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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
robed they might receive the due rdjahdriya ; pretending that this 
was the succession appointed by the church. But indeed that 
succession, which was maintained immaculate by disrobing all priests 
who had violated their oaths and by the ordination of religious and 
well-born youths, was reduced to a mockery ; and, save for a few holy 
priests, the majority were as men fouling themselves with hot ashes 
while the gems lay before them. And while the Dharma and the 
Vinaya, subjects for unending study, lay in their path, they preferred 
the study of such profane matters as astrology, medicine, and devil- 
worship, all of which they practised in unbecoming fashion within and 
without the capital ; and thus winning the goodwill of kings and 
powerful ministers they obtained much wealth and high office. They 
led scandalous lives and, ignoring the precepts of the law, they betook 
themselves to cultivation and trade, accumulating jewellery and 
clothes, and making the support of their brothers and nephews an 
article of their faith. When by the increase in the number of these 
shameless priests and by the oppression of the unbelieving Paraiigis 
and Damilas the faith was on the brink of destruction, it came to 
pass that a valiant and powerful king of the name of Raja Si^ha 
succeeded to the throne of Lanka. In the year of Buddha 2199'"' he 
reduced the strong fortress of Colombo and crushed the power of the 
Parangis. He also invited over the Hollanders and, with the object 
of protecting the royal line and the inhabitants of the Island from 
the attacks of unbelieving foreigners, he appointed them to be the 
guardians of the coast. 
The way being thus cleared, Raja Sinha's successor Vimala 
Dharma Siiriyadevotedhimself to the good work ; and indeed 
the need was pressing, as it was admitted that not more 
than five Upasampada priests of holy life were to be found in 
the Island. He accordingly sent an embassy to " Rakkangu 
Rata " (Arracan ?) and obtained thence the ten ranks of 
priests who were required for the ordination ceremony. 
This pious king died after a reign of twenty -two years, 
and was succeeded by the lukewarm Narendra Sinha ; under 
whom all the scandalous practices of the priesthood revived. 
" So far from begging from door to door," the historian 
bitterly complains, " they regarded even the eating out of 
their alms-bowls as a disgrace. Their food was cooked in 
the same fashion as that of the great nobles among the laity ; 
and it was eaten out of plates. In fact, they were priests 
in nothing but the use of the name." There was one bright 
exception, in the person of Saranankara the future Saiiga 
Raja. He continued with a small band in the practice of 
the severest austerities and the pursuit of learning, waiting 
for the better day that was to dawn. 
After a reign of twenty-three years Narendra Sinha 
was succeeded by Wijaya Raja Sinha, " a king endowed 
with all the virtues, the ornament of the Solar race, 
* A.D. 1656. 
