Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription

Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription
Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription (Photo credit: Google Street View)

The Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription (Sinhala: ඇටවීරගොල්ලෑව ටැම් ලිපිය) is a 10th-century pillar inscription situated in Ataviragollewa village in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka (Muller, 1883). It lies on the wayside of Medawachchiya-Kebitigollewa road about 11 km distance from Medawachchiya town. 

The pillar
The inscription has been engraved on all four sides of a pillar measuring 5 ft. 6 inches by 11 inches square (Wikramasinghe, 1928). Due to a splitting of the stone at the top, several lines of the 1st and 4th sides are obliterated (Wikramasinghe, 1928). The 1st side, as of today, contains 18 lines, the 2nd side has 28 lines while the 3rd and 4th have 25 and 17 lines respectively (Wikramasinghe, 1928). The figure of the sun is found at the bottom part of the 3rd side and the figures of a crow, a dog, a Buddhist monk's fan (Vatapatha), and a sickle are found on the 4th side (Wikramasinghe, 1928).
 
Scholars have dated this record to the reign of King Dappula IV [(924-935 A.D.) Ranawella, 2004; Wikramasinghe, 1928]. 

Content
The inscription is dated in the 10th regnal year of a king styled Abha Salamevan and as is revealed by the record, his father was king Abha Sirisangbo who conquered the Pandya country (India) in his 9th regnal year (Ranawella, 2004). It is well established that King Sirisangbo who conquered the Pandya country was King Sena II (853-887 A.D.) and Dappula IV, one of three sons of him borne the throne name of Abha Salamevan (Ranawella, 2004). Also, the names of the officials who were instrumental in promulgating this edict confirm beyond doubt that the king who is mentioned in the inscription is Dappula IV (Ranawella, 2004).

The inscription contains a decree granting certain immunities granted on a village named Velnariyegama situated in Mirisibima region and owned by Sirisangbo-rad Pirivena, attached to a monastery named Dena Vehera (Ranawella, 2005). According to chronicles, there was a Pirivena named Sirisangbo-rad attached to Jetavana Viharaya (ancient Dena Vehera) at Anuradhapura built by King Aggabodhi IV [(667-683 A.D.) Ranawella, 2005].

References
1) Muller, E., 1883. Ancient Inscriptions in Ceylon. London. pp.56,114.
2) Ranawella G.S., 2004. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume V, Part II. Department of Archaeology. pp.93-98.
3) Wikramasinghe, D. M. D. Z., 1928. Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being lithic and other inscriptions of Ceylon Vol II: London. Published for the government of Ceylon by Humphrey Milford, pp.44-49.

Location Map
This page was last updated on 15 September 2022
Previous Post Next Post