ofgam

.. ro2
49
.. r84
.. r93
.. lr2
9r
.. 163
.. r5r
50, 54
30
66
,. r95
73
.. r9r
.... r?I
r2t

Kolipabbata
Kolipassd,vana
I(otitissa
Kotmal6
Kotthabaddha
Kotlhagama
Kolthalati.
Kotlhamalaya
KolthasAra.
l(olthavita
Kotthivirla
Kotthumala
Kottivb,ta
Koturukaqla

b4
56
.. rro
. . r57
..
rg7
" -2t
. , rrr
.. rr3
8o
3.5, rr7
32
87
32
.. 196
..ro3

l(uba
Kubaragama
Kubigamika
Kubuka"nda
Kubrllagalla
l{uburgamu

l{otusara.
Kotusara
.. t98 KovilA,ragima

l(uclakadavuki. ..

Kudd,-Kapara
Kuddilamanclala
Kuddarajja
Kukkutagiri
Kukkutaparvata ..
Kukufgiri
Kulilitissa..

rro, rrs

.' ;!g

. rss
.... r196

sa

.. fi;
.. a6Z
.. ;86
,58

'4e,
" . ,;g

.. r;g
.. r58
.... I;;S
. " r5g
r
.. rsp
." ;6;
.. r$i
33

.. .66
.. 116
65

6i
6;
33

., 33, 34, 38
;5
,, -" J"'' O+
64

a, 34
ii
34,
;d

Oa,' r1g
O'a,"r1g

.. r9o
. . tg4
. . E7
90

.. 33,
34, 33
-- .-.'
6z
. . rr1. . 33, 34, 35
33
33

,. rr7
33

..

r95

..

r73

..

23
).t
53
196

34

.. r;i
. . rOq
.. r93

So

. r44
56

.. rg4
. . r37
.. tg4
.. t3T
.. rB4

2r0 Jourl,NAL, R.A.S.

Kulantavipi
Kulapana ..

(CEYLON)

..

Kulataira . .

116

96

I(ulavitiya

.
.

Kulurnbari
Kulumbiyangana
Kulu-Tis-Rad

r84

..

ro2

Kulattha

r72

" 16z
.. t91

T{umbagAma

Kumbalaka
I(umbalhala

68
39
8o

Kumbhabana
I{umb}rakiragima
Kumbhas6la
Kumbhigallaka ..
.Iiumbhild. . .

.39

. r57
. r9l
.. r89

z6

Kumbhilisobbha ..

,. \o2

KumbhilavAna

97
68

J(umbmugama

;4, ro3

Kumbiyangana ..

Kumbugdma

.:

Krrnariwa.ta.

.
..

r89
r94
.. r72

I'{urarpgima
Kura4daka.
Kuravaliagalla
Kuruincliya

..

KurunAgalpdya ..

Kurunda

Kurundaka

Kurundapillaka

J(rrnrnda.vlsoka, . .
Kurundi
Kurundivelu

Kuruvakatittha

r84

Kupuvena ..

liurunda.cullaka

53

..

I(undalatissa
Kunjarahinaka
Ttupikkala ..

I(usini.rd.

Kutali
Kitatissa

Kulavanagama .,

..

191
63
86

ro5

86
86
86
86
86
86, 87
86
64

r8o
r94

i84

r6r

Ku!elitissa

r84
ro7

Kuttali

r94

KuttAva.tta
Kutumbiyangana . .

r59

Kyanagama

II3

I{uthari
Kutimbiya

rl

r72

Labaka
LAbugimaka
Labunakara
Lacla
Lahasiiri
Lahiliya
Lahulla
Lajiika
Likandara

68

6E

.. r55
.. r72
.. 772
. . t66
. . r93
. . 165
..rr3
.. rro
26

Xteut Series, VoI.

VI,

28
Lamjanavu
. . I93
Lanavilaka
.. i36
Laf,jakisana
..rr4
LankAgiri ..
.. rr4
Lankd.pabbata
. . iig
tarikatilal<a
62
Lanki Vihira
.. Ig3
Latakatala
., rq3
Lava-arana
.. tt)2
Livarivapabbata
Lenagiri
54
.. ir)I
Lenamahamila ..
.. 196
Licohikali ..
." 116
Liyavala
.. r9o
Loha"dvAra
r29, r33, r3q
I-ohapisida
.. ttlz
Lohitavahakhar.r(ta
.. ro8
Loholuvilii..
Loka
17
Lokagaila . .
47
26
Lokandara
z6
I-okantara ..
:t,
Lokuttara . .
Lonagiri
54
.. 165
I-onapi
r33, r34
Ldva-maha-paya ..
2'2
Lu4ugamana
. . r9,l
Lutherahalpav

loo

Nlabirigama
l,{acala

24
53
5o

Maccutthala
Miidagam-Uyantofa
N{adagu

\ {)2

Madahababa

Madahata

56

to3

Madanapatunu ,.
Midaragal . .

r 115

I !)o

Nladararayana
Madaravilaya

rq3
ro3

Mi.dbta

167

Nlidbiyan ..

r.5,1

Madhu-angana
Madhukavanaganthi

r89

Madhupidapatittha
Madhutthala

77

{)1
E4

l02
t8z

r {r.l

173

Madhyadesa

Madiligiri
Maducaya

6r

Madukasali.

Madukola
\{aeli

I OO

M6.9ala

97
93

Xfagalaya ..
MAgalamb ..

112

IIigalla

4o

NIAgaiu

96

Magama

Magana
Maganava . .

INDEX

Spec'ial \lumlter

1trr

.. 8r,

82,

r53
8r

MAgula
Magul-uyana
Magu4
N{aguna

?o

149

8r
8z

.. r97
Mahabiilagam
73
.. ro9
N{ahabalisa
. . r55
Mahabamana
.. r93
Xfahabati
.. rog
Nlahabodeniya
n{aha Cittanakara
42
.. rgr
Mahadabara
8z
Nlahadiilgama
. . r9o
Mahadaragala
. . 19o
MahidAragalla
.. r9o
Iahzr.diragiri
. . 167
Mahidatta
. . a67
}Iahidattika
X,Iahadelgas
? 3
.. 156
I'Iahademeti
.. rrr
Mahadena ..
i\{ahidevarattakurava
93
.. r95
I\'Iahadiv
6
)\lnhadrtggala
.. too
l{ahaeli
.. a57
NlahaElala ."
Nlalrigalla . .
94,96, 97, t59
Mahagama ..
23, 55, 59,6o,6t, r7o
MahS.gama . .
49, 59, 60, 6t, 62, tgo
6o
MahAgimaniga ..
.. r57
IlahagAmendi
br
Mahagamtota
Illahi Gangi.
36, 1q
. . 156
Mahagipiyova
. . 162
X[ahaga.riva
.. -56
Mahagevidhagama
22
Mahagirigdmaka
l\{ahigirigima
98
.. r89
I\{ahagurunal6
63
Mahahalagarna . "
.. roo
Mahiheli ..
.. r54
Mahaka.cla
.. rgr
Nlahdkanda
Mahikandara
44
. . a14
Maha-Kapiri
166,196
i\fahdka.rairjiya ..
X{ahAkhetta
72
Mahikhiragima . .
51
. . 196
Mahakilinqgam
n ahakirila
97
.. 95
1\{ahakotlapatiya ..
l'Iahdkola . .
37
.. 196
MahakubussAlu ..
Mahilabujagaccha
7 3
.. r8.l
Mahaliigama
. . r45
MahAlekha
.. r38
Mahilekhapabbata
Mahallarija
96, r59
Mahaluva . .
96
l\{ahAmaga
. . ig2
X{ahaAmundora ..

