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 record refers to another inscription, which is incised directly above it. The two inscriptions are surrounded by a decorative frame and it is clear that they are intended to be read together. The upper inscription (IN03118) records that king Abaya donated a canal to the monks residing in the Pilipavata monastery. The lower inscription (i.e. the present record) records the confirmation of this donation by king Naka. 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 | IN03119 |
| Title | Mōlāhiṭiyavelēgala Rock Inscription of Mahānāga |
| Alternative titles | |
| Parent Object | OB03096 |
| Related Inscriptions | IN03118 |
| Responsibility | |
| Author | Senarath Paranavitana |
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| Digitally edited by | |
| Edition improved by | |
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| Language | සිංහල |
| Reigning monarch | Naka (Mahānāga, surnamed Mahādāṭhika?) |
| Commissioner | |
| Topic | records that king Naka confirms the donation detailed in IN03118, which appears immediately above the present inscription; IN03118 records that king Abaya donated a canal to the monks residing in the Pilipavata monastery |
| Date: | |
| Min | 9 |
| Max | 21 |
| Comment | Basis for dating: reign of Mahānāga, surnamed Mahādāṭhika (r. A.D. 9–21). |
| 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. 1 line incised into the surface of the rock on a ridge at Mōlāhiṭiyavelēgala. Another inscription of three lines (IN03118) is engraved directly above; 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 IN03118, 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 | |