354 



JOUKNALj R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



We have no information as to the destruction of the 

 buildings on the Beligala, but I think we may safely ascribe 

 them to the Portuguese, whose religious zeal would not 

 tolerate even a deserted temple of the tooth-relic. 



I have little doubt that excavation made here would 

 disclose the foundations of the buildings and possibly 

 carved moonstones (sandakadapahan) ; and would be inter- 

 esting as forming one of the many links of evidence as to 

 the accuracy of the " Mahawansa " chronicle. 



NOTE * 



The principality of Beligala appears in the Kadaimpot, or 

 old " Boundary -books " of Ceylon, among the districts of Maya 

 division. That an important temple early stood on, or near, the 

 rock may be gathered from Beligala being included among the 

 thirteen great temples where bo trees were planted by Chulabhaya 

 Raja.f It is strange that a place of such religious note and 

 natural strength of position should be so briefly noticed in 

 Sinhalese and Pali works. As a fact there would appear to be 

 no detailed mention of Beligala until the reign of Wijaya Bahu III 

 (1 240-1267 a.d.). This sovereign brought the relic from 

 Kotmale| (where it had been kept concealed during the twenty 

 years of foreign usurpation that ensued on the invasion of the 

 " Damijas" under Magna), first to Dambadeniya, his royal capital, 

 and thence to Beligala. He placed it on this rock that it might 

 be safe for the future, and it rested undisturbed there for some 

 thirty years. ( Vide extract No. ii.) 



The Dalada-relic was removed from Polonnaruwa to Kotmale 

 by Wagiswara and other dignitaries of the Buddhist Church, and 

 though the year of its removal to Kotmale is not recorded, the 

 last reference to its being in Polonnaruwa occurs in the reign oi 

 Kirti Nissanka (1192-1201 a.d.), who built a temple in which 

 the tooth-relic was placed. ( Vide extract No. i.) 



* The authorities briefly referred to (p 74) bj Mr. levers are here 

 given in extenso, and supplemented by additional extracts bearing on 

 the history of Beligala. — B., Hon. Sec, 



f See Sulu Bodhivansa. 



I See Muh. } chap. 81, vv. 25-30. 