Nlahamallaka
Mahamancl
MahAmairgala
MahAmani

211

. r4r
.. rrr
.

6r, gz

.. r7r
Mahimanikagdma. .
.. tjr
Mahimeghavana .,
tz7, rz9, 186
Mahamevni
, . r2lq
Mahamevn5.Tisaram
.. r-:9
Mahamidel
, . rc)r
.\laltaminilS
. . ro3
Mahaminiya
.. r7r
MahAmucalamilaka
29, :r33
Mahirnunigima ..
.. 196
\{ahanabata
.. r5T
X{ahd-nadi ..
67
MahAniga ..
.. 48, Cro, rro
Ilahanagima
., r93
MahAnAgahula
69
Ita.hS.nAgapabbata
.. rro
llahAnAgatissa
.. r95
I\fahAnigaVihira .
48, 6o, rro
X{ahanakara
23
Mahanamajetatisapavu . .
5.5
X{ahanamelivara
. . r54
MahS,namamatthaka
8;
llahanApavu
.. rro
Mahanavagam
., 196
MahanS,vuta
.. r r()
Mahanet-pA,
34
NlahAnettapabbata
3+, tjy
Mahinettapddika . .
34
Mahanetta-plsAda . .
34
Mahanikkad{hika
,. ts7
Mah6nikkllava!,li..
.. r1r
Mahinillhila
.. rs7
Mahdniyyama
.. r23
Mahan4a
.. rgz
Mahdnuggala
6r
MahApabbata
69
Mah5,pili .
r39, r4o
-.
Mahipd,nadipa
.r
.. tj4
Mah6.panilagima ..
72
l\Iahapatanjiya ..
8r
..
r4o, r4r
!!a!ap9la
l\{ahapitagama
: . 96
Mahipun4agAma ..
66, 196
Nlahapu-!,u .;
j5, 79
1\{ahS.rAjaghara ..
..r9r
Mah3.rak6ya.
33, 34
Mahdrimetti
., rbg
Maharat- ..
.j
33
Mahd"rattha
33
Maharivara,
".x{aharuka ..
.:
tzl
Mahd"rukkha
34,37
Mahasd
.. 136
X{ahasamudra .:
.. 186
Mahdsena ..
.. r83
Mahisenagima ;.
69
Mahasengamiya ..
..r59

212 JOURNAL, Ii,.A.S. (CEYLON) )ietu

.. r5o
Mahatabalia
87, fiz
Mahdtilitagima ..
.. rr4
MalrS.thala-.
Mah6.thupa. . rzg, r34, r35, 136, rjg
Mahitila- ..
.. rt4
65
Mahatiradegiya ."
Mahdtittha
25, 76, i7, 78, 79, 8o
Maha{ombuva

Mahatubari
Mahatumburupp6
Mahaudalu
Mahbummira
1\4ahiviiga4a
Mahaval
J\Iahavalagama ..
Mahaviiligama
Mahavalligotta . .
MahivS.lukagima..
Mah6.vdluka-Gafrgd.
Mahdvipi ..
MahS.visa ..
Mahd.vattalagima
Mahavii,va
Mafravefrer

Mahavela ..

Sertes, Votr.

VI,

Special Nttrnber

1\[ilAgima..
.llalaganaka
l\'Ialdpaharani
Malapala
MalirS.ma ..
Nlaldsu
I'lAlatta

39

. ro-3
.. r87
. - 197
.. 196
.. igr

29

.. 169 l[ilavalliya
..
, . tg5 \Iilivaratthali
56 I'lAlavatthuka
.. r73 }IalaviYa
29 tr{alaYa
]Ia11av6,l6na
. . ror
.. ror L'Iallavita ..
89, r5z l\Ialugama
66 Nlah'atu
71 Mini
36, 44 Managgabodhi ..
oo lliLnal<aPig1bi
60 llandkiiti ..
. . r2o Nlinimatta
.. r7o llinimatu . .

7r
Mahivetla..
38
l\{ahivihira
8o rz9-r38, r45, r93
Ilahavi{i
.. rg7
Mahavoti ..
75
Mahavuiota
76
Nlahavulu..
75,76
Maheiisanasili . .
.. r5o
Maheia
..tZz
Mahelaka ..
.. t72
Mahida-vtiva
87
Mahindaguhi.
.. 163
MahindiiSma
.. L4t
Mahindasena
t45, t 5r
Mahindatilika ..
87
ivraffn(latala,
Mahindatata
..
.. Io5
165
'..
.Ivtahipala
9b
96
$ahipala
Mahiiadonika
52
l\Iahiyangapa
36, 18,49, 50
.. 16r
llahiya-pidaviya ..
Mahiyapot<tirata
Mahiyapokkirala
.
48
Mahrimhara
..r;3
tl3
l\{ajimagama
Majjhimagama ..
54
.. rr5
..rr5
lfajihimavasca
Nlajjhimavagga ..
.. a72
Ma-kalaka .-.Makkhakudrfrsa
fJ
55
t7r, tT2
Makulaka . .
Makulla
.. r89
., 116
J\{akulumula
.. r89
Makulumungunu ..
.. r35
Makulamuttasild . .
2'z
Mala
.. 156
Mala-AnuJapavata
.. r24
Malabaluva
N{ilader.iiya
39

f'IinArada '.

Mi,navatu..

Manivufu ".

9r, r88
6t)

29, 30
.

..

16o

16
9<:

r92
32

29

'.
".

1ro
rgz
7)

". r7r
8r
8r

I\la4dagalla
Man{agdma
Ma4dakavidutola
nlandaldrAma
llandalacitta
llandalagiri
Mantlaligiri.
Mandavipi
llandavAlaka
Xiandika
Mri4diligiri
Xlandivak-samvallzr
X{inelvaluva
lrrdrlErvdruvd
.Nlangala-arama ,'..
llangala-arama
MangalabFgima ..

