118 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIV. 



ANCIENT CITIES AND TEMPLES IN THE KURUNEGALA 



DISTRICT. 



By F. H. Modder. 

 II. — RlDI VlHARE. 



At Ridi-gama,* 11*06 miles from Kurunegala (that is, 2-25 

 miles along the road to Kandy , turn at Mallawan-pitiya to left, 

 7*81 miles along the minor road to Matale, turn to right at 

 Rambukkan-deniya, thence a mile to the south-east) stands 

 Ridi Yihare — the most celebrated temple, not only in the 

 Kurunegala District, but in the whole of the North-Western 

 Province. The greater part of the approach thither from 

 Rambukkan-deniya lies through a delightful shady avenue, 

 the path increasing as you advance till a dilapidated building 

 is reached. On the left rises a high wall, which hides the 

 temple premises from view, and entrance into the temple 

 yard is obtained through a wooden doorway in the wall. 

 The temple is called Majata-lena (Sin, Midi-lend) in the Pali 

 works. The ancient name of the place was Amhatthakola- 

 lena.\ It is referred to as Rajata-vihare in the Mahdwansa, 

 as having been built by King Dutugemunu (164-140 B.C.), % 

 and the tradition current in the place supports this statement. 



The following legend explains the origin of the name. 

 When Dutugemunu reigned at Anuradhapura (164-110 B.C.) 

 a man by the name of Weparaya (Vyapdra, "petty trader "), 

 who went about selling curry stuffs, came to the spot 



* Ridi-gama (" silver village") evidently derives its name from the 

 temple Ridi Vihare, or " silver temple." 



f Miiller found "several fragments of inscriptions on the fiat rock near to 

 an old dag-aba, but only one is well enough preserved — that at least a part 



of it can be made out. It begins Siddhisaddhamakesiri... After this 



comes most probably the name of the king, which is not quite legible 

 on the stone, and in the second line I believe I have deciphered a part of the 

 ancient name of the place, Abattha [kolalena]." Ancient Inscriptions, p. 39. 



% Chap. C, 239. In a note to chap. XXXY. of the Mahdwansa it is 

 stated that Amanda Gamani Abhaya built the Rajata-lena. 



