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. One of the slab inscriptions (IN03023) is of the king Dappula V (A.D. 940-952) and records a royal offering to the Virāṅkurā monastery. The second slab is inscribed on its front and back with inscriptions of the king Mahinda IV (975-991) detailing benefactions made to the clergy of the monastery Bo-Upulvan-Kusub-giri Vehera. The inscription on the back of this slab is dealt with here (see IN03024 for the inscription on the front).
On the fifth day of the waxing moon [of the lunar month] of Durutu, in the 10th year [of the reign] of His Majesty Siri-Saṅg-bo, [it was enacted that] if the food and clothing appertaining to the vasaga which Vidurambamu had obtained from the royal monastery Bo-Upulvan-Kasub-giri by paying 200 kaḷaňdas [weight] of gold, and also if the gift of my cattle belonging to Muvariya were not [set apart] for the monks of ascertained . . . . in this residence, [then] this vasaga should be bestowed [upon them]. The . . . . garden given (to the dispensary) and . . . . kiri [sowing extent of land] from the paddy fields at Pahaṇ-gama [given] to the two (medical attendants) . . . . . . . . . . . .