"

}iangala Gangi
Nlanga1a-maha-ceya
llangalapura
Nlangalapura
N4.airgana
Mangul
llangull
llanguldva
-Ntanguliva
Nlaigul-maha-veya
X{angunuti,Ia
]\,'Ia41-ag1ya
l{ani-aviYa
Manihrra
\Ia4ikara
l\Ia4lkara ..
Nlanikarima
lla4ikiragAma
MS.nikavij,ti.
}lanikiragama
\fanimekhala

.- rro
.. Er
69
99
65

.; 55
. ;r.l
..
..

33

r83

r83
65

99

..
..
.- rr5
.. io6

q.;
183

.- 145
I 12, I IJ

..

.
..
""
..
'...
..
..
.

r87
5r

\oz
84

\37

r7r

t66
166

r4r
43
42

..77o
..r83
.. r55
" I55
'' r55
" r'7r
" 16r
43

INDEX

Manimekhala-pdsida
Maninaga
Miiningamu
ManipAsd.da
Magirasaga.gama .,
Manisomd.r6ma ..
Manital5.
NlanitilS
Marrkulaki,rima ..
Mannd.ra
Manonandana
Manuvisara
ManyAglma
Mapaluna ..
Mira
Maradaka ..
Miragallaka
Miragiri
M6.ranhella
Marapagiriya
Mara{,a
Maravila
Maricavalli
Marugana ..
Misengamuva
Misiviyala..
Mataka
Matakagama
Matalagama
Ila.gambiya.
Matavihika.
Mataviya ..
Matikapitthi
Malila
Matisd.gara
MatiVihara
Mdlombu ..
Mattapabbata
Mattikalena
1\'Iattik6,vipi
Mattik6valatittha
Mitola
Mit6ttam ..
l\Iatul<a
l\1a{'ukagama
Matukapika
Mitulafrgana
Md.tuvelanga
IIAIU Viir5ra
".
Mavatutola
Mayagara . .
Nlayahala , .
Mavanti
MAvaratiha
Mirvetti
Mayettikassapivisa
Mir"yihzr
Mayihalaraka
Llavulavila
n{ayfrr'a

.. rt7
..
..

Nlayuvelasa

r55
r47

Megagalaka

93

79,

8t

73
166
156

rg5

126, 136

..r54
..

54
54
go

rbg
56
98

36, r4r

..

136

69

.. rr2
'' r55
. . tg3

87, t6z

..t73
. . rb9

54, 17o

.. r9r
.. ro2
,. 186
..ro5
..r73
.. r9r
. . rg4
.. ir2
8r

75

75, 75, Zg
93, r53
.. lo8

..

168

rog, I ro
.
.

.
.

ro9

tog

75, 79
68
.

..
..
..

c)g

r53

Ileghagiri ..
Meghavalpabhaya
Melandura ..
Xlereliya
Merukandara

Merumajjara

Metera-Digiima.Tdulla
I eygiri
trleyivana
\IibZ|ligama
X{icataki
Mide4i
MigagS.ma

i,3z

':.'

ro2
r48
r5(}

II3
I II
III

r59
24 zr)
r.+8
1()7

r54
r93

..

Mihind-aram
Mihinnariya
Mihira4abibbila
Milakatisa

Mildnakhetta
Minii,

5z

r90

r4r
to9

rr3
r57

tr2. II3

rbtt

Itilib6

Milihiri

43
r97
r83

n4inileva

r83
r06

Mitiber-p6
Mi+ihoru
Nli4imevuli

Mi4inil

N{ilipa
N{innoriya ..

Mipitota
X{irisvi!'i

Nlissakapabbata

Mita

r65
147

IE3

8r
r39
r63
r56
29

Mivangamu
Mivugama

I\{iyagutu ..

I{iyangunu
lliyuguni ..

r96
48
48, +9

48

I'Ioggallina.
lloholnafrga
Nlolobi

I9I

Nlonerapiya
Monoragal.

r38

r97
95

NIora

Moragalla

r49

..

}1lorakaparaka

Xloravapi

Moriya

orondu-Mahasengamiya
Mucela
-\l

Mu{agutika

r38
t09
94
94, r56
C)J

r59
r8z
r57

r6

Nfilgasenipati

I IO

I53

Muggd,yatana

r89
r84

r53

Muhundehigama

r73

lluhundgiri

gg
2r, 21

..

X,Iayirrapisi.tla

22

.. r43
. . 196
.. 196
..196
..
..
..

213

r38

iVluhundnaruva
Nluhunnaru
Nlujitagima.

68

r84
x84

r6.t

2t4 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

Mukalugama
MulinagAma
l\1ilasA16.
.'t
..
Mulaso
NlulavaclA ..
l.
..
Nlilavirika..
.l
Mulavasd, ..
I\Ii-rlayokAsa ..
i\lulci.i
Mriluppals..
j\l u lur ra
.:
Nlunaru
MundavAka
i\lungxnuqtuyaqnml
I\Iuragama . .
Nlurigutika
Mutingana . .
Mutiyiigana
Muttikaia..
..
Muttolamba l.
l\{uvagamuva ::

.'

ro3
56

. r95
..r45
., rt16
.. r88
.. 196
.. 117

..

08
1cr6

Nilikeravatthu

8r

J/

r97

Namada-Paga{agama

55

r8/

NammadA ..
NdnAmukha.

r96

Nandimfrlakagdma
Nandana
70, 127,

ro8
r77
r90

Nandihagama

+l

..

Namadagama r.

40
]3
65
157

37
37

Niiisobbha

Nanclatissa
NandigAma

47

..
..

Nalika
NilikeramahAthamba

30

.. Io3
'.

Neu Series, Vol. VI, Special Nutnber

39
39

Nandivipi

r67

N6,lara.m

147

Nanna,ru

r62
r89

Niipiyoba
Narapagaragama

NAsinna

195

Nal abarisaka

r9o

Natiigiri
Niiteviya

..

;.
8o
Nava
:.
Na
.. r93 Navada
Nadanagama ..
69
NS,vadunna
Nadibhandagdma :.
::
Nadrat
'. r54 Navagamaka
89
Navagdmapura ..
Na.dunnaru-. ..
.. 6o, 64, 8o Navagamiya
..
Nagd
.. 163 Ni.vAgirisa ..
;Nigacatukka :.
Navaguna ..
Naladipa . .
.. roo Navaha,gama
.:
.;
NAgala
..6o,8o,rzo Navalaka . .
Ndgamahi..
20' rr5 NavAmpahangama
NAgapabbata
.. r,+r Navayojana :.
Nagaragalla
Nivini
Nagarairgana
95, 165
Nayinda
.:
Na-garisa
77
6':, tg7
Ndymanai
Nigasdli
.. 163 Nedalavahupumagama
Nagasondi
.. rg2 Nelagama ..
NAgavaddhana .:
8o
NeJiya
..
NigaVihira
87
N6ralu
;.
Na[irigala
Neranjard . .
Nahara
:.
Netulavaha
Nakala-araba ..
42
84
Nibbinda
Nakadiva
6o
Nigamaggdma
Naka-mahavehera. .
22
Nigrodha-MAragalla
Nakamulaya
87, tbz, r73 Nigrodhasdla
Nakanakara
Nakapavata .. 20,22, 16r, 17o Ni[undivaiuka
Nil<avali
Nakarhgana ..
95, 165
Nikavili
Nakara-vavi
,. JU2 Nikavili,gama
Naka-vehera
..
27
Nikuvilika ..
..
Nakha
. . t6z
Nilagall:rka.
Nakodapika
Nakodavika "
" rofJ Nilagama ..
Nilag6ma ..
Nakulanaga
52
Niiagiri
Nakulanagara
52
rrr, r4r Nilaldal
Nila
.. rr3 Nilaraiiya . .
Nalanda
.. r88 NilArima ..
Nalannaru..
Nilasa
Nalibi
' . r93

.:

::

55

IIZ

r6o
r65
r65
r55
r /'o

7r

r6r
r09

rrr,

7()2

t12
r65

.'.
:'.'

94

oo
III
726

r57
r65
7r
62

r06
797
J/

.:

::

r8r
6z

r87

II6
r94

.:
.a
J",

.:

38
33

4r

r55

38

r09
37

r97
T6I, r65

r92
162

]NDEX

.. 186
Nilavihini
Nilavilatittha
72
.. 196
Nilavasil
.. 16r
Nilavijita ..
t2'2, 196
Nilaya
.. r73
Niliba
. . 196
Niligaiu
.. tt)7
Nilkada
.. 196
NilgonnA
63
Niirl<aporrna
Nissarhkagala
73
Nissairka-dana-vinoda . . rjg
.. 178
Nissanka-latA-mandapa ..
, . r<)2
Nissankapura
Nissankasamudra..
r78,186
.. r8o
Nissairka\rihi.ra
.. 116
Nissenikhetta
. . r93
Nitalavitiya
. . rog
Nitiiavitiya
Nitileviti
94
.. t1,3
Nit'thilavett'hi
Nitthulacittaka . .
68
Nitthulavi-tlhika
68
.. u8
Nitulviti
q 5
Nitupatpi.na
Ni';atta
. . r3j
Nivattagiri
..r72
Niyagama ..
12
Niyamulla
50
.. r\r4
Niyangam
Niyeiatissard.ma ..
.. r()o
Niyyanti
.. rro
Nug;zrhalkada
. . i94
Nuvaraigunu
.. r,,.t
Odumbara

..

Odumbaraiga4a ..

Ogha

Pabbatanta
Pabbatirima
Pabbata Vihira
Pacchimapassa
Pacchimirima
Paceli
PAcinlrima
IAcrnadesa
l'aclnadipa,
Picrnagharaka
PAcinakambavitthi
Picinakhandariji..
Picilrapabbata

Pad

avirasu iiiiakanc.la

40

.. rro
.. r91.
,13

98, 9(l

99,

r .5

."r52
.. r[]o
. . ro7

,.

84
r-52

9u

.) j
..r59
{..:

..r-t()

r5c;

. r()2
.. r97
.. rbt
.

68

.. r!)o
.. r-13
..r3-l

I02
tt)Z
98

Paqlavi
Padeh i na
Pad.i
I 'adi

r6r

E;. r68
r70

Padikaragama

(r8

Padikkulama
PAdinnaru

r68

Padipasa

152

rbr
x9r

PaclumanatrAnakoftha

Paclumassara

PiiLdumpasa
Pagala- Karamullai
l)aHamal.;a
Pagaragama"

..

179

". r39
r52
71

ro6
55

Pahala Karamulla

7r

Pahanatrena,

Pahandvil

56

ru5

rr8

I'ahanbhunu
Paha4gama

8r

62

-['aharadora

r96

Pahecivatthu
Pajalaka
Pajalava
Pajina IJonagariya

r6r
r6r
r6r

l'a j ina-Nakala -araba

Paj ina-Nakapavata

L2

r6r

Pajinapasa
Pa j ina -Tisapavata
Pajinigama.

L52

i50
ro9

I'ajjota

r6r
rbr

I)ajubata
Pa1a.

IrAcinatissapabbata r3r, r5o, t.58,

Pada
Padagam
Paclahataka
Padala
PA4ela
Padalaf,chana
Padalasa

2L5

Pala Halavi l{6dhavi

1)alace,

r33
r39

Anuri.dhapura

Paiace, Polonnaruva

'r ia

Palamnagara
r90

J)ri,langiriya
L'iilapasa

r):,

151

Pafavasava. .
IralAvatu
Palitotugama

r69
r90

IJa.llavavAla

III

6r

IJallavavarika
Pallaya

46

r93
ro8
r72

l)allikAvipi.

I)alonagara
llerlonakaraka
I'alu-DA-GE
1)alutthagiri

172
83

64

Pamagulu . .

r56

772

'tr r.ra

l'ar-ra.dika ,.

\62
4r
8r

i ):Lnagama

),)i"nagamu .

J.t:u.r:rhagama

Par.rahapahana

L'ii,narnbamaluva . .

rfio,

..
..

165

ro3
r34

216 JOURNAL, R,.A.S. (0EYLON)

New Series, VoI.

Panasabukka
Panisagima
Paneispolvatta
Panava
Pani.vAli
Pa4avara ..
Paficaggalalena ..
Paflcala
Paficaparivenamila
Paflca'Vihlra
Paficayojana
Pandavipi ..
P6ndaviiva
Pindikkulama
PAnduvijayakulam
Pa+duk6lomba ..
Pa4dulagama
Pandulaglma
Papduvijaya
Paigura
Pangurupiti
Paihamandapallhina
Paflhambairga4a ."
Paflhambam6.laka
Parliali
Pairkavelaka
Pan4abhatta
Pannasilaka
Pan4avallakabhrita
Paiagd,maka ..
Paraka
Parakkamapura ..
Parakkamasigara

Patimi

16o,

53
16-5

73
22

.. rr3
7r

..
..
..

99
7o7

-q3

r83

73,719

65, to4
. . ro4

..
..

..
'.
..

68
49
68
157

r95
46
47

r59
r95
r95

129, r34
52

53

'. r83
.. .q3
.. rq3
.. r88
..
..

91

ro4

186

Parakkamasamudda ro4, r83' r84, r85

r86

Parakkamatal&ka
'.
Pirape
". r22
.
Paratta
' r97
Paravlsata
7r
Parisdkuliya
'. r84
Parivataka
'. 156
.. r95
Parivena ..
Pdrvati
46
63
Pasanadariyagama
23
PisAnadipa
8r
Pisdnagima
. ' 154
Pdsdnasinna
Pasara-ta{'aka
56
.. rr9
Pasyodun ..
.. ro6
Palagalaya
r54, 16r, to3
Patagama ..
.. r88
Pdtlala
Patanaga-ubara ..
56
patani
.. 16r
-. r22
Pa{'apa
PdtEgama ..
7r.
.. r5o
PatJrama
Pi{'hina
' . roo
6t
Patigama . .
186

VI,

Patpaha4-bim

Pattapisina
Patungalu

Payihaba ..
Pehakara ..
Pejalaka
Fekara
PelagS.ma

Pelahdla
Irelavipiglma

Pelir dpikagama . .

Penambangapa ..
PEnnamana

I'epodatu{a
Pesili

Pettairgavdlika
Phallagga ..
Pidavika
Pidaviya
Pihili
Pihiti
Pikaravasaka
Pilagama
Pilapi!lhi
Pilavasu

Pilavit
Pilavitthika
Pilikumbara
Pilima
pilir.nvatthu
Pilipavata
Piliydna
Piilavitthi
Pipphali "
Pirivatu
Pisanniva
Pitthigima
Piyagal
Pivagalaka
Piyaguka ..
Piyakalutata
Piyakapisi4a
Piyangal
Piyangalla . .
Piyangalu . .
Piyairgudipa
Piyangulena
Pokkharapisaya
Polonaru
PofonnaruVihira
polonnarutala
Polonnaruva
Polvatta.
Ponniva
Porodeni
Porogihdliiilrarlda
Posonavuila
Potaliya
Prtiti-dioaka

.. lot

Irubaga
..
..

168
168

63

..

r55

..

16o

99

t6g, r7o
4r

..

..
..
..

..
..

.
..

r97

86
86

r95
r95
8o
197

r89
136

4r

16r

r97

16, 152

..
..
..

169
roe,
16o

8r
ro8
ro8

.
..
.. roj
.

6z

02, 123
4r
.

t67
ro8
ro7

"
..
. . 156
.. r9o
. . r9r
.. 17o
33
84

..
..

3r
r7o
r+5
33
33

..
'.
..
..
..

84
163

r9o
rJ2
r8o
rgg
34, rz8, r74-r8o
37

.. r9o
.. 165
.. rrz
.. 169
.. r89
.. 179

2t7

TNDE-X

SPecial Number

-. 152
t 11, r46
.. 89
.. 42

Pubbadesa

PubbarAma
Pucch6"15.ma

Pudaji-niyagama ..

t >6

Pirgada,ndakivS.ta

Prlgadandivita ..

.. tz6

Pulacceri

Pulatthinagara
Pulekavi
Pumagama.

Punadagama
Punagama..
Pinagima ..
Punakodaka.
Punapelika

Punapitlhi

3q,

rz8, t74'tEo

"

37

96

..

Pun4avaddhana

Pumravilika
r.4o,

Purvaram ..
Purvd,rima
Pusarbi,
Puskumbura
Puttabhdga
Puvangudiva
Pdvapabbata

165

Ilaka

Itakitagamiya
lRakkha
Rakkha Cetiya

Rakkhamdna

Rakkhapasanaka4,tha .:

..
Ilaks5-ge

Rakkhasa

6z Italaggima
Ilimagona..
9E
.. t56 Rimaka.

PunkhagAma

I)unneli
Puratthimadesa
Purrmala
Purmigana

r89

Rijuppata
IRajviti

93

r92

r'23
r87
t96
r93
t52
r5r
r 84
r46
r 8o

.. 146
.. r90

..

r37

..

196

a,

. . r89
Raduppala
. . 16o
Rahagaliaka
. . r.58
Rahera
. . r-58
Raheraka
qz
Raja-aiavitiya
Raja-alipitiya
42
. . r93
Rajaka
..rr3
Rajakamatasambidha
. . r97
Rajali
. . 163
Rijalena
Rajafi
42
. . 16o
Rijamahi
. . r35
Rh.jam6.laka
. . r9r
Rijamd.tika
.. 196
RA.jamatu ..
87
RAjamittaka
. . r97
Rajanami
RijarAjaperumpaJli
45
16, tt6, r'25
Rajarata
t6, 78, rt6, t5z
Rijaraltha
. . 16o
R6jasdla
.. rr3
Rajataked6ra
,. to6
Rajatalena
t77, t8o
Rijavesibhujaiga
.. r95
RijaVihira
83
Rdjiyatanadiritu ..
.. r4r
Rajini
.. r9r
Rajinidipika

.
..
..
..
".
..
-

797
8o

ro8
8o
8o
99
t'26

r45
136

r90

r88
r88
r88

Rammaka

.. I15

Illimucchavallika

Ranahala ..

..
..
..
..

r97

Ranambura

..

I14

RAmuka
Ramukka<.lu

Rana

..
,.
"

liandhakandaka
llangiri-Dambulla
llan-masu-uyana . .

r89
ro8

I49
r8z
r?9, r36
.. r8z
.. r88
.. r34
.. r88

Ranniya

Ra4similaka
RantisS,

Ratana
Ratana-araba
Itatand.kara
IlatanapisAda
RatanS.vali
Ratavahanaka
Ilataviya
llatkarau ..

r88
rgb
T7I

..

.. r13

S4,ajB

,.

ro4

93

.. r94

Ratn5.

Ratnagiri-Vafageya

Ratna-md,..
Ratnisaya ..

.:

..

Rattabeduma

9o
r57
r57

..

.. t57
.. t8z

ItattamAlaka4daka

Rattisa

Ratti Vih5.ra

Ratuppala ..
Ravakaviliya

Ravayamala
Itavivat{'isd,1i
Rayadagama

Ilelagama

Remuna

Rerupallika
Rihala

Rihaltola
Ritgai

Ritigal

ro4
JI

Rattakira

Iiattamila

178
147

..

