Indian Antiquary Vol 22

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

Page 57

KALYANI INSCRIPTIONS.
FEBRUARY, 1893.]
One, obtained during His life-time, with a large bell made of brass, weighing 3,000 tolas." Agreeably with this thought, he wrote a letter saying: "As I am visiting Tigumpanagara, may it please the Venerable Ones to remain in that town ?" And, after making arrangements for their entertainment, he had them disembarked from their sea-going vessel and conveyed to Tigumpanagara in river-boats.
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Meanwhile, the eleven theras, who embarked in the same ship as Chitradûta, missed the appointed time favourable for returning to Râmaññadêsa, because the Sihala King had said to them: "Reverend Sirs, it is my desire to send an emissary to Râmâdhipatimahârâja, the Lord of the White Elephant, with presents, including a religious gift in the shape of an image of the Holy Tooth Relic, embellished with a topaz and a diamond, valued at a hundred phalas, which were constantly worn by my father, Parakkamabâhumahârâja. When the vessel, now being fitted out for my emissary, is ready, an opportunity will be afforded to her of sailing in the company of your ship. May it please your Reverences to postpone your departure till then?" The eleven theras and Chitradûta, therefore, waited for the emissary of the Sihala King and anchored their ship at the port of Kalambu. Meanwhile, a violent wind, called parádha, arose and sank in the sea the large sea-going vessel, in which passengers had already embarked. When the Sihala King received the intelligence that Chitradata's ship had foundered in the sea, he said thus to the theras and Chitradûta: "If you have no ship, you might embark in the same ship as my emissary, and return home." Accordingly, the theras and Chitradûta, together with his attendants, embarked in the same ship as the emissary of the Sihala King and left the port of Kalambu.
Sailing out to mid-ocean, the ship continued her course through the Straits of Silla, which lies between Sihaladipa and Jambudîpa. After three nights had elapsed since the ship left the port of Kalamba, she was wrecked by a violent storm, and, immersed in sea-water, she remained fast between the jutting peaks of rocks. All the passengers, realizing their inability to extricate the ship from amidst the rocks, collected all the timber and bamboos that happened to be in her, and, constructing a raft of them, and embarking on it, crossed to the coast of Jambudips, which was close by.
Having lost the presents, the emissary of the Sihala King returned to Sihaladipa. The theras and Chitradûta, however, travelled on foot to Nagapattana, and there visited the site of the Padarikârâma monastery, and worshipped the image of Buddha in a cave, constructed by command of the Maharaja of Chinadess on the spot, on the sea-shore, where the Holy Tooth Relic was deposited in the course of its transit to Lankâdîpa in the charge of Dandakumara and Hêmamâlâ, who were husband and wife. Thence they travelled on to the port of Navutapattana. At this port resided Malimparakaya and Pacchaliya, two intendants of the port, who annually sent two ships for trading purposes (to Ramanifadėsa.) In doing so, they sent presents for Råmådhipatimahârâja, and thus, because of their having exchanged with him the compliments of friendship and civility, they conceived feelings of great respect and honour for him. Owing to this circumstance, they provided the theras with food, clothing, and residence, and treated them with much reverence. Chitraduita was likewise provided with clothing, food, and lodgings. The intendants of the port then said: "Reverend Sirs, when our ships start from this port, may it please you to embark in them in order to be once more near the Lord of the White Elephant ?" Accordingly, the four theras, namely, Tilokagurathera, Ratanâlankârethera, Mahidêvathêra, and Chulabhayatissathera, and their four disciples resided with them. The remaining seven theras, however, saying: "We shall embark, together with the seven priests, in a ship at Komalapattana," went and resided at that port.
On Wednesday, the fourth day of the light half of the month Visakha, 839, Bakkaraj, the three theras, namely, Tilôkaguruthera, Ratanâlankârathera, and Mahadevathêra,
Negapatan.