No. 34.— 1887.] POLONN AKUWA . 



67 



(3) Not only was "Ceylon always addicted to snake- 

 worship," but there is evidence to show that in Polonnaruwa 

 there were actual " Snake Temples." The Naipena Vihare, 

 which is near the Rankot Dag-aba, is an undoubted " Naga 

 Kovil," or possibly a pair of temples ; and near it there is 

 another building of a similar intent. 



(4) The Hinduism of Polonnaruwa appears to have been 

 almost entirely Vishnuvite. I know of no direct evidence 

 of the presence of the Sivite creed ; while, on the other hand, 

 two stone temples have been discovered this month with 

 undoubted statues of Vishnu actually inside them. This is 

 exclusive of the well-known (and very beautiful) Vishnu 

 Dewale to the east of the main road. Now, the Vishnuvite 

 creed is precisely that side of Hinduism (to quote Mr. 

 Fergusson again) "which picked up the serpent-worship 

 which the Buddhists had rejected." 



Without wishing to press these arguments too strongly, I 

 think we may safely say that this is a line of inquiry which 

 deserves further investigation. 



But to return to the inscription under consideration. 



Agala haema kota. — The moat which surrounded the 

 principal part of the city. This, after recent clearing, is now 

 plainly apparent. 



Slmd pawra. — The city wall, running along the bund of 

 the moat. A very good piece of this wall has been discovered 

 by the Disawa. 



Nissanka samudreya, i.e., Topawewa. — Compare the 

 " Sea of Parakrama." 



Nissanka ddna winoda mandapaya. — -This has been dis- 

 covered. (See Inscription No. 9.) 



The last three lines of the inscription are illustrated in 

 sculpture at the base of the inscription, which terminates 

 with two well-executed figures of a crow and a dog. 



