Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c20.s1: I. Paper Manuscripts

Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c20.s1

Language
English

I. Paper Manuscripts

c20.s1.1

Of paper manuscripts I am acquainted with two only, and am indebted to the owners for the loan of them. The oldest is a small *baṇa daham pota*, containing a selection of *sūtras* or discourses of the Buddha, and said to have been used by the Kuṇḍasālē king (Narēndra Simha) as a prayer book or breviary; it now belongs to Indajoti Unnānse of the Meḍa Pansala, Malvatte. It is written on 168 leaves (two blank) of Dutch paper measuring 5 inches by 3¼ inches. There are twenty-seven lines to a page, rubricated throughout, with stops (*kuṇḍali*) in blue and red and the words separated by red marks. Each *sūtra* is separated from the one following it by a tail-piece very delicately drawn in colour (Pls. XVII. and XX); there is also a page of pure pattern work at the beginning and end. The colours used are red, yellow, black, blue, emerald green and gold. The writing is in a fine *hamsa lipi* hand, on lines ruled feint with a stylus but not marked in any clearer way. The book is bound in brown leather, gold tooled with a pattern, the elements of which are identical with those of the tail-pieces; two very finely worked silver clasps are still perfectly preserved. Pages of the book are reproduced on Pl. XX., and in *Fig. 3*; the clasps and binding are shown in Pl. LII. This little book is so very beautiful and complete in every way as to give cause to regret the absence of others like it. It may be supposed that the binding was executed by some Dutchman or Portuguese resident in Kandy, who must also have explained to the silversmith the form of clasp required; the silver work being typically Kandyan, and the best of its kind.

c20.s1.2

The other book is both larger and later; it was written in A.D. 1811 by Iriyagama Dhammadassi at a cost of 200 ridis, at the request of a certain official and court favourite who wished to perform a meritorious action for the benefit of the soul of the late Queen Mother who had been his patron. Full details of the many lands and offices held by this man are given in the long colophon, translated below; affording an interesting sidelight on Kandyan court life 100 years ago. The book is written on 150 leaves (two blank) of Dutch paper measuring 13⅞ inches by 9½ inches, thirty-three lines to the page, and is plainly bound in leather; folios 1-146 are numbered consecutively, the text beginning as above stated, after the usual invocation of Buddha; folios 2-4 are painted on the recto side only, with 7, 8, and 8 of the 24 assurances (*savisi vivaraṇa*); the text begins on folio 5 (numbered 1) and ends on folio 145 (numbered 141) with the last of the 24.

c20.s1.3

*Painting* assurances as a tail-piece; on the verso of same are the seven scenes of the *sat-satiya* or seven weeks’ fast of Buddha, the last four of which are shown on Pl. XVIII.; the next leaf bears a note to the effect that a priest named Parakumbure Vipassi inherited the book, and on the back, above, a picture of Buddha besought by Mahā Brahma to reveal the Dharma, and below, of Buddha preaching *baṇa* for the first time in Isipatana Ārāma at Benāres; the next leaf shows Buddha preaching (Pl. XIX.), walking and standing; the next, the holy footstep, and Buddha reclining; and a scene from the Daham Soṇḍa Jātaka; the next leaf contains the colophon, and the last, like the first, is blank.

c20.s1.4

The book now belongs to a priest named Veḷiviṭa, of Malvatte Pansala, to whom it has descended in pupillary succession.

c20.s1.5

The paintings are typical examples of the Kandyan style of the eighteenth century, exactly resembling those usually found on vihāra walls, of which they may serve as specimens.

c20.s1.6

Translation of colophon of paper ms. of Viśuddhi Mārgaya:

