Discovered for scholarship by H.C.P. Bell in September 1897, the inscription is cut into the surface of the rock near the crest of a ridge at Mōlāhiṭiyavelēgala, a low reach of rock running East–West in parallel with the Dim̆bulāgala hills, about ten miles to the south-east of Poḷonnaruva. Four inscriptions, including the present record, are engraved at the termination of two long parallel lines in the rock, possibly marking a “procession path”.
The present inscription records that king Abaya donated a canal to the monks residing in the Pilipavata monastery. Directly underneath the inscription, another record is inscribed (IN03119). The two inscriptions are surrounded by a decorative frame and it is clear that they are intended to be read together. The second inscription records the confirmation by king Naka of the donation mentioned in the first inscription. Senarath Paranavitana identified Abaya and Naka – the two kings mentioned in these records – with, respectively, Bhātika Abhaya (r. 20 B.C.–A.D. 9) and his younger brother and successor Mahānāga, surnamed Mahādāṭhika (r. A.D. 9–21).
| Metadata | |
|---|---|
| Inscription ID | IN03118 |
| Title | Mōlāhiṭiyavelēgala Rock Inscription of Bhātika Abhaya |
| Alternative titles | |
| Parent Object | OB03096 |
| Related Inscriptions | IN03119 |
| Responsibility | |
| Author | Senarath Paranavitana |
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| Digitally edited by | |
| Edition improved by | |
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| Language | සිංහල |
| Reigning monarch | Abaya (Bhātika Abhaya?) |
| Commissioner | |
| Topic | records that king Abaya donated a canal to the monks residing in the Pilipavata monastery |
| Date: | |
| Min | -20 |
| Max | 9 |
| Comment | Basis for dating: reign of Bhātika Abhaya (r. 20 B.C.–A.D. 9). |
| Hand | |
| Letter size | |
| Description | Letter size not reported. Sinhalese alphabet of the early Christian centuries. |
| Layout | |
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| Description | Campus dimensions not reported. 3 lines incised into the surface of the rock on a ridge at Mōlāhiṭiyavelēgala. Another inscription of a single line (IN03119) is engraved directly below; it is evident the two records are supposed to be read together. |
| Decoration | A svastika symbol, to left, precedes the inscription. A decorative border surrounds this inscription and IN03119, the two inscription being positioned one above the other. |
| Bibliography | |
| References | Edited and translated in Bell 1917: 75-76. Re-edited and re-translated by S. Paranavitana in Epigraphia Zeylanica 3 (1928-33) 153-157, no. 12. |
| Add to bibliography | |
| Misc notes | |