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320
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1877.
saya. He saw the Walamani tank and the Kati (i.e. the royal) tank; having built several villages near lakes without furnishing the fields with a tank between embankments for the flowing down (of the water), he constructed Agichalamana tauk out of the Mula lake and the Pachachaliwa lake. And his majesty the King, after having made serve this Agimalamana tank 1,640 karis, T having given it in charge to Abalaya, son of Sena, an aged overseer, to watch, and to the thero, the monk Hamara, grandson of Kanakaya-afterwards, for the preservation of................, having caused this to be written on a stone belonging to the priesthood, after assigning it, having constructed the Karakuļa tank and having performed deeds not (formerly) done (even) by himself at Abatala (i.e. Ambasthala) at the dihara of Chaityagiri (i.e. Mihintala), having made offerings of oil and flowers at the Gapa chaitya, (which is) in extent a kari [8 acres] (?), having made repairings of the decayed (buildings) at the chaityas of Chopawaliya, Giniya, Megaha, he handed them over to the monks of the Lord of the world (Buddha), and having made .......... after having assigned, he gave (them ?) the Karakala tank-after having assigned......... at the chaitya............and from 1020 karis (P)... ...and to the sons of the minister Wahabaya...... the second.........in the Puchayasa awaņaka [colourless ?1 year, on the seventh day in the light half of the month Majimodini [March-April]."
I have not been able as yet to ascertain what year is meant by the designation of Puchayasa Awanaka, but I suspect the king mentioned to be Sirimeg ha vanno (302-330) who, according to the Mahdvainso, made great offerings at Ambasthala.
Two inscriptions engraved on the rock at Du- numandalakanda record the construction of chaityas, and other grants to the priesthood; one of them is of particular interest, as it exhibits not only a mixture of ancient and modern characters, but also of forms of words.
Other rock inscriptions with the usual contents I have met with at Panikkankuļa m (near Kekeriâwa) and two on Elagam ukanda. At Andarawewa (about two miles from Kekeriâwa) there is a stone slab containing a short inscription of king 'Wahaba' (Vasabho, 66-110), imperfectly preserved, which records a grant to the priesthood. But the pious munificence of the ancient kings did not stop short at endowing places situated near the principal seat of government, Anuradhapura. The district of Hambantota, Southern Province, is rich in similar dedications. A fine stone slab found at Tissamaharama, Probably a mistake of the engraver for Wasabaya.
at present kept in the Assistant Government Agent's compound at Hambantota, contains an enormous grant of land to the priesthood of the Tissamaharama Vihara (or, as it is styled in the inscription itself, "the great vihdra (called after the) king of Mâgama"). It runs as follows:
Siddham | Budadasa Mahida Mahasena tawaka bâya Abhaya maharaja mi apa chudi purumuka Budadasa tari pali * mahanamika Jeta Tisa maharaja apaya
5 ha pali Toda gamika kiri kişiyihi ugu awami
dinawa sa hasaka kiri abatarihi Mahagama raja mahawahirahi tara pali mahanami Pa
dana galida dinika pacha Bahasaka kiri cha mi Padana
galida me warahata [?] pawatara (ri?] na uyuta (uwayuta) kotu sa
10 padinaka | chatara sahasaka ki (ka) ri che me di acha.
11 nani nawa sahasaka kiri yaba ugu wa ma (?)...
15 charita niyamina/ rajakolihi bha (?) nana.. 18 minimewa baka kari (?) di-
icha (?) tara [?] amaņa be (?) da (ga?)...
19 baka cha sesika...... tawa na ... 15 Padana galihi buka saga hamiyana cha[ta]
18 ra pachayada uwayutu karawani kotu apa chu
17 di purumukaha dina niyamani me cha Bali
18 hi liyawaya dinamaha.
I have attempted a literal translation, which, however, I am aware, may be open to many objections :
"Hail! Budhad a so, Mahindo, Mah&seno, three brothers, his majesty king Ab hay a, and our uncle (P) the Brahman Buddhadása, a venerable, reverend thero[these are the persons concerned]: King Jettha Tisso, our sire, bought the kiriyas (of land) belonging to the villager Toda; having remitted the taxes (P), as much as 9000 kiriyas (about 90,000 acres) (beginning) from Padanagala were given to the reverend, the venerable thero in the great vihdra 'king of Magama;' and 5000 kiriyas (beginning) from this Padanagala, furnished with..............., have been given over, and 4000 kiriyas shall be............ ; the taxes (P) of the 9000 kiriyas shall be remitted (P); the rules shall be kept; in the royal family preaching (P) shall be............; this portion of the kiriyas now is given (p): four (R) amunas...... ...; and the remaining portion...........; the
T.e. kiriyas, equal to about 16,400 acres.