c20.s1.7

“I, Dehigama Navaratna Atapattu Vasala Mudiyansē, having been brought up with filial affection from my earliest infancy by the great (or elder) queen who was mother of the queen of Meḍavāsala (the ‘middle palace’) and occupied the position of chief queen to His Noble Majesty the King named Vijaya Rāja Siṃha [Śrī Vikrama R.S., the last king] received the following (villages and offices) from His Noble Majesty Śrī Rājadhi Rāja Siṃha, Lord of Laṅkā,—(viz.) Māvatura, Dehipagoḍa, Kūragama, Peḷēna, Hunubadda Secretaryship of the Palanquin Department, Koṭakēpiṭiya, Ambepussa, Randeṇiya, Māpanāvatura, Alavatugoḍa, Mahara-niyangama, Haputale, Dulmure, Aṭabāge, Beravā-gaṇṇeve, Haloluva, Gahalagamboḍa, Aṅkumbūra, Gaṇhatara, Morāgammāna, Talēvela, Dumbara-depalata, Ūrāvala, Peḷava, Gaṅgoḍa, Vatura, Kiraveḷla, Attaragama, Mulgama, Līṇipiṭiya, Valatveva, Galēveva, Pālugalēveva, Galveṭiya, Hiripiṭiya, Bambaragammana, Gaṇata, Pubbiliya, Vatuvāla, Māṭgomuva, Teḷdeniya, Rambukveḷla, Porokāra Muhandiramship of the two villages Māvela and Pērādeṇiya (*gabaḍagam*), Dumbara-Mahā-uyanvatte, Nilambavatte, Basnāyaka Nilameship of Doḍanvala Dēvāle, Basnāyaka Nilameship of Maha Dēvāle, Tāppakāra Muhandiramship of Āvudha-gē (Royal Armoury), Vannoku Nilameship (? State appraiser), Mahabadda-haloluve Muhandiramship, office of Maha Lēkam (Chief Secretary), offices of Atapattuvē Lēkam, Nānāyakkāra Lēkama, Vaḍana Tuvakkukāra Lēkama, Koḍituvakku Lēkama, Atapattu of this district of Yaṭinuvara, Secretaryship of Vāsal-maḍuva (Royal pavilion), Paḍikāra Lēkama of Yaṭinuvara palace, Keṅgollē Atapattu Kūruvē Lēkama, Adigarship of the viharagam and devalegam in Yaṭinuvara, Muhandiramship of Bogomuva and Maruvaliya, office of Disāva of Paṭṭipola, and Secretaryship of Sat-korale Kuruva.

c20.s1.8

As the late elder queen was the cause of my receiving these and numerous benefits, I have thought it fit to make return by performing a meritorious action, such as to secure to her the bliss of heaven and Nirvāṇa.

c20.s1.9

I have (therefore) on this Friday, the seventh day of the first fortnight of the month of Vap of the year 2354 of the illustrious Buddhist era, offered to his Grace Veḷiviṭa Saraṇaṅkara (nephew of the learned Pontiff Saraṇaṅkara* who is a refuge to the helpless and a true observer of the four holy rules of conduct, called Catu Pārisuddhasīla), this paper copy of Viśuddhi Mārgaya (which I had made at a cost of 200 ridis by application to the Buddhist monk Īriyagama Dhammadhassi, a pupil of Buṭavatte Lēkama who is an abode of fortitude, memory, perseverance, and a multitude of other good qualities, and is adorned with stainless conduct) a commentary on the stanza beginning with the words, “*Sīle patiṭṭhaya naro sapañño*” (composed by the great Elder, Buddhaghosa, renowned for clear intellect), containing 58 bhaṇavāras,* 14,500 granthas, and 400,064 letters and *Painting* embodying a compendium of the Tripiṭaka. May all the gods equally participate in the store of merit acquired by ourselves so that they may vouchsafe prosperity of every kind. Oh Gods, Brahmas, Yakshas, Rākshasas, Prētas, Piśācas and all other beings of the innumerable worlds and of this blest world, who have assembled here and elsewhere! may ye accept the merit that I offer you with boundless love! May the multitude of Gods in the seven oceans, Mount Mēru, the worlds of the Asuras and Nāgas, the six heavens, the six dēvālayas, Samankuḷa, Himālaya, the seven tanks, the tank Anōtatta, the sky, the earth, all the worlds of the Brahmas, this world and Ceylon, graciously accepting the merit, attain Nirvāṇa by virtue of seeing Maitreya Buddha! Let there be success and prosperity.” On recto of folio 142 (as numbered) is a later note to the effect, “The 150 leaves of the Viśuddhi Māggaya which Parakumbure Vipassi Sāmi inherited from Veḷiviṭa Saraṇaṅkara Sāmi.”

c20.s1.10

∗ The ‘Saṅgha Rāja’ referred to on p. 12.

Linked texts (2)