Historical Significance of the Hidden Gonagala Ruins of the Yala and its Inscriptions

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Gonagala is a rocky outcrop in the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary lying off the the route to Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya. An ancient reservoir also name Gonagala Wewa, and the ruins of a ancient monastery belonging to the 2nd century BC on the rocky outcrop indicates an thriving city of the ancient Ruhunu Kingdom. Not only Gonagala but ancient ruins on all rocky outcrops around Sithulpawwa such as Pimburamalgala (Pimburagala), Silavakanda and Palatupana (now called Magul Maha Vehera) are ever enduring remains of this forgotten kingdom.

The Archaeology Department records investigation of numerous sites with ruins inside Yala Sanctuary in 1974, namely Akasachethiya, Varahamankada, Gonagala, Pilimalena kanda, Area West to Sithulpawwa, Pilimayaya, Muniammagama, Beralihela Kanda, Alugalge Kanda, Allagala, Seenakkuva and Anjali Viharaya.

Two stupas at the top of the rock, both being excavated by treasure hunters were reported at Gonagala. The of one was reported to be well preserved with a quadrangular monolith at its center. The other dagoba was poorly preserved. Besides the stupa’s on the rock, ruins of a building had also been recorded.

At this site, 11 cave inscriptions written in Pre-Brahmi script has been discovered and deciphered. These have been documented by Prof. Paranavithana in the first volume of the Inscriptions of Ceylon published in 1970. The inscriptions found at Gonagala, Modaragala and Magul Maha Viharaya have been found to be some of the oldest inscriptions ascribed to circa 250 BCE. All these caves have been inscribed with the donor of each cave. Out of these there are few interesting inscriptions among them. One reads “The cave of the members of the Madukasaliya Corporation [is given] to Sangha“. According to Paranavithana, name Madukasaliya is probably derived from a place named after which the corporation was named

Three of the cave inscriptions at Gonagala mentions the name Pussadeva. One inscription reads as “The cave of the chief Abhaya, son of chief Phussadeva, son of chief Abhaya, the commander-in-chief, is given to Sangha of the four quarters, present and absent“. Out of 61 cave inscriptions discovered in the nearby from the 2nd century BC Sithulpawwa, two inscriptions mentions the the names of two generals of Dutugemunu, Nandimithra and Velusumana (Nicolas, 1963). According to Mahavamsa, Pussadeva, another general of Dutugemunu was in the neighbourhood of Cittalapabbata (Sithulpawwa) and one of the three mentions of Phussadeva in Situlpavu inscriptions was in fact the Pussadeva of Dutugemunu’s Army. According to Paranavithana the above inscription refers to another general of king Dutugenunu, ‘Theraputta Abhaya’ (Theraputtabhaya) as chief Abhaya, the commander-in-chief. After the birth of Abhaya, his father took to robes and Abhaya became Theraputta Abhaya (Abaya, the son of priest). Theraputta Abhaya too took to robes after Dutugemunu’s victory but not before ensuring the succession of the family bloodline. The General’s son was called Pussadeva and his son was called Abhaya, after the grandfather. All of them carried the title Parumaka. (Paranavithana, 1970).

At present there is no information about the Gonagala Stupas or the building found there.

List of Archaeological Sites inside Yala and Kumana National Parks

References

• De Silva, R. , n.d. Administration Report of the Archaeological Commissioner for the years 1970-1977. 1st ed. Colombo: Department of the Government Printing, pp.29-33.
• PARANAVITĀNA, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon :Volume 1 : Early Brahmi Inscriptions. 1st ed. Colombo: Department of Archaeology, p.50.
• Nicholas, C., 1963. Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval Ceylon. Journal of the CEYLON BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, New Series, VI,(Special Number).

Also See

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

Map of  Gonagala Rock in Yala Sanctuary

Travel Directions to Gonagala Rock in Yala Sanctuary

The park can be reached through Southern Highway. It is 275 kilometers away (shortest path through Ratnapura avoiding the Highway but travel time is longer) from Colombo.