54 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X. 



(Notes.) 



This fine stone slab was found under masses of debris 

 in the inner shrine of the Thuparama. It lies exactly under- 

 neath the principal altar, and rests on what appear to be four 

 capitals of pillars. I am inclined to think it is not in its 

 original position, partly from the fact of its supports having 

 evidently been intended for another purpose, and partly 

 because it is hardly likely that the king sat down " to rest 

 from body weariness " in the most sacred part of a Buddhist 

 temple. 



I think there is no doubt that this is one of Nissanka 

 Malla's inscriptions, though he calls himself by almost as 

 many names and titles as he ascribes to himself virtues and 

 victories. I have a word or two to say regarding this king, 

 as I think he has been hardly dealt with by Drs. Goldschmidt 

 and Miiller. They both observe that the " Mahawanso " is 

 silent about the great political and military acts of which 

 Nissanka Malla has left so many memorials, while at the 

 same time the " Mahawanso " ascribes various similar acts to 

 Parakrama Bahu the Great, and therefore conclude that 

 Nissarika's oft-repeated glories are flights of the imagination, 

 and that he drew largely on Parakrama Bahu T s career for 

 his own self -laudation. I am very much inclined to suspect 

 that the reverse may have been the case. It is perfectly 

 true that all his inscriptions teem with high-flown enco- 

 miums on himself, his race, and his actions. But this 

 surely is not an uncommon characteristic of Oriental inscrip- 

 tions. It is equally apparent, in the light of recent dis- 

 coveries, that Nissanka Malla erected a very large proportion 

 of the important edifices of Polonnaruwa ; and there is no 

 reason to doubt that he carried out extensive and costly 

 repairs at Anuradhapura and Dambulla. There are several 

 points in the inscriptions he has left behind him which may 

 give us a clue to the silence of the " Mahawanso " respecting 

 him. Although he erected several buildings in honour of 

 Buddha, it does not appear that he did much for, or in- 

 terested himself much in, the priesthood. His tastes seem 



