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



latter Dagaba, and the towering walls of Jetawanarama Vihare, 

 are now to some extent exposed to view from the new approach 

 road to the west. 



Excavations. Hindu Temples. — Nearly a dozen ancient devales , 

 or shrines dedicated to gods of the Hindu pantheon, exist 

 at Polonnaruwa. They favour the Siva cult for the most part ; 

 but two or three temples occur sacred to Vishnu, usually ranged 

 aide by side with those of the rival yet not antagonistic sect. 



A coterie — one Siva Devale, a Vishnu Devale, and a Kali 

 Kovil — of these ruined Hindu temples, brick built, standing close 

 to the Minneriya-Topavewa road, was excavated in 1902. 



In 1906 the premises of the smaller (No. 2) of the two Siva 

 Devales constructed of dressed granite and situated within the 

 confines of the old City were wholly denuded of the earth under 

 which the basements of the chief shrine and two subsidiary fanes 

 lay buried. This pleasing little stone ruin (wrongly dubbed 

 traditionally " Vishnu-Deval6 " until of late), characteristic of 

 Dravidian architecture, if less elaborate and impressive than 

 the better known Siva Devale No. 1 (itself unaccountably called 

 " Dalada Maligawa," for years past) is in a far better state of 

 preservation. It still retains its dome almost intact. 



The temenos of the larger temple (Siva Devale No. 1) was 

 similarly dealt with in 1907. 



Work was also commenced, in the same year, at another 

 isolated cluster of Hindu shrines — here also three in number, 

 each distinct, yet closely adjacent — bordering the minor road 

 to Divulankadawala. Of these, two clearly display Sivite 

 peculiarities ; the third was probably a temple of Vishnu. The 

 excavation of this congeries of shrines connected with Hinduism, 

 besides that of another Siva Devale and a second belonging to the 

 Vishnuvite orthodoxy, was continued and completed during 1908. 



Taking the four temples on the minor road in order : — 



Siva Devale No. 3. — Lies just across a Yoda-ela (ancient irriga- 

 tion channel) to east of the minor road. It was built of dry-laid 

 granite blocks, similarly to Nos. 1, 2.* Affecting the simplicity 

 of Siva Devale No. 2 within the City, it was even plainer, and 

 altogether designed on a smaller scale. Dome and vestibule roof 

 (once ceiled with stone slabs) had fallen in. Except on the north 

 face of shrine and vestibule, scarcely any part remains above the 

 basement, which was buried 3 ft. to 4 ft. below the ground level all 

 round. The adytum, measuring only 7 ft. by 6 ft. 9 in., evidently 

 once held a lingam, of which the broken argha was found at some 

 distance; for a pitta, or stone spout, to carry off the unguents, 

 still protrudes through the north wall. 



The Devale had two small satellite fanes. 



* Of the Siva Devales, so far known and excavated at Polonnaruwa 

 Nos. 1, 2 (within the City walls), 3 (Divulankadawala road) are built 

 in stone ; Nos. 4 (Minneriya road), 5, 6 (Divulankadawala road) of brick 

 and mortai'. 



