Komarikagala is a small hillock with the ruins of an ancient Buddhist cave situated in the Pelwatta Sugar Industry Division in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka. The site is located about 1 km away from the Buttala Iron Ore Deposit.
Ruins
As the presence of a drip-ledged cave with an Early Brahmi Inscription, the history of this site can be dated back to the beginning of the Christian era. The inscription reveals that the cave was donated to the Buddhist monks by a chief named Datta (Paranavitana, 1970). In front of the cave is a Kema, a natural pond that is believed to have been used by the dwelling monks.
Komarikagala cave inscriptionPeriod: 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D.
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Parumaka Pulaya puta parumaka Utara puta parumaka Datasha kumi lene ca shagasha dine
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Parumaka Pulaya puta parumaka Utara puta parumaka Datasha kumi lene ca shagasha dine
Translation: The cistern and the cave of chief
Datta, son of the chief Uttara, son of the chief
Pulaya, are given to the Buddhist Sangha.
Citation: Paranavitana, 1970.
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On the top of the rock, scattered rubble of ruined structures is found. Most of the ruins seemed to have been destroyed due to the ignorant deeds of the people.
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References
1) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early-Brahmi inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. p.54.
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This page was last updated on 7 July 2022