The inscription is engraved on the outer surface of the north end of a huge, rectangular stone trough or ‘canoe’ associated with the Mahapali alms hall in Anuradhapura. The trough is situated about 200 yards to the east of the ‘Green Path’, at a distance of nearly a mile from the Sacred Bō-Tree and some 300 yards to the south of the ruined brick structure named the Geḍigē. Such troughs are popularly known as kän̆da oru (gruel boats). Nearby are the tall monoliths of a ruined shrine, identified as the Temple of the Tooth, and a partly effaced slab-inscription of Mahinda IV (IN03031). The trough bears three inscriptions: two on the north end (IN03113 and the present record) and one the east side (IN03115). All three inscriptions belong paleographically to the last quarter of the tenth century A.D. but they do not contain any information that enable us to date them more precisely.
Metadata | |
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Inscription ID | IN03114 |
Title | Anurādharpura Stone Canoe Inscription 2 |
Alternative titles | |
Parent Object | OB03093 |
Related Inscriptions | IN03113 IN03115 |
Responsibility | |
Author | Senarath Paranavitana |
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Language | සිංහල |
Reigning monarch | |
Commissioner | |
Topic | grants one pata of paddy from each sack brought into the city to the Mahāpālī (alms hall) |
Date: | |
Min | 975 |
Max | 1000 |
Comment | Basis for dating: palaeography. |
Hand | |
Letter size | 3.81 cm |
Description | Letter size vary in height from one to 1½ inches (2.54 to 3.81 cm). Sinhalese alphabet of the late 10th century A.D. |
Layout | |
Campus: | |
Width | 68.58 |
Height | 45.72 |
Description | Campus dimensions relate to the area covered by both the present inscription and IN03113, the two records being written one above the other. 3 lines inscribed on the outer surface of the north end of a stone trough, directly below IN03113. The letters are engraved between ruled lines about two inches (5.08 cm) apart. The surface of the stone is rough and does not appear to have been smoothed prior to the incision of the inscription; due to the rough surface, the letters are difficult to decipher. |
Decoration | |
Bibliography | |
References | Edited and translated by S. Paranavitana in Epigraphia Zeylanica 3 (1928-33) 131-137, no. 9. |
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Misc notes |