Object type: Pillar

The quadrangular pillar-inscription was found by Wickremasinghe, lying on the ground to the north-east of the pokuṇa (pond) in the deserted village of Īripinniyǟva. This village is located about one and half miles east of Tittagōnǟva in Kun͂cuṭṭu Kōrale, North-Central Province. All four sides of the pillar are inscribed in the Sinhalese alphabet of the 10th century A.D. There are 26 lines on the first side, 29 on the second, 27 on the third and 34 on the fourth. The text is largely identical with that of the Ram̆bǟva pillar (IN03055), which was erected in the same year by the same king, Abhaya Salamevan. Only the names of the lands being dealt with and one or two clauses are different. Abhaya Salamevan is a name (biruda) used by several kings. In this inscription, it probably refers to one of the two kings who reigned between Sēna II and Kassapa V, namely Udaya I and Kassapa IV. The inscription deals with the granting of immunities to a land dedicated to the pariveṇa.

The inscription is engraved on four sides of a quadrangular stone pillar, which was discovered by H. C. P. Bell in 1891 in the jungle close by the ruined dāgaba Kiribat-Vehera, about three and half miles to the north of Anurādhapura. This dāgaba is also called Menik Vehera or Gem dāgaba by local people. The inscription is written in Sinhalese alphabet from the 10th century A.D. Wickremasinghe assigns this record to a period immediately preceding Kassapa V’s reign. The inscription itself is dated in the fourteenth year of a king called Siri San̆go, an epithet often used by kings, but here probably referring to Kassapa IV, who arrived on the throne in 912 A.D. It was set up by a royal order in the presence of three officials, who are named as: Sabā-vaḍunnā Salayem, the bodyguard of the Pāṇḍyan king Dāpuḷa; (Ro)ṭu Pullayem; and Kiling Agbo. The inscription proclaims certain privileges or immunities attached to the dispensary at Bamuṇ-kumbara.

Pauni पवनी (Bhandara district) Maharashtra. Donative Inscription.

Pauni (पवनी Bhandara district) Maharashtra. Donative Inscription.

Colour pictures of inscription and pillar available.

Pauni (पवनी Bhandara district) Maharashtra. Stūpa mound with modern temple.

Colour Picture of Pillar Available (see image link).

Dimensions Available.

Rubbing of Inscription from Pauni पवनी (Bhandara Distr. Maharashtra).

Colour Picture of Pillar available under ‘Object’.

Pauni (पौनि). Donative inscription (INNAG0009) on stūpa railing pillar (OBNAG0009)