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Ochchappu Kallu ruins (2013) |
Ochchappu Kallu or Ancient Kuba Vehera (Sinhala: විල්පත්තු ඔච්චප්පුකල්ලු නටඹුන්) is a site with the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery located within the woods of Wilpattu National Park on the boundary between Anuradhapura and Puttalam Districts, Sri Lanka. It is situated about 8 miles inland from Kudiramale, an ancient port town on the west coast of the island. Ochchappu Kallu is considered the largest monastery complex found in the National Park (IUCN, 2006).
History
The history of this monastery site runs back to the pre-Christian era. Several Early Brahmi Cave Inscriptions belonging to the 2nd-1st century B.C. are found in the vicinity of the site (Paranavitana, 1970). Archaeologists believe that the ancient Acha Nagara mentioned in the Thonigala Rock Inscription could be a locality linked to this monastery site (IUCN, 2006). Another rock inscription found at this site, belonging to the reign of King Kanittha Tissa (167-186 A.D.) of Anuradhapura, reveals the ancient name of this monastery as Kuba Vehera (Goonatilake, 2006; IUCN, 2006; Nicholas, 1963). It also reveals several village names and tanks near the Magana-nakara, which is an ancient seaport city and is located at the mouth of present Moderagam Ara (Goonatilake, 2006).
Inscriptions
Early Brahmi Inscriptions
Eminent archaeologist S. Paranavitana has read and published 6 early Brahmi inscriptions at this site in his book "Inscription of Ceylon, Vol. I" (Paranavitana, 1970). Of these inscriptions, one contains the name "Raja Kanasha" (King Kanna) which is not mentioned in any other local chronicles such as Dipavamsa or Mahavamsa (IUCN, 2006; Paranavitana, 1970). According to Paranavitana's view, this name may refer to a local ruler who bore the title "Raja" (Paranavitana, 1970).
Script: Early Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Rajha-Kanasha puta rajhaputa-Kanasa lene agata-anagata-catudisha-shagasha
Translation: The cave of Rajaputta (prince) Kanna (Pali: Kanha, Skt: Krsna), son of King Kanna, [is given] to the Sangha of the four quarters, present and absent.
Citation: Paranavitana, 1970. p.9.
Inscription of Kanittha Tissa
The rock edict belonging to King Kanittha Tissa (167-186 A.D.) is among the notable inscriptions found at Ochchappu Kallu. The purpose of establishing it was to regiter a grant made by Kanittha Tissa who is referred in the usual style of Mali-tisa-maharaji, son of Naka-maharaja (Paranavitana, 2001). The grant itself was from the lord's income from four tanks belonging to Vevalavi Mitaya of Magana-nakariya (Paranavitana, 2001). The grant was made for the particular purpose of defraying the cost of oil and offerings to the five Catiyas at the Kuba-Vihara and for spreading carpets (on seats) at the railings on the summit, presumably of all five Stupas (Paranavitana, 2001). Magan-nakari referred to in this inscription also occurs in Sinadiyagala and one of the inscriptions at Mihintale (Paranavitana, 2001). Kuba-Vihara, the beneficiary of this grant, does not appear in any other document (Paranavitana, 2001).
The epigraph which consists of five lines of writing, covers a rock surface which measures 7 ft. 8 in. at its longest and 2 ft. 6.5 in. at the broadest (Paranavitana, 2001). It was copied by the Department of Archaeology in 1941 and registered under the number 1919 (Paranavitana, 2001).
The Site
There are extensive remains of a Buddhist temple including a number of drip-ledged caves containing early Brahmi inscriptions and the ruins of a dilapidated Stupa (Paranavitana, 2001). In the centre of the ruins are two remarkable rocks called Ochchappu (or Ochayappu) Kallu, the learning stone (IUCN, 2006). However, many of these monuments are completely destroyed by treasure hunters.
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References
Books, Journal Articles
1) Goonatilake, W.L.D.P.T.S. de A., 2006. Archaeologically important sites in Vilpattu National Park: present status and new findings. National Archaeological Symposium 2006: Papers submitted to the National Archaeological symposium. 1. pp.57-80.
2) IUCN, 2006. Resource Inventory of Wilpattu National Park : Final Report. Colombo: The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Sri Lanka. pp.29,36.
3) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.153.
4) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early Brahmi Inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. pp.lxiv,9.
5) Paranavitana, S., 2001 (Edited by Dias, M.). Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. II. Part II. Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka. pp.141-143.
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Attribution
To Whom
LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Mr Kithsiri Gunawardena for providing the necessary photographs (published in www.wilpattu.com) required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
