Rock Inscription number 1

Thonigala Rock Inscriptions (Sinhala: තෝනිගල සෙල් ලිපිය) are two inscriptions engraved on a rock situated in Anamaduwa, in Sri Lanka. Each inscription is about 100 feet long and each letter is about one feet in height and engraved about one inch deep in to the rock.[1] Also it is said to be the largest rock inscription found in Sri Lanka.

History

Thonigala rock inscriptions are dated back to the first century BC to the period of King Mahaculi Mahathissa (76-62 BC), who was a son of King Walagamba.[2][3] The inscriptions reveal details about a grant of a lake and village to a Buddhist Monastery named Achagirika Tissa Pabbata. Today this Monastery is believed to be the Paramakanda Raja Maha Vihara, which is located about 5 kilometres (3 miles) from Thonigala.

Folklore

There is folklore that describe how the name of Thonigala formed. The most popular story is associated with Kuveni, the first consort of King Vijaya. According to the story, Vijaya had to marry a princess from India in order to become the king of his new found kingdom (Sri Lanka) and therefore, a Madras princess was brought down to Sri Lanka while expelling Kuweni and her children from the palace. Mourned by this unfair treatment, Kuweni fled to her home area and she cursed Vijaya from top of a rock called Lathonigala. It is said that the Lathonigala was this place called as Thonigala.

Contents

Rock Inscription number 2

Inscription no. 1

Reign: Gamani Abhaya
Period: 1st century AD
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Helu Prakrit:[https://archive.org/details/ancientinscriptionsofceylonedwardmuller_816_M/page/130/mode/2up

Inscription no. 2

Reign: Gamani Abhaya
Period: 1st century AD
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Helu Prakrit
Content: Parumaka Abaya puta parumaka Tisa niyate. Ima vapi acagirika Tisa pavatahi agata anagata catudisa sagasa. Devana piya maharaje Gamiṇi Abaye niyate acanagaraka ca tavirikiya nagaraka ca acagirika Tisa pavatahi agata anagata catudisa sagusa. Parumaka Abaya puta parumaka Tisaha visara niyate pite.
Translation: "This tank has been donated by Lord Tissa, the son of Lord Abhaya; and two places named Achanagaraka and Tawirikiya have been donated by King Gamini Abhaya to the monks of Achagirika Tissa Pabbata temple"

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Thonigala Rock Inscriptions, Anamaduwa". Lanka Pradeepa. 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Decayed fence discolours ancient inscriptions". sundaytimes.lk. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Ancient rock inscriptions of Sri Lanka, Thonigala". ceylontoday.lk. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2015.

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