No. 62.—1909.] 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



281 



Siva Devale No. 5.— This shrine and its neighbour, Vishnu Devale 

 No. 4, are in line opposite Siva Devale No. 3, on the west. Erected 

 in brick and heavily plastered with lime-mortar, it is the largest 

 and the best preserved of its class. In places the walls are nearly 

 perfect and rise 15 ft. or more above the ground, with the almost 

 stereotyped surface ornamentation of cushion headed pilasters 

 and central niches easily traceable. 



The main temple included the sanctum (9 ft. square), two 

 vestibules (inner and outer) slightly larger, and three mandapam— 

 an exceptional number. The two inner mandapam were much of 

 one size (24 ft. by 22 ft.), but the third and outermost was far more 

 spacious — a forty-pillared hall, 75 ft. 6 in. by 35 ft. 8 in. in 

 dimensions, set transept-like from north to south. The lingam 

 and argha within the sanctuary had been ruthlessly destroyed in 

 the search for treasure. * 



It stands within walled premises measuring some 50 yds. by 

 25 yds. , and is surrounded by at least half a dozen subsidiary fanes. 

 One of these was set apart for Ganesa, and another for the Sapta- 

 Mdtri, or " Seven Mothers " — bas-reliefs of whom, carved on stone 

 slabs, were unearthed hard by. 



The dome either fell, or was toppled over deliberately, en masse. 

 It lies, nearly whole, but upside down, outside the building at 

 back. A frieze of Kansas in stucco runs round the lower part. 



Vishnu Devale No. 4 f. — Tentatively at least this shrine may be 

 assumed to have been sacred to Vishnu. Its premises (40 yds. 

 by 23 yds.), not quite so large as those of the Siva Devale No. 5 

 to south, are only separated from it by a wall common to both. 

 It too was built of brick. Virtually nothing above the basement 

 has survived. The Devale comprised adytum, vestibules, and a 

 mandapam. Like the neighbouring Siva Devales Nos. 3 and 5 , 

 the main entrance was on the east. The walls of the sanctum, 

 weakened by lapse of time and neglect, had been unable to sustain 

 the heavy masonry dome which had sunk down to the very floor 

 in three sections. When freed of these masses of masonry, choking 

 it, the chamber was found to be bare of all images, or lingam. 

 The exterior ornamentation of the ruined cupola exhibits a string- 

 course of dentils, above a series of stucco figures in low relief. 

 Among these is a five-hooded cobra , from which this group of ruins 

 has taken their popular but incorrect name, " Naipena Vihdre." 



Siva Devale No. 6. — Situated about half- a- mile further along the 

 same minor road towards Anaolondewa, across the continuation of 

 the Yoda-ela which separates Siva Devale No. 3 from Siva 

 Devale No. 5 and Vishnu Devale No. 3. The enclosure covers 

 about 40 yds. by 33 yds., and contains, besides the predominant 

 shrine, remains of three small fanes. In one a roughly carved 

 figure of Ganesa is still in situ. 



* A tiny gold Nandi, the bull of Siva, 1 in. in size, escaped notice. 

 It is now in the Colombo Museum. 



I Vishnu Devale No, 3, excavated in 1902, is on the Minneriya road. 



