Community: Sri Lanka epigraphy

The quadrangular pillar-inscription was found by Wickremasinghe, lying on the ground to the north-east of the pokuṇa (pond) in the deserted village of Īripinniyǟva. This village is located about one and half miles east of Tittagōnǟva in Kun͂cuṭṭu Kōrale, North-Central Province. All four sides of the pillar are inscribed in the Sinhalese alphabet of the 10th century A.D. There are 26 lines on the first side, 29 on the second, 27 on the third and 34 on the fourth. The text is largely identical with that of the Ram̆bǟva pillar (IN03055), which was erected in the same year by the same king, Abhaya Salamevan. Only the names of the lands being dealt with and one or two clauses are different. Abhaya Salamevan is a name (biruda) used by several kings. In this inscription, it probably refers to one of the two kings who reigned between Sēna II and Kassapa V, namely Udaya I and Kassapa IV. The inscription deals with the granting of immunities to a land dedicated to the pariveṇa.

The inscription is engraved on four sides of a quadrangular stone pillar, which was discovered by H. C. P. Bell in 1891 in the jungle close by the ruined dāgaba Kiribat-Vehera, about three and half miles to the north of Anurādhapura. This dāgaba is also called Menik Vehera or Gem dāgaba by local people. The inscription is written in Sinhalese alphabet from the 10th century A.D. Wickremasinghe assigns this record to a period immediately preceding Kassapa V’s reign. The inscription itself is dated in the fourteenth year of a king called Siri San̆go, an epithet often used by kings, but here probably referring to Kassapa IV, who arrived on the throne in 912 A.D. It was set up by a royal order in the presence of three officials, who are named as: Sabā-vaḍunnā Salayem, the bodyguard of the Pāṇḍyan king Dāpuḷa; (Ro)ṭu Pullayem; and Kiling Agbo. The inscription proclaims certain privileges or immunities attached to the dispensary at Bamuṇ-kumbara.

The hill-range of Riṭigala is located about twenty-five miles south-east of Anurādhapura and eighteen miles north-east of Dam̆bulla. The range has numerous caves, rocks, ruins and inscriptions. Wickremasinghe describes four groups of inscriptions at different locations in the mountain range:

[1] Āṇḍiyā-kanda (east spur) – 10 cave-inscriptions.

[2] Karam̆bǟ-hīnna (north-west spur) – 2 cave-inscriptions (of which only one is described by Wickremasinghe).

[3] Nā-ulpata, also called Nā-arambädda-hīnna (west and south-west spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 4 rock-inscriptions (of which only three are described by Wickremasinghe).

[4] Vēväl-tänna (lower eastern spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 1 rock-inscription.

Riṭigala Mountain Range

The hill-range of Riṭigala is located about twenty-five miles south-east of Anurādhapura and eighteen miles north-east of Dam̆bulla. This commanding position, as well as the shelter which the mountain’s numerous rocks and caves afford, may account for its importance in ancient times, both as a stronghold of contending clans and as a place of refuge for fugitive princes and religious devotees. The name of the mountain range may be derived from the site’s trees (Sinh. ‘riti’), from the Pali name ‘Arittha’ (‘safety’, in reference to the range’s function as a place of shelter) or even from Maha Arittha, the chief minister of King Devanampiya Tissa (reg. c. 250-210 B.C.). The range has numerous caves, rocks, ruins and inscriptions. Two of the inscriptions name the area as ‘ariṭa-gama’, confirming the identification of the site as Ariṭṭa-pabbata (or -sēla), a mountain range mentioned in the Sri Lankan chronicle, the ‘Mahāvaṁsa’. The range has also been associated with Mt Aristha of the Indian epic the ‘Rāmayana’.

The hill-range of Riṭigala is located about twenty-five miles south-east of Anurādhapura and eighteen miles north-east of Dam̆bulla. The range has numerous caves, rocks, ruins and inscriptions. Wickremasinghe describes four groups of inscriptions at different locations in the mountain range:

[1] Āṇḍiyā-kanda (east spur) – 10 cave-inscriptions.

[2] Karam̆bǟ-hīnna (north-west spur) – 2 cave-inscriptions (of which only one is described by Wickremasinghe).

[3] Nā-ulpata, also called Nā-arambädda-hīnna (west and south-west spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 4 rock-inscriptions (of which only three are described by Wickremasinghe).

[4] Vēväl-tänna (lower eastern spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 1 rock-inscription.

The hill-range of Riṭigala is located about twenty-five miles south-east of Anurādhapura and eighteen miles north-east of Dam̆bulla. The range has numerous caves, rocks, ruins and inscriptions. Wickremasinghe describes four groups of inscriptions at different locations in the mountain range:

[1] Āṇḍiyā-kanda (east spur) – 10 cave-inscriptions.

[2] Karam̆bǟ-hīnna (north-west spur) – 2 cave-inscriptions (of which only one is described by Wickremasinghe).

[3] Nā-ulpata, also called Nā-arambädda-hīnna (west and south-west spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 4 rock-inscriptions (of which only three are described by Wickremasinghe).

[4] Vēväl-tänna (lower eastern spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 1 rock-inscription.

The hill-range of Riṭigala is located about twenty-five miles south-east of Anurādhapura and eighteen miles north-east of Dam̆bulla. The range has numerous caves, rocks, ruins and inscriptions. Wickremasinghe describes four groups of inscriptions at different locations in the mountain range:

[1] Āṇḍiyā-kanda (east spur) – 10 cave-inscriptions.

[2] Karam̆bǟ-hīnna (north-west spur) – 2 cave-inscriptions (of which only one is described by Wickremasinghe).

[3] Nā-ulpata, also called Nā-arambädda-hīnna (west and south-west spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 4 rock-inscriptions (of which only three are described by Wickremasinghe).

[4] Vēväl-tänna (lower eastern spur) – 1 cave-inscription; 1 rock-inscription.

Riṭigala Mountain Range

The hill-range of Riṭigala is located about twenty-five miles south-east of Anurādhapura and eighteen miles north-east of Dam̆bulla. This commanding position, as well as the shelter which the mountain’s numerous rocks and caves afford, may account for its importance in ancient times, both as a stronghold of contending clans and as a place of refuge for fugitive princes and religious devotees. The name of the mountain range may be derived from the site’s trees (Sinh. ‘riti’), from the Pali name ‘Arittha’ (‘safety’, in reference to the range’s function as a place of shelter) or even from Maha Arittha, the chief minister of King Devanampiya Tissa (reg. c. 250-210 B.C.). The range has numerous caves, rocks, ruins and inscriptions. Two of the inscriptions name the area as ‘ariṭa-gama’, confirming the identification of the site as Ariṭṭa-pabbata (or -sēla), a mountain range mentioned in the Sri Lankan chronicle, the ‘Mahāvaṁsa’. The range has also been associated with Mt Aristha of the Indian epic the ‘Rāmayana’.