Indian Antiquary Vol 22

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 51

FEBRUARY, 1893.)
KALYANI INSCRIPTIONS.
39
Abhaya conquered Dadhiya, King of the Damilas, and attained to kingship in Lankadipa. After founding the Abhayagirivihara monastery, this King was defeated by & confederacy of seven Damila princes, and was obliged to fly the country and remain in hiding for fourteen years. (On his restoration, he invited a théra, called Mahâtissa, who had afforded him assistance during his exile, and presented the monastery to him. This Mahatissathéra, however, used to associate with lay people, and, for this very offence, had been expelled from the Mahâvihara by the fraternity of that monastery. Thenceforward, the priests were divided into two sects, namely, that of the residents of the Mahavihara, and that of the residents of the Abhayagirivihara.
"In the 357th year that had elapsed since the foundation of the Abhayagirivihara monastery, a king, called Mahasena, ruled over Lankadipa for 27 years. This king, in the course of his reign, founded the Jētavanavihara monastery, and presented it to Tissathora, a resident of the Dakkhinavihara, who associated with wicked people, and was of an intriguing and licentious character, but for whom he conceived a feeling of esteem and reverence. Thenceforward, the priests of the Jētavanavihara monastery detached themselves from those of the Mahavihara and the Abhayagirivihara monasteries, and thus arose the (third) sect of the residents of the Jetavanavihara monastery.
“ Thus, 600 years had not yet elapsed since the establishment of the Religion in Lankadipa, when the priests in that Island were divided into three divisions, 27 and three sects were formed. Among these sects, that of the Mahavihira was extremely pure and orthodox; but the remaining two were neither pure nor orthodox. In course of time, however, in Lau kadipa, the number of the orthodox priests gradually decreased, and their sect became weak, while the unorthodox priests continually received fresh accession of strength owing to increased numbers. These heretical sects did not conform to the rules of the Order, and were followers of evil practices. Owing to this circumstance, the Religion became impure, and tainted with heresy and corruption.
“In the 1472nd your that had elapsed since the establishment of the Religion in Lankadipa, the 1708th years that had elapsed since the attainment of Parinirvana by the Master, and the 18th year since the inauguration of Maharaja Sirisanghabodhi-Parakkamabahu as ruler of Lankadipa, that king, by seeing the priests, who, though professing the Religion, did not conform to the rales of the Order, and followed evil practices, became aware of the existence of the impurity, heresy, and corruption, that had arisen in the Religion, and he thought thus:
**If such an one as I, knowing the existence of the impnrity, heresy, and corruption, that have arisen in the Religion, do not exert myself and remain indifferent in the matter of effecting its porification, it will be said of me that my love for, or faith in, the Fully Enliglutened One, and my respect and reverence for Him, are not intense. It is, perhaps, expedient that I should afford support to the Mahavihara fraternity, who are orthodox, whose conduct is in conformity with the rules of the Order, and whose superior is Mahakassapathêra of Udumbaragiri; and that, as Asôka, King of Righteousness, with the assistance of Môggaliputtatissamahấthêra, afforded support to the great fraternity of exceedingly pure and orthodox priests, who declared that the Fully Enlightened One was a Vibhajja vadi, and effected the purification of the Religion by commanding the expulsion from the Order of the 60,00impure and sinful priests who declared that the Fully Enlightened One professed the doctrines of the Sassata and other schools, even so, should I purify the Religiou by commanding the expulsion from the Order of the large number of impure, unorthodox, and sinful priests, who do not conform to the rules of the Order, and are followers of evil practices, and by constituting the fraternity of the residents of the Mahavihara, the only sect (in my kingdom).'
357 = 602
11 I.e., before 292 A. D. The 600 years must have nearly elapsed, however, because 218 + 27 years as the date of Mahasena's death.
35 This yielas the date 1164 A. D.