Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila

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Discovered in 1982, the Dambegoda Pillar Inscription is a 3.8-meter-tall monument dating to 966 CE. Attributed to King Mahinda IV, its 139 lines narrate royal religious activities and administrative regulations. Though incomplete and roughly engraved, it remains a vital record of tenth-century Buddhist governance.

The massive Maligawila Buddha statue and the Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue are situated at the Maligawila Rajamaha Viharaya, located off Buttala. Both statues were discovered in 1928 after having fallen to the ground and shattered into pieces. Over time, they suffered further damage due to the activities of treasure hunters.

In 1980, then President Ranasinghe Premadasa entrusted a local engineering team with the task of restoring the statues. The team successfully re-erected and restored both monuments to their former grandeur.

The Dambegoda Pillar Inscription

The Dambegoda Pillar Inscription was discovered in 1982 lying on the ground within the shrine that once housed the Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue.

Today, the inscription is preserved in a separate enclosure located to the left of the entrance to the Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue platform. The stone pillar stands 3.8 meters (12.5 feet) high, with each side measuring approximately 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in width. The inscription extends across all four sides of the pillar and consists of 139 lines.

The surface of the pillar had not been properly dressed or ruled prior to engraving. As a result, the letters vary in size and depth, and some letters within words appear to have been left incomplete or entirely omitted.

Historical Significance

This lengthy inscription narrates the religious activities of the king responsible for erecting the pillar and establishing regulations concerning the administration of certain religious institutions. However, it is evident that the inscription is incomplete, and unfortunately, the full contents of the record are not known today.

The date of the inscription can be identified with certainty. Since it is accepted as a work of King Mahinda IV (956–972 CE), the inscription is believed to date to February 966 CE (Uduwara, 1991).

Complete Translation of the Dambegoda Pillar Inscription

On the thirteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Mandindina (February/March) in the tenth year after the raising of the canopy (of dominion) by the Great King Sirisangabo, begotten unto the Great King [Abha} Salamevan [who was by right of succession the Lord of the maiden, the earth of the Island of Lanka], the Chief Queen of the Ksatriya nobles; and who is descended from the royal dynasty of Okavas, which abounds in a multitude of illustrious, boundless and transcendental virtues; he who was born of the womb of the Chief Queen Deva (Dev Gon-rajna) of equal birth, and who, after having enjoyed the dignities of Apa and Mahaya attained to sovereignty by regular succession, and was anointed on his head adorned with the bejeweled crown, and by his own fame and splendor, which had spread over the ten directions, illuminated the Island of Lanka; he who adorned the three Great Stone Images of the Buddha of the three Fraternities with canopies made of solid gold overlaid with various gems and, and which were like those of Narasiha (Visnu) of the celestial world; (also) bestowed in the midst of great festivals, different types of large pavilions (maha-mandu); (he) built the Mangul-pirivena for the embellishment of that monastery, and made the four requisites plentiful for the monks; built the lofty Relic-house, and restored the ruined reservoirs, and by utilizing the water thus collected dispelled famines in the Island of Simhala, and also extinguished the great heat of poverty in foreign countries; he who brought glory upon Sri Lanka by the splendour of (his) meritorious exertion, which is visible in the royal palace, and which is constantly filled with marvelous gifts offered by great kings of Jambudvipa; and who thus protects the world, instituted these regulations according to the teachings of the great community of monks of the Maha-vihara who were summoned by way of giving notice and announcing it thrice to (them) to assemble in great numbers (in respect of the following persons and places): the recipients of dwellings, including those venerable monks living at the Maha-vihara, the Refectory (Mahapali), the Bodhighara (Bo-tree House) which had promoted the doctrine, the Lovamaha-pasada, the Great Monastery at Mahiyangana, the Mani-pasada, the Ruvan(-vali)-maha cétiya, Polonnaru-maha cétiya and the Thuparama. These regulations are to be in force for two thousand and five hundred years.
Records of income and expenditure of the (above mentioned places) should be maintained, detailing how the incomes due to those places had been collected, and the details of the expenses, such as the wages paid to the servants (attached to those places), the balance (of income) left after expenditure, should be retained as non-transferable goods, but (it) should not be given away in exchange (for other goods). After having assembled the monks (concerned) annually and causing the monastery officials and the royal officials to be present there, the records pertaining to taxes should be read in the midst of those monks; should there be any dispute the Lords of the Court of Justice shall sit (in session) and settle it.
(Ranawella, 2004)

References

Ranawella, S. (2004) Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol V (part II). Colombo: Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, pp 193-196.
Uduwara, J. (1991) ‘SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE DAMBEGODA LITHIC RECORD’, in Epigraphia Zeylanica : Being Lithic and Other Inscriptions of Ceylon – Volume VI (part II). Colombo: Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, pp. 140–153.

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Travel Directions to Dambegoda Pillar Inscription

The site can be reached either from Wellawaya or Kataragama, depending on the route you choose to travel.

Route via Wellawaya

Wellawaya can be accessed through several routes. If you are travelling from Badulla or Bandarawela, you should take the Ella Road, which branches off from the Badulla–Bandarawela Road. Along this route, you will also pass the scenic Ravana Ella waterfall.

Another approach is through Beragala. This route takes you past the impressive Diyaluma waterfall, which stands approximately 220 meters (722 feet) high. Koslanda is situated along the Balangoda–Haputale Road.

Route via Kataragama

If travelling from Kataragama, take the Buttala Road. The turn-off to the temple is located just before the main Buttala junction. From this turn-off, the temple lies approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away. Visitors can easily obtain directions to the temple from residents in Buttala.

Route from Colombo to Dambegoda Pillar Inscription	Route from Kataragama to Dambegoda Pillar Inscription
Through : Southern Expressway Distance : 317 Travel time : 5 hours Driving directions : see on Google Maps.	Through : Buttala Distance : 65 km Travel time : 1-1.5 hours Driving directions : see on Google Maps.