No. 29. — 1884.] KASAGAL VIHARA. 



335 



A spacious path leads to the temple premises from the 

 road. One first has to enter the pansala, built recently, 

 and quite unattractive. About fifty yards from this is the 

 temple, a small structure, but bearing clear traces of its 

 antiquity in the huge granite slabs that are used for the 

 steps and the foundation stones. 



From the following lines of the Mahdwansa, it would 

 seem that this temple was originally built by Maha Wijaya 

 Bahu, who reigned in 1061 a.d. : — 



Bhallataka viharavho tatheva paragamako 



Kasagallavhayo chanda girivbayaviharako — Cap. 60, v, 61. 



The present incumbent is Matara Sobhita Unnans6, a 

 man of fair intelligence and some learning. He stated 

 that it is traditionally stated that the Bo tree that exists 

 here sprung from the second seed of the famous tree at 

 Anuradhapura, and as this temple was then the resort of 

 Arahats, it was conveyed with great pomp and planted here ; 

 that the sovereigns who thereafter reigned in the Island 

 were scrupulous in the upkeep of these premises, and spent 

 large sums in embellishing them ; that a substantial 

 granite parapet wall, supported by stone pillars of eight and 

 ten feet in height, was built around the temple grounds ;* 

 that within the enclosure there were several edifices 

 that stood on granite pillars, the principal of which was 

 the Daladd Mandiraya, the repository in which the 

 famous tooth-relic was placed, on a solid granite base, 

 52 feet by 32 feet, and 3 J feet high.f 



* There are remains of this wall yet to be seen. 



f Though our records are silent, there is no doubt that the int ernecine 

 wars and the ravages of the Tamils, which occasionally troubled the 

 peaceful state of the Island, must have resulted in the removal of the 

 Dalada relic from one place to another, and it must have been at times 

 preserved in the Ruhuna division, when the kings had their relatives 

 stationed there. We read in the Mahdwansa, that in the reign of King 

 Vikrama Bahu, 1111 a.d., on account of his despotism and hostility to 

 the State religion, the monks proceeded with the tooth-relic and the 

 bowl to the Ruhuna Division, and lived in convenient places: — 



Datha dhatum varam patta dhatu madaya Rohanam. 



Gantva vasamakappesum phasut thane tabiy tahin. — Cap. 61, v. 61. 



