Siva Devale No. 2 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom

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Shiva Kovil (no. 2) of Polonnaruwa Kingdom

photo taken on late 1800′s or early 1900′s

This Siva Kovil (devalaya) is regarded as one of the oldest surviving structures from the Polonnaruwa Kingdom, having withstood the effects of time remarkably well. It is believed to have been constructed by Cola (Chola) invaders during the 10th century, when they initially established their capital in Polonnaruwa.

Cola Rule

The Cola occupation of the island between 1017 and 1070 CE led to the establishment of numerous shrines dedicated to deities of the Hindu pantheon. Since Polonnaruwa functioned as their administrative center for several decades, many of these shrines were constructed within the capital itself.

During the early decades of the 20th century, at least fourteen ruined monuments of this category were identified by Bell. More recent excavations have revealed an additional brick-built devalaya, including one within the Alahana Parivena complex. It is also possible that some of these structures date to the 13th century, during another wave of invasions led by Magha of Kalinga, which ultimately contributed to the decline of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.

Architectural Characteristics

This structure is entirely built of carefully dressed granite, precisely laid with remarkable craftsmanship. The kovil, though modest in size, is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. While it is less elaborate and less imposing than Siva Devale No. I, it is in a significantly better state of preservation. Notably, the dome remains intact, making it one of the best-preserved architectural remains of the ancient kingdom.

The layout follows the typical South Indian temple plan, consisting of the garbhagraha (sanctum), antarala (vestibule), and ardhamandapa (entrance hall). Similar to Siva Devale No. I, it also includes an additional mandapa at the front, though this is relatively small.

The dome is octagonal in shape, and the upapitha (base) is heavily molded. The walls are articulated with niches, each topped with a prominent cornice decorated with a caitya-window (kudu) motif.

Inscription and Dedication

An inscription discovered on one of the walls of the kovil reads: “Vanavan – Ma Devi – Eshwaram – Udeyiyar.” This inscription indicates that the temple was built in memory of a queen of a Mahamaharaja, the ruler of the Soli (Chola) kingdom (Senevirathne, 1998).

Design and Measurements

The entire monument rises in a stepped pyramidal form across three tiers, crowned by the octagonal dome. It is likely that the dome was originally topped with a kalasa, which is no longer present.

The total height of the vimana from the ground is approximately 9.68 m (31 ft 9 in). The first tier of the roof is decorated with domed cells known as panjaras.

Interior Features

The interior of the garbhagraha measures about 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in) square and rises to a height of approximately 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) in a hollow pyramidal form. The structure consists of 23 courses of stone, each layer slightly overlapping the one below on all four sides, eventually converging into a single capstone at a height of about 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in).

As is customary, the inner chamber once housed a linga, which served as the primary object of worship.

Hindu Shrines Discovered in the Ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom

References

Silva, R. et al. (2007) History and Archaeology of Sri Lanka Volume II – The Art and Archaeology of Sri Lanka I – . Padukka, Sri Lanka: Central Cultural Fund.
සෙනෙවිරත්න අනුරාධ (1998) පොලොන්නරුව : මද්‍ය කාලීන ලක්දිව අග නගරය . කොළඹ 7, Sri Lanka: පුරාවිද්‍යා දෙපාර්තුමේන්තුව .
“Annual Report : Archaeological Survey” (1909) Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1908, 21(61), pp. 278–285.
Bell, H.C.P. (1911) Archaeological Survey of Ceylon – North Central, Central and Northern Provinces – Annual Report – 1907. Colombo: H. C. Cottle, Government Printer.

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Driving Directions to Polonnaruwa Sacred City

The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the ancient royal city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.

Route from Colombo to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Kandy to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through: Central Highway—Kurunegala—Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 230 km Travel Time: 5 hours Driving Directions: See on Google Maps.	Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: See on Google Maps.	Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.