94

..

r89

..

ro6

..

r16

.. r7a
.. r93
..r35
68
69
68

4o
r72
r72

Rohar,radesa

r6

Roha+a VihS,ra

zJ

Ruhunu Vih6ra

218 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON)

Rfinu-maha-veher
Rfrpavati ..
Ruvan-maha-pahir,
Rur.anpahA, . :
Sabdvadunnd
..
Sabhattadesabhoga
Sacina
Sddiyagirma
Sigama
Sagamdora
Sagaviva
.,
Sdgiri
Sahaia
..
Sahannanagara ..
Saharsavarala
..
Sahassatittha
Sahoclara
Sajilairandaka.
Sakanakana
Sdkavatthu : r
SAkh6.patta
Sikivavamsa : i
SalrkasenApati .j
Sakkhardlaya
Sakkharasobbha ..
SAkkunda ..
Sakurumburu
Salagala
Salagal-kandura
..
Sd"1agg6.ma..
Salalavati . .
Salameyvan
Silapadapa
Sdlav5.na
Salivattota
Salaviya
Salgamu-hoya
Salgas-hoya
SAligarna
S6.1igiri
Silipabbata
Salirraya
Siliyi.rd.ma
Salkeval
Sah'ini
Samadiitiya
Sd.rnagalla ..
Saman
Samanagama
Samanola,
Samantakita
(Sa)marapatiya ..
Samayutagama . .
Sambadii
Samb6gama
Samghabh6dakagima
Samghamitta,Cetiya
Sar.nghap.i"la
Samghasena

Neus Series,

Vol, YI, Speaiat f{umber

23 SamghS,tagS.ma .,
.. r7g Samirukkha
.- r13 Sammandu
. . a3+ Samudda
Samuddagiri
.. rq6 Samuddha ..
.. r15 Samuddhapannasili
..
..r55 Simugdma
gg Sanayagama
.. 156 Sandagama
.. T95 Sandagiri
.. 156 Sangagima.
.. 16z Sangamu
.. 93 Sangamu-kelvala ..
.. r53 Sairgilla
.. r93 Sairgsana
.. 40 SingunS,
19 SangvE
.. 16o Saikhatthali
.. r93 SankhavaddhamAna
.. r9o Sanlad-kubuva
47 Sanniratittha
-. rgb Sapara
..r38 Saparagamu
38 Sdpatagamu
66 SappanS"rukokilla ..
38 Sapugamiya
.. r9o Sa.pugasaviiliya ..
.. rg7 Sarabhi
.. 95 Saraggima
73,r53 Sara,svati
.. rBZ Saratviiga ..
. . rqq Sareheru
73 Sarivaggapitlhi ..
.. r9.5 Sarogi,ma ..
gr, ro4 Sataruddhd,
.. ro5 Satbnkotta
.. 73 Satb6kotta
73 Satrodvdnaya,
.. r-53 Satsen
72 Sattapannaka
E4 Satviiliya ..
.. i22 Sava
. . r89 Savanaviyala
70 Saviraka
89 Sayakhettaka
8o Sehila-UparAjaka
. . ro9 Sejalaka
.,r73 Selantarasamirha..
.. r93 SenigAma..
116, r25 Senaggabodhi
..
.. r25 SenaguttagAma ..
12 Senalena
6E SenAmag6ma
. . r59 Sena-Senapiti
..
.. r95 Senevirat ..
67 Sennarugama
.. l32 Senpavu
. . r33 Sen-Senevirad
r38, r45 Sepal'rnipuppha . .

,.
..

r92
37

r97
23, 63, 68
. . r38
23
83

..r59
..

56
166

6r

.. 167
.. ror
.. to5
46

.. r,+5
. " rro

29

7c-2,723
97

,. 797
.' r74
.. tz6
.' rz6
+7
5+
165

..
.. r97
. . r87
.. rr4
..r87
29

'. r88
' ' tz6
36,++
.. r87
36
36

.. r78
..r45
.. r37
.. r9r
q9
30

'. rg2
37
. . r9r
.. 16o
,, rg+
" 156
93, r7+
.. 30
.. r94
.. r93
.. r37

roz,r48
8o

., r97
.' r38
.' r5r

IN])EX
. . r97
Serittagama
.. 196
Setambangana
.. ro5
Setthivipi
Setuppala ..
lz
Seygiri
.. t6z
Sida
..
. rBZ
Sidaviya
99. rbr
SidupabbatagAma
.. rg2
Sigam
22
Sihagiri
.. rro
Sihapura
.. r8o
Sihigiri
r ro
Sikalagama
..
.. r5,l
Sikaviyala
.. rr3
Sila-ceta
..
.. lrr3
Sila Cetiya
..
r32, tqz, t6j
Silakita
,. 163
Silamegha ..
r4r. r4+, 115
Sildpassava.
.. 6r
gg, 136
Silisobbhaka4dalia
SilA.thupa . .
r32, r33, r12
(,9
Simitdlatthali
Simburbamard,
.. rrr
Simi jalika ..
ss
Siiidhirravana
r rb
Sipavata
.. 22
..
Sippatthalaka
6i
Siridevi
rrr
Sirimandagalagima
99
Siripisada ..
.. rgr
Sit'ipiti
r 57
Siripittbi
. - r57
Silipura
.. lozl
Sirisamghabodhi
r47, tgr
Sirisafigborad
..
.. r17
Siriva{dha..
.. r95
..
SirivaddhamAna ..
.. ror
Sirivacldhana
.. ro5
Sirivaliskiil,iya
. . r9o
Sirivali,ssa..
..19o
..
.. roz
$irivala
Siruvala
rgo
.. r16
$isacchinnakabodhi
$italaggama
" . rgz
Sitasaviva
..
160
Sitavanaka
94
Sitnam-bim
72
t2
$itpav
Sitthagima
: . r88
Siva4akara
63
.. rrr
$ivilariya ..
Siya ma harrta kudddla
. . t 57
$ivarrLbalipalza . .
73
Sobara
19
Sobbha
.. rg2
Sidigamuva
." J8q
.. 143
SomArlma ..
Sr:md,vati ..
.. a87
gonagiri
.. ro7
Sonaya
,. rg?

219

Sonnagiri
Sorabar:l
Soragalla
Soragoda
Soruyur
Sotemurla..
Sotthivikara
Sripura
SlivAsapura
Subhacila ..
Subhadcli ..
SubhArAma.
Subhagiripura, ..
Subhapabbata
SubharAja ..

