Ram̆bǟva

The inscription consists of 39 lines engraved on the ruled surface of a stone slab. It was discovered in 1892 by the Archaeological Commissioner (Mr. H.C.P. Bell) a hundred years south of the ‘Cooly Shelter’ at Ram̆bǟva (Rambewa) and subsequently moved to Anurādhapura. Wickremasinghe describes Ram̆bǟva as a well-known village in Kǟn̆dǟ-kōrale at the junction of the two main roads from Anurādhapura and from Mihintale, about nine miles north-east of the former town. The inscription is dated to the first year of the reign of king Siri Saňg-bo Abhā, identified by Wickremasinghe with Mahinda IV. It records a grant of lands and immunities to one Kiliňgu-ra Pirivat Hämbuvan, to be held by him and his descendants for the purpose of supplying oil to illuminate the stone image of the Buddha at the Sacred Bōdhi-tree.

The inscription is written over four sides of a quadrangular pillar. The pillar was found by H. C. P. Bell in 1891 in the village of Ram̆bǟva on the right bank of the Yōda-äla canal, about 3 miles north-east of Īripinniyǟva. The inscription is written in the Sinhalese alphabet of the 10th century A.D. and deals with the granting of immunities in respect of certain lands dedicated to the Sen-Senevirad-pirivena. It is dated to the [lunar month] Hil (Oct.-Nov.) in the first year of the reign of Abhaya Salamevan. The text is almost identical to that of the Īripinniyǟva pillar inscription (IN03054), which was granted five weeks later by the same king. 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.