Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c10.s4.3

c10.s4.3

II. Damunumēya Vihāra (A.D. 1635). “The chief men of the village Damunumēya, in Mēgoḍatihe Haṅguraṅketa in Hēvāheta, having built a vihāra, and not having time to Damunumëya sannasa get images made at the time they wished to hold a festival there, proceeded to the vihāra at Mādanvala, borrowed therefrom three images and secured the attendance of its priest, Mādanvala Unnānse, to officiate at Damunumëya Vihāra. At the close of the religious ceremonies that same evening the Upāsakas took part in the observance of aṭasil On the next morning a Pattra Pinkama was held, followed by a consultation among all present that for the benefit of the vihāra and the good of their own souls an offering of lands should be made. It was resolved by the assembly that Bolagedara Haḷuvadana Rālahāmi should offer two peḷas sowing extent, Mudiyanse of Naranmëya three peḷas, Madurave Rāla two peḷas. When Haḷuvadana Rālahāmi brought this resolution to the notice of the Mahāvāsala (the Palace), permission was given to carry it out, and accordingly, on Saturday, the full moon day of the month of June, in the year of Śaka 1557, the said offering was made, and the lands were dedicated as vihāra property. The merits of this offering are due to the illustrious Mahāvāsala, to the ministers and high officials, and all the people of the land. Those who shall help to settle any dispute that may arise regarding these lands shall be blessed, and shall enjoy happiness among the gods, and finally, having beheld Maitri Buddha, shall attain Nirvāṇa. But those who shall take unlawful possession of any of these lands, or enjoy the fruits thereof, shall be damned and suffer the torments of hell” (Lawrie’s Gazetteer, p. 324). A very similar sannasa is that of the Ovala or Kehelvala Vihāra, which was built by villagers, who dedicated small bits of land. III. Ovala, A.D. 1790: “Under the constellation Uturusala, . . . in the year of Śaka 1712, . . . the following lands are dedicated by the charitable devotees of the village Kehelvala: Ovala Meḍḍuma, Duraya and Neḳat Duraya the lower bed of Siyambalëva, the coconut tree by the border of the field standing on Gedaravatte, the coconut tree near the maḍuva, the betel vine and the jak tree above the house, the jak tree (named) valimiriya-kosgaha; Deldeṇiye Rāla dedicated Varapota deṇiya . . . Piṭiye Kirāla Āraccila dedicated one coconut tree in Geṭakohovatte, and the coconut tree (named) geṭakosgaha-mula-polgaha (lit., the coconut tree in the corner by the gnarled jak tree) . . . and Pallegë Āraccila the coconut tree on the border of Ovala Neḳat Duraya’s garden” (Lawrie’s Gazetteer, p. 663). The two last give us delightful pictures of the village elders impatient to get their vihāra finished, and dedicating small parcels of land and single coconut trees.