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



[Vol. X. 



believed to have existed has been furnished by Mr. 

 J. Y. G. Jayawardana, the Interpreter of the Pariwila and 

 Urugala Courts. 



II. — 'Vihdrewatta, Madamewatta, Ira-handa-kotapu-gala, 

 Vidiya, and Galenuwara. 



Adjoining the site of the Maligawa is the Vihdrewatta, 

 which derives interest from its having been the last but one 

 of the many resting-places of the Dalada, — the national 

 palladium,— prior to its removal to the Kandy Maligawa in 

 the reign of Kirti Sri Raja Si^ha. The Dalada was enshrined 

 at Medamahanuwara during the reign of king Kundasale. 

 It was thence removed to the Pitigoda Vihare in the Gampaha 

 division of Uda Dumbara, and thence to Kandy. 



The original Vihare was replaced about forty years ago on 

 the same site by the present one of mean and unpretending 

 structure. The walls of this are of mud, and the roof is 

 thatched, but the massive wooden door and doorway are part 

 of the old building, as also the carved pillars of the verandah, 

 and the small moonstone, void of ornamentation, that faces 

 the entrance. Scattered around are several chiselled stones, 

 which appear to have belonged to the old Vihare, and 

 amongst them a broad and smooth flagstone, which stood 

 in front of the original building and was used for the priests 

 to lave their feet upon before entering into the sacred pre- 

 sence of the relic. Facing the Vihare is the Pansala, the 

 residence of the priest ; but the priest is seldom to be found. 

 The Vihare is closed, and, I believe, empty, the karanduwa 

 in which the relic was enclosed having been removed to a 

 private house for safe custody, after the bottom of it, which 

 contained a " sannas " (grant), had been lost or stolen. 



The only objects of veneration now remaining in the 

 Vihdrewatta are two Bo trees. One of them, standing to 

 the left as the garden is entered from the upper side, is of 

 great size and apparently great age. It measures 25 ft. 

 in circumference round the stem at a foot from the earth. 



