Vessagiri, or more commonly in Sinhalese Vessagiriya, is the traditional name of a forest-bound cluster of rocks in Anurādhapura. The site features three hummock-boulders of gneiss rock in a line from north to south (Rock A, Rock B and Rock C). The hummocks are surrounded by the ruins of a monastery, which had its cells in the caves of Rocks B and C (twenty-three caves in total). Some of the caves are inscribed with dedications to the Buddhist priesthood, plus there are a number of other rock inscriptions at the site. In addition, two inscribed slabs associated with Vessagiri are preserved in the museum at Anurādhapura (OB03019 and OB03020). The present inscription is engraved on one of the slabs. It dates from the reign of king Dappula V (A.D. 940-952) and records a royal offering to the Virāṅkurā monastery.
[Lines 1-11] On the tenth day of the waning moon of the [lunar] month Nikinniya (July-August), in the second year after the [royal] canopy was raised by His Majesty the great King Buddas Abahay Salamevan Dāpuḷa who [now] protects the world, having in due course become king after having enjoyed the illustrious positions of governor and chief governor; who illuminated the world with the glory and the majesty of the sun and the moon at the very instant of his birth, having been conceived in the womb of the sub-queen Dēvā and begotten by His Majesty the great King Buddas Siri-Saṅgboy Abahay, lord by (right of his) lineal descent from the great lords of the soil of the Island of Laṅkā, who [i.e. Siri-Saṅgboy Abahay] promoted the [Buddhist] religion, having comforted the people with showers of [his] boundless, all-embracing, gentle and pure qualities; and who flourished with the prowess of a lion, having ascended his auspicious lion throne which was like unto a rock of safety, and having exhausted the ichor-like pride of his elephant-like enemies with [his] works which were like unto a terrific roar of a lion.
[Lines 11-15] [His said Majesty Dāpuḷa], bestowing gifts and honour on the great body of monks who are the directors of religious rites in the Vīrāṅkurā monastery of the lay-devotee Vanpullā and who belong to the fraternity of monks of the Mulaso-vihāra, granted them 200 kaḷaňdas [weight] of gold [with instructions:—] that out of this gold, a bowl of twenty cakes shall be supplied to one [monk] every year on the two upōsatha days at the end of the season of ‘retreat’ (vassa); [Ll. 16-19] that gruel be poured into the gruel vessel; that out of this same [sum], sixty [kaḷaňdas] shall be assigned for ‘ticket-rice’; that twenty [kaḷaňdas] be granted for the purpose of giving robes at the end of the year to one of those [monks] in [receipt of permanent board and] residence; [Ll. 19-22] that ten kaḷaňdas be given to him who sleeps in the temple for lamp-oil; that twenty kaḷaňdas be set apart for the purpose of providing one of those [monks] in [receipt of permanent board and] residence with one [gold] aka worth of jaggery and one of ghee every month on the upōsatha day in the middle of the month; [Ll. 23-25] that those directors of religious rites who shall prevent the performance of any of these duties at the time when they ought to be performed, shall leave the monastery, not being entitled to live there nor to receive its emoluments. This regulation is to be observed by the great body of monks.