NO. 40.-1890.] KURUNEGALA ROCKS. 399 



Veddas, who "possessed originally more than human powers, 

 but, gradually degenerating, have become what they are 

 now — wild and savage."* 



At Urupakada there is a temple, which stands at the head 

 of Anda-gala. Access to it is had by a rugged path, with 

 here and there a rude flight of steps formed of loose slabs of 

 rock, which strikes off to the west from the Dambulla road, a 

 mile and a quarter from the town. Originally a vihare stood 

 in a cave under a ledge of rock hereabouts, built, it is said, 

 during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. The overhang- 

 ing ledge slipped down and buried the vihare with all its 

 images and shrines — a catastrophe which seems to threaten 

 the majority of rock temples in this district, judging by 

 their perilous situation. 



Urupakada Vihare. 



The present vihare stands on the north-east of the buried 

 temple, on an elevation, and was in existence when the 

 latter stood. It was repaired and improved, according to an 

 inscription in Sinhalese on an adjoining rock in 2424 A.B. = 

 1880 A.D., by the present incumbent, Bogoda Nandajoti 

 Unnanse, who has officiated here for the last thirty -nine years. 

 A shrine for offering flowers stands by the side of the temple. 



The exterior of the building, with a tiled roof projecting 

 from under the over-hanging rock, is built after the 

 Kandyan style. There are no rock or other inscriptions 

 beyond those that have been indicated before. The incum- 

 bent stated that the royal device of the sun and moon was 

 carved on the top of the rock under which the temple lies, 

 but this cannot be seen, as there are no means of access 

 thither. 



At the entrance into the interior of the temple is an 

 archway (makara torana), containing numerous designs 

 and pictures of the pantheon. Against the wall, on the right 

 of the archway, are the figures in relief of a guard, Vessan- 

 tara Tapasayo, his wife, Mandri Devinwahansa, holding her 



* Davy's "Ceylon," pp. 119-21. 



