Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 75

FEB. 2, 1872.]
THE ASIATIC SOCIETIES.
59
en suspicious marriage in obedience to our royal in- structions, with the view of perpetuating hereafter the Kshatriya oaste, of which the line has remained unbroken since we established our sovereignty over men at Shriwardanapura, formerly Senkada Bila, the naost prosperous and wealthy of all cities; and whereas Vijiyasundara Rajakarunayake Herat Mudiyannehé is descended from the Brahman ShriVánea Chandraya, who was & 'descendant from the Brahmans summoned from Dambadive by the King Dapuhessenam, and was afterwards called by his majesty Bhuwanéka Bahu who reigned at Dambadoniya, after having built the temple of Vishnu at Alut-newara, and removed there the divine image from the city of the gods, and was appointed Besnayaka Nilama of the Mahá-dewale, as instructed by Vishnu in a dream, after having received & grant of land and a she-elephant and various offices of state, together with lands at Lewuke, and having married a ledy of the family of Widagama Terunnánse-& favourite of the great and victorious Shri-Prákama-Báhu on account of his faithful services, and the recipient of many emoluments and offices, lived at Lewuke to be (here follow the names of the lands and their boundarios) possessed by Mudyannehé and his children and grand-children from generation to generation free of all taxes and tolls.
This copper sannas was granted in the Shaka year 1665, in the month Medinding on the fifth Wednesday after the full moon, Mars being in the ascendant.
Next follow-4,"Notes on the Geological origin of South Western Ceylon, together with its relation to the rest of the Island," by Hugh Nevill, Esq., F. Z. S.; 5, "Inscription at Weligami Viháre : text, translation, and notes," by T. W. Rhys Davide, C.C.S.At Wæligamathe half way village between Galle and Mátara, there are two Viháres : “one called Agra Bhodi-a fine Vibáre on the top of a hill, whose founder is unknown, and which has a Galsannas of very modern date ; the other is called Wæligama Gane Viháre aud ia on the plain. There is a very ancient B6-tree and large Dahgoba at this place, but for a Viháre only a small modern building, corresponding to the wording of the sannas, which speaks only of a Sakmana or covered corridor for priests to walk in-corresponding to the ancient colonnades. From this Sakmana is derived the name of the village of Hakmana. The inscription is on a stone built into the wall round the dahgoba, and is translated by Mr. Davids as follows:
"In the sixth year of the revered Lord Emperor Siri Sangabo Siri Bhuwansika Bahu, the minister named Kalu Parákarama having given wages to the workmen, and having given in perpetuation the four gifts to the two priests who reside economising in this (cloister) common to the priesthood; and also
in order that the gifts might be given for a day to the reverend priesthood coming from the four direo- tions having given) ten amunas sowing extent of paddy field which he had bought and a fruit-bearing
00008-nut garden, and ten slaves and a yoke of oxen, and round torohes and go blets with spouts, and a row of lamp-stands (for illumination) and palanquins, doli-kunan) and leather, and cushions, and mat. tresses, and cloths woven with silk and hemp to spread over (seats for guests), and tubs and iron basins together with other things of this kind proper for the priesthood...... it is proper for all good men who in the future shall be, to maintain without dispute this cloister (Sakma na) or wiháre, improved by the king's family, which cloister) has been made to add merit to the revered king Bhuwanaiks Báhu who brought me up, and (thus) to obtain the bliss (moksha) of release in heaven."
6,"Dondra inscription No. I, Text, Translation and Notes," by the same. This inscription was on an upright slap of granite resembling a gravestone, and standing under the cocoanut palms on the sea shore at Dondra. It was removed by Mr. Davids to a place of safety. The translation records the grant of lands" in Náwadunne (now Naottunne) and Pátegama, and the produce of Batgama, where the Atupatto Ar achchi made the dam, that it might continue for ever as the places "now included in the Parawásara" (now Parawehera) to the Nagarisa Nila (Vishnu) temple in Dondra, by Siri Sangabo Siri Vijaya Bahu in the Shaka year 1432."
7, “On the second species of Zosterops inhabiting Ceylon," by W. V. Legge, Hon. Sec.; 8,"Further notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon," by the same; 9,"On various Birds of the Western Province," by the same;.10, “On the Origin of the Shri-Páda or Sacred Foot-print on the summit of Adam's Peak," by W. Skeen, Esq. This is an elaborate paper of fifty pages 11, “The Romanized Text of the first five chapters of the Balávatára, a Pali Grammar, with translation and explanatory notes," by L. L. Lee, C.C.S; 12, "Specimens of Sinhalese Proverbs," by Louis de Zoysa, Mudaliyar. These are one hundred in number, from which we may give as specimens :
Like the mad -woman's basket of herbs, an ill Assorted mixture; Cannot drink as it is hot, and cannot throw away as it is Kanji'-an unpleasant dilemma ; The idle man has divine (prophetic,) eyes-forbodes and magnifies difficulties no one else Beee : He murders saints but drinks water after straining-training out & gaat and swallowing a camel : When the deer trespasses on his field, he comes home and beats the deer's skin-not able to punish the real offender he vents his anger on the inoffensive; One pats on the head to pluck out the eyes'--flatters to injure ; If the dog bite your leg would you bite bis ?' The rat who was returning home drunk with toddy, said, if I meet & oat, I will tear him to pieces ;' If one personates a dog he must go where he is whistled for ' Like placing a ladder to the jumping monkey': Even 1464, but according to Baduguna lankara (quoted in Alwis's Sidat Sangdrdwa pp. 92,200) in 1469 or the seventh, who a Portaguono sporteman."
It is uncertain " which Bhauwanaika Bahu this was : but judging from the form of the letters it must be either the sixth, who came to the throne, according to Tumour, in