The inscription is engraved on the outer surface of the east side 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 IN03114) and one the east side (the present record). 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 | |
|---|---|
| Inscription ID | IN03115 |
| Title | Anurādharpura Stone Canoe Inscription 3 |
| Alternative titles | |
| Parent Object | OB03093 |
| Related Inscriptions | IN03113 IN03114 |
| Responsibility | |
| Author | Senarath Paranavitana |
| Print edition recorded by | |
| Source encoded | |
| Digitally edited by | |
| Edition improved by | |
| Authority for | |
| Metadata recorded by | |
| Authority for metadata | |
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| Authoriy for improved | |
| Language | සිංහල |
| Reigning monarch | |
| Commissioner | |
| Topic | records that Salavaḍunā caused the stone ‘boat’ to be constructed; ‘Salavaḍuna’ appears to be a title of office (possibly ‘the chief stone mason’), rather than a personal name |
| 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 | 60.96 |
| Height | 20.32 |
| Description | 3 lines inscribed on the outer surface of the east side of a stone trough. 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. |
| Add to bibliography | |
| Misc notes | |