Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila

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The gigantic Maligawila Buddha statue and the Dambegoda Bodhisattwa statues lie in the Maligawila Rajamaha Viharaya off Buttala. Both these statues were discovered in 1928, fallen to the ground, broken to pieces and then further damaged by treasure hunters.

in 1980, then President Ranasinge Premadasa assigned a local engineering team who was able to raise both these statues and restore them back to their ancient glory. The Dambegoda Pillar Inscription was discovered in 1982 on the ground inside the shrine in which the Dambegoda Bodhisattva Statue stood.

The Dambegoda Pillar inscription now lies on the left at the entrance to the Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue platform in its own enclosure. The pillar is 3.8 meters high and the sides are 30 cm wide. The inscription runs into 139 lines on all four sides.

The pillar has not been dressed well or ruled before writing. Therefore letters are of different sizes and of different depths. Some letters in words have been altogether abandoned.

This lengthy epigraph narrates the religious acts of the king who was responsible for the setting up of this pillar and laying down rules for the administration of certain religious establishments. But it is evident that this record is not complete and unfortunately, we are not aware of the entire contents.

The date of the record can be clearly deciphered without a doubt this being a work of Mahinda IV (956-972 CE) is accepted, it should be 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

You can reach the site from either Wellawaya or Kataragama depending on which route you take.

You can reach Wellawaya through several routes. If you are coming from Badulla or Bandarawela you must take the Ella Road which lies between Badulla-Bandarawela Road. On the way, you will also pass the beautiful Ravana Ella too. There is another road from Beragala. Taking this road will take you through the 220-meter-high Diyaluma waterfall. Koslanda lies between the Balangoda – Haputhale Road.

If you are coming from Kataragama, use the Buttala Road and the turn-off is just before the Buttala main junction. The temple is about 20 km from the turn-off from Buttala. From Buttala any person can direct you to the temple.

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 map	Through : Buttala Distance : 65 km Travel time : 1-1.5 hours Driving directions : see on Google map