..

to7

..
..

t9o

..
..

roz

qg
116
29
r.5o

t)r, ro4

..

rg2

..

r7g

95

r37, r43
79,95
95

r37, rq3

SudAkarihidipana-Doratiya\.:r. . . ro6

.. r8q
SuddhAmundaka..
SugalivatrvAsa
-. ro7
.. 96
Suguluva
. .' r-56
SrlkaragAma
.. 9r
SikaraggAma
Si-rkarAlibheripasana
72
Shkaranijjhara
97
84
Sfrkaratittha
Sukhagirigima
48
.. t6g
Sulinnaru
Suhigalu
96
te7
Su luva
. . tllo
SuluvAdFni*i'
Sumanagalla
54
.- tz5
Sumanagiri.
Sumanakr-r{a
47, r t(), 125
.. 173
Sumanapabbata
.. r73
Sumanavipi
Sumairgalu

Sumbulupat-hiilla
73
. . 196
Sumeragamu
..
.. r93
SunagAma..
Sundarapabbata ..
95
Sur'rgangola
7r
.. 136
SlunhAta
. . t66
Srrnubcl-Devigama
..t7t
Suralla
rrr
Sirra-Ambavana ..
.. r92
Suramina ..
.. r7r
.,
Surulla
.. r7r
Surulu
. . I23
Siltrglrara
. t15
Srrvar.rnarloni
5qv6.ilriamaiaya..
,,
,ro
.. rEe
Suvanilatissa
..
to8
Suvarnagiri
Tabakara ..

'fabalaya
I

..

abba

t69
.

55
95

..

rc)9

1'acigama

'liarJapara

I 13

9o

'fabeta

'l'aburavu

tJ6
4,3

22r

JOURNAL, R.A.S. (C-LTYLON)

Takkambila

Taknaru

.:

.:

Talaboya

r95

r96
r97
r93

'.lalac1a.ra.

TZlagallaka
Talaguru
Talahapa

r92

Talakada.naka

r09
I12
IJ5

56
IO I

Talikatthali
Tilakkhetta

Tal6.muhundgiri

65 68

Ta la ri;la

56
56
56
36
56

Talanga.ra . .
1

a la

nga ra ti ssa

I a tantqama
Talanl<a

TaiapA

T.97

TAlapitthika
Tala:agaviya

r89

\t2,

Talatthala
Talavana

Talavatthu
Talavatu

r.56
II3
rf-1

r83

Ti,lavelimagga

i83
r96

Talaviya

i 5tt

Talolagama
Tamada
Tamala
Tamba

rOb

IOI

roo
40

Tambagima

r26

Tambagola
Tambala
Tambalag6ma

r97

Tarrbapan4i

Tambapittha
Tambatikala
Tambaviti

Tambavillhi

Tambunna
Tamburugama
Tarhundagam
Tanabim
Tanacadaka
Tanagaluka

Tinavela

Tapdulapatta
Tanduleyya

44

fi6

44
4+
40

r96

j97

167

r93
48

4E

48

Tanegama

99

Tannaru

Tannitittha
Tantav6yikaci,liki
Taraccha

74,75, r87

r89
r89

Tanaveli

Tapovana

..

44
69

,.

Taral-pi
Taralpawa

35
35
173

r49
r58
6z

Talavipi

6z
r08

Tatthakasi,la

r96

'favaa

Tavirikiya

t6z
86

New Seri,es, Irotr. VI, Specia,l Nuntber

Telagima
Tendiratota
Tenevarai ,.
'IerigAma ..
Therambattha
Therinambhanda..
Therirpassaya

.,

rg2

7r
70

156,172

.. 163
..r3.5
.. 136

Thrlpird.ma (Anuridhapura) r3r-r33

Thl4ravitthi
84
Thusavipi
r7,1, r84, r85
Thusava!,thika
. . rE4
Tihalaka
.. r7z
Tikataka ..
96
Tiiagulla
97
Tilavatthuka
.. r83
Tinduka
.. rg4
fiigava!,u
73
Tinimahulla
. . r84
..rjo
Tinisatiya. ."
Tiniyagala..
.. 116
g+
Tintinakagima ..
Tiputthulla
. . r.+5
Tiragama ..
t56, t7z
'Iiratenayd
73
Tisapavata
93, ro3
Tisaram
.. r4r
. . rog
Tisarami
Tisa Vihara
+t
'fisaviya
go, 93
Tissi,rdma , .
6r, ro3, rzg, r+r
Tissamahirima . .
6r
'Iissamahivjh5,ra."
6r,83
Tissavad{hamd,naka
.. r8z
Tissavd,pi(Anurddhapura) .. r49
fissavd,pi ..
60
TisucullasagSma . .
4+
Titthirima
. . r4z
Titthagima
39,73
Titthavila ..
.. r95
Tivairka
.. r7g
Tobbalandgapabbata
20
Todikatana
4r
Tojanahinaka
.. 69
'Iolaka
62
T6pd.vii,va..
r74,r84
Tolagamaka
33
Totagamiya
63
Tolahuma4akaraka
.. 169
r84,r85
ToyavA.pi..
Tribhuvandsraya ..
.. r78
Tubadavasaka,
.. 169
Tulidhira
6r
Tulahaka ..
.. ro2
Tulakara
6z
Tilaklra
6z
Tulatara
r55, 156, 160
gg
Tulataratisa
Tumbara
. . 163
'fumbariyangana ..
4a
Tumbarup .,
r3r, r95

INDEX
Turnpoko4

TuirghabhadclS, ".

Tunga.mkasatapi-tiya

38

llccatalairka
fl"clagama

lio

.. rt7
5o

Tungam-Kalupitiya
UccavAlika
Udi -Agbo

.:

65
65

r5l

..

r46

UciA-Kita.gbo

Lidangunu

r91

trdanviti

I9I

Uqlatisa

Lrdayaggabodhi ..

tldg:rla
llddhagima

UddhakandarAdi ..

Liddhakandaraka
Ucldhakuramgima

Ucldhanadvdra
Udharida ..
Udumbaragiri

"

Udumbarapabbata

Iidurnaharoja

Udundora ..
U{usiiia
Lrjjeni

r8E
40

4o

7r

52, 67
707
r Sti

Ukkanagara
L

6r
7r2

rr6

lJ'4uh6

6\

52, 67
35
56

Ucidhavipi

Udumbaragima

66

I.5I
45, r65
30, r93

kkiningaia

Llkunuhusu

Ula-araba ..

Uladi

Ulajaka
TIlapin1
U lavannarikha4!i

uli

Ulibikala
Ulibikala-Nakamaha
Ullabbhakola

Uilapannagdma ..
Umanaroda-adara

tlrlhirnagara

r89
ru9
r96
56

56

r6o

rr6
r93
r56
5+
54

ru9
116, 117
55

r89

U44alomghara

83

{innama

40

Iinnavalli

..

Upalabija ..

Upaladonika
Upalavi

Upalavila

r6r
r59

r6r
-1

Upali

I-lparikada

r88

-i

122
..

(Iparimapqlala

Upisiki

ro8
ro8
r40

fipatissagdma
Upatissanagara

\J /

flppalavipi

r59

Urakarnaka

157

22\

84
Oritota
. . r93
Urulg6nu
Uruveli.
53
E9, r5z
Uruveld
8q
UssAnavilthi
Utara
96, r12
r5E, 16r
Utarapura
Utinagariya
2r
. . t6z
Uttamadevi
.. 66, tqo, rqr, r5r
Uttara
. . r79
Uttararama
80, r52
Uttaradeser,
. . r88
UttarAla
\15, r5z
UttarAlha ..
Uttararaltha
77, 8o,8r
.. rl5
IJttarasena
.. ro3
UttaratissS,rima .,
Uttaravaddhamdna
66
. . a15
Uttaromtia
.. rr9
Uttika
.. r4S
Uttorulamifa
. . r45
Uturala
.. r45
Uturafamula
. . r59
Uturmegiri
18, r5z
Uturpasa
.. r9r
Uturu
. . 8o, 8r, r.5z
Uturukard ..
Uturuvada
66
Uyantota ..
50

.. rrr
Vacivdlaka
.. t7o
Vadabalagama
.. 16.1
Vadaga
Va{amana ".
. . 33, 94, 16r
.. r3T
Viid6ri
.. r9r
Vaddha
.. r9r
Va{qlhana..
Vadhagdmakapasana
30
Vadhatalanagara ..
65
.. 166
Vadudevdgama ..
.. r9o
Vadugamuva
Vddimula
.. r9r
.. r95
Vadunna
Va{unnd.
.. r95
.. r95
VaduTr.re,
.. r95
Vadunnd,va
.. r95
Vigarna
Vagoqru
69
Vaha
.. r54
Vahadipa ..
93
Vahadiva ..
93
Vahadtr
93
Vahagalu
.. lg7
VA,ha4a
.. r54
Vahanikupida
.. r73
Vahaviya ..
.. r5,S
Vahiraka
2J
Vahillha
3E
Vajagaragiri
.. r89
Vajana
22

222 JOUT],NAL, R.A.S. (CEYI,ON)

Nc,w Series,

Vajikavaranaka ..

VAtagili

Vajira
Vajirasenaka
Vajiravapi..
Valagima ..
Valagarina
Valihassa..
Valakaya ..
..
Valamd1a ..
Valapu
Valaraka-Ge'lgamu
Valasgalu
\rii,ligamu..
Viiligomu ..
Vii,ligampola
Valika
Valikagama
Valikikhetta
Valimada ..
:.
Valimahamada ..
Valipungonu
VAlivisaragima ..
Valli
Valliggima
Vallitittha
Valliyavithi
Vallivera
Valpila
V,r.luka
VAlukagAma
Valukapatta ::
Valukatittha
Valvif
V6"manta
Vanagi.ma ..
Vanaggdma
Va(la)ka ..
Vanakagama
Vananadi ..
'\rdnaragAma
..
Vinavanmid6vi
Vairgurupili
Vairguttara
Vanija
VinijagAma
Vaigivatlaka
\rankivatlaka
,Vannaka
\rapalagama
.Vipirani
Vdpirragara
Vapivdgaka
Varirima ..
Virama4dala
Vara4atola.
Varuira ' . .
Vasabha
Vasal<a-vahara . .
Vassillhagima
.!-afagima.,

98

. r38
.. rq5
.. ro8
.. 16r
.

+r

.. r9o
.. r93
.. rrr
. . r5,1
43
6q

85,r93

..

85

116
83
85

9tl

,. rr5
.. 16r
.. rrr

Jo,-56

89, t5:t
7z
39
196

.
.. 66
. 168

.
.

56
7

35

56

8r

65
56

.. tt6
41

63
67
30

.. r78
. . r59
.. r5g
. . r55
.. igz
.. r89
.. r89
4r

. r55
.. rg2
.. to.5
.. rro
.. rjr
. . r59

69

..

r93
55
38

.. r9r

Vatakapabbata ..

Vatakasitapabbata
Vatarakkhatthali
Vatimasa ..
VAtiyamandapa ..
Vatrak
Vattabakka
\-attakilaka
\rattakirapitthi ..
Vattala
Viiva.kiiti
Vavaliyatisapavata
Vehelnaru
Veheragam
Vehel-vatta
Vejabutigala
Vejayanta
Velagama . .
Velagami
..
Velamuka ..
Velangama
Velangavilthika ..
Velgam
Velunni
Veiuvana ..
Venijana
Venuligama
Venumati ..
Venunadi ..
Vera

".rtr3
zz
.. 22
g
-. ro8
.. 36
.. 196
.. 196
.. 15
." rtlr
.. r2o
. . t97
r,5

..
..
..
..
..
.
..
..
..
..

r97
r95

r59
t.j5
r77
.+5
.+5

22

rbz
ro9
15
173

r73, rEo

.
..
..
..

22
r5,1

r87
19+

r95

Veraiu

V6ravdgama
V6rdirvai

62

7r

Vessagiri

Vethaka
Ve!,hanuvara
VettavS,sa ..
Vettavati ..
Vevalamitaya
Vibhisana ..
\rihirabija ..

Vihiramahidevi ..

38
38

..187

E:, r53

..
..

VihiravejjasS,la . .
Vihirabija ..
Vijagama ..

r95
r57
6z
6z
38

Vihdravdpi ..

Vihirala

INDI]X

VoI. VI, STtetial l"tturtber

t57, s66

. 156
..r7o
.. rzo

Vijayabahu
Vijayardja ..
46
Vijayasundara
". ro5
Vijiribupavata
4
Vijita
16r, r3o, r8r
. . rEr
VijitagAma
r 7.1, r8r
Vijitanagara
.. r8r
Vijitapura
Vijjadhara..
".i79
.. rr3
Vikkamapura
Vikkirama-Calam6gapura
97
. . o-l
Viladaka

Viiagama ..

23,32, 93

Vili,na

r r 2,

rr3

Vilatere

r97

VJLbi

tt6

Vilattikhal{a
\.ilbagama

97

..

Vilgam
Vill:r

r22
38, r9+
89, r52

Yacitagan1a

Yamuni

173
792

Yatabrihila

Yalagama

t a,tii ta

\risalagamika

r57
r88

YatthAlaya.

r55
r95

Yava

Voyalaggamu

51

r87
II5
I5I

\aeiiligam ..

t45

Vi1'a.l

56

"

YAnlena

..

Visir:rtthala
Vituhara

ro3

Yakhhashkara

r06
r9+

VrrAnkura

r 6.5

Yahkhadisa

VillihAba

Vinl

97

797
8T

Yakasava ..

ro7

Viluvana

39

rt2

Yagalla
Yagula
Yahagamu
Yahisapavata

ViIU

Vilpita

r92

Yabalagima

Yatthihalda
Yehenigiti
Yudagand,pi!'iya

r97

6;,

122

II5

98
797