Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription (ඇටවීරගොල්ලෑව ටැම් ලිපිය)

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Travelling to Kebithigollewa from Medawachchiya town, you will reach the small town of Etawiragollewa (written as Ataviragolleva in older texts) after about 9 kilometres. Right in front of the Etawiragollewa Vidyalaya (school) on the opposite side of the road, you will see a pillar protected by a small iron fence. In addition, a few smaller pillar stumps are found scattered around the main pillar.

This pillar is about 5 1/2 feet in height and 11 inches square. It is inscribed on all 4 sides and the pillar is identified as the Ataviragolleva Pillar Inscription in the older texts.

Owing to the splitting of the stone at the top several lines on sides A and D are obliterated. Judging from the height of the pillar, side A may have contained more than eighteen lines, or else the space above the writing must have borne a Buddhist emblem. Side B has twenty-eight lines; C, twenty-five, surmounted by a figure of the sun; and D, seventeen, with figures of a crow, a dog, a Buddhist monk’s fan (watapatha), and a so-called sickle. The inscription was first read by Dr. Goldschmidt. Dr. Muller published a rough transcript, with a translation of the first side only, in 1883. The Archaeological Commissioner (Mr. H. C. P. Bell) re-examined it in 1890.

The content of the Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription tells us that King Abha Siri Sangabo ransacked the Pandya Country, and obtained a victory in the ninth year. of his reign, that his son was Abha Salamevan, and that in the tenth year of this king’s sovereignty, the immunities mentioned in the record were granted to the village Velangama belonging to the Sirisangabo-rad-pirivena, and an attani pillar was set up to that effect by three officials Mekappar Tambu[ruga]mu Kitim, Ki(ling)-bo Sa(ki)m, and Ku(nda)sala (Singim).

According to Paranavitana King Abha Salamevan is identified as King Dappula V and his father Abha Siri Sangabo as King Sena II (853-887 CE). Sirisangabo-rad-pirivena may be the Sirisanghabodhi Parivena built by King Aggabodhi I (575-608 CE). However, Ranwella attributes this pillar inscription to King Dappula IV of the early 10th century,

References

1. Paranavitana, S. (1943) Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being lithic and other inscription of Ceylon Vol IV (1934-1941). London, United Kingdom: Humphrey Milford.
2. Ranawella, S. (2004) Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol V (part II). Colombo: Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of the Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription

Driving Directions to Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription