Image title: Sacred Quadrangle (Dalada Maluwa)

English text:

Sacred Quadrangle (Dalada Maluwa)—This elevated terrace is known as Dalada Maluva (the Sacred Quadrangle) because the Temple of the Tooth was located here. The building called Atadage located here is the Temple of the Tooth built by King Vijayabahu the Great (1055 - 1110 A.D.). A stone inscription near it states that the security of the temple has been entrusted to Velaikkar soldiers. The Vatadage found here may be the Temple of the Tooth built by King Parakramabahu the Great (1153 - 1186 A.D.). In front of this is the building called Hatadage which is the Temple of the Tooth built by King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.). The Galpota (Stone Book) inscription to the east is by King Nissankamalla describing his heroic deeds. The monument called Satmahal-prasada is a rare type of stupa. The other important buildings in the Sacred Quadrangle are the Thuparama, one of the best preserved image houses, and the building with creeper - like lotus pillars called the Nissankalata mandapa.

Layout plan:
a. Vatadage
b. Hatadage
c. Galpota (Stone Book)
d. Satmahal Prasada
e. Chapter House
f. Atadage
g. Bodhisatva Image House
h. Nissankalata mandapa
i. Recumbent Image House
j. Bodhi - tree Shrine
k. Thuparama
l. Velaikkar Inscription
m. Gate House

Sinhalese text (not proofread):

දළදා මළුව—උස් වූ චතුරස්‍රාකාර භූමියක් තුළ දළදා වහන්සේ වැඩ සිටි මාළිගාව ඉදිකර තිබීම නිසා මෙය දළදා මළුව ලෙස හැඳින්වේ. මෙහි පිහිටි අටදාගෙය නමින් හැඳින් වෙන ගොඩනැගිල්ල මහා විජයබාහු රජු (ක්‍රි. ව. 1055 - 1110) විසින් ඉදි කළ දළදා මාළිගාවයි. ඒ අසලම පිහිටි ශිලා ලේඛණයේ මෙම දළදා මාළිගාවේ ආරක්ෂාව වේලයික්කාර ගටයින්ට පැවරුණ බව දැක්වේ. මෙහි පිහිටි වටදාගෙය මහා පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජු (ක්‍රි. ව. 1153 - 1186) විසින් ඉදි කළ දළදා මාළිගාව වන්නට ඇතැයි අනුමාන කළ හැකිය. එහි ඉදිපස පිහිටි හැටදාගෙය් නම් මන්දිරය නිශ්ශංකමල්ල රජු (. ව. 1187 - 1196) විසින් ඉදිකළ දළදා මාළිගාවයි. ඊට නුදුරුව පිහිටි ගල්පොත ශිලා ලේඛණය එම රජුගේ විරත්වය විදහාපායි. ඒ අසල සත්මහල් ප්‍රාසාදය නැමති ගොඩනැගිල්ල විරල ගණයේ ස්තූපයකි. පොළොන්නරුවේ පැරණි පිළිම ගෙවල් අතර වඩාත් හොඳින් ආරක්ෂා වී ඇති ථුපාරාමය නම් වූ විශාල පිළිම ගෙයත්, නිශ්ශංකලතා මණ්ඩපය නම් වූ අලංකාර නෙළුම් මල් ඵලක වලින් යුත් ගල් ටැම් සහිත ගොඩනැගිල්ලත් ඇතුළු තවත් පූජනීය ගොඩනැගිලි කිහිපයක්ම දළදා මළුව තුළ පිහිටා ඇත.

යතුර
a. වටදාගෙය
b. ගැටදාගෙය
c. ගල්පීන
d. සත්මහල් ප්‍රාකදය
e. ??? හෙයි
r. අටදාගෙයි
g. බෝසන් පිළිමගෙය
h. නිශ්ශංකලතා මණ්ඩපය
i. සැතපෙන පිළිමගෙය
j. බෝධිඝරය
k. ථූපාරාමය
l. වෙළඔත්කාර ලිපිය
m. ද්වාර මණ්ඩපය

Transcription (not proofread):

daḷadā maḷuva—us vū chaturasrākāra bhūmiyak tuḷa daḷadā vahansē væḍa siṭi māḷigāva idikara tibīma nisā meya daḷadā maḷuva lesa hændinvē. mehi pihiṭi aṭadāgeya namin hændin vena goḍanægilla mahā vijayabāhu raju (kri. va. 1055 - 1110) visin idi kaḷa daḷadā māḷigāvayi. ē asalama pihiṭi śilā lēkhaṇayē mema daḷadā māḷigāvē ārakṣāva vēlayikkāra gaṭayinṭa pævaruṇa bava dækvē. mehi pihiṭi vaṭadāgeya mahā parākramabāhu raju (kri. va. 1153 - 1186) visin idi kaḷa daḷadā māḷigāva vannaṭa ætæyi anumāna kaḷa hækiya. ehi idipasa pihiṭi hæṭadāgey nam mandiraya niśśaṅkamalla raju (. va. 1187 - 1196) visin idikaḷa daḷadā māḷigāvayi. īṭa nuduruva pihiṭi galpota śilā lēkhaṇaya ema rajugē viratvaya vidahāpāyi. ē asala satmahal prāsādaya næmati goḍanægilla virala gaṇayē stūpayaki. poḷonnaruvē pæraṇi piḷima geval atara vaḍāt hondin ārakṣā vī æti thupārāmaya nam vū viśāla piḷima geyat, niśśaṅkalatā maṇḍapaya nam vū alaṅkāra neḷum mal phalaka valin yut gal ṭæm sahita goḍanægillat ætuḷu tavat pūjanīya goḍanægili kihipayakma daḷadā maḷuva tuḷa pihiṭā æta.

yatura
a. vaṭadāgeya
b. gæṭadāgeya
c. galpīna
d. satmahal prākadaya
e. ??? heyi
r. aṭadāgeyi
g. bōsan piḷimageya
h. niśśaṅkalatā maṇḍapaya
i. sætapena piḷimageya
j. bōdhigharaya
k. thūpārāmaya
l. veḷaotkāra lipiya
m. dvāra maṇḍapaya

Transcription (not proofread):

dalada maluva—us vu chaturasrakara bhumiyak tula dalada vahanse vada siti maligava idikara tibima nisa meya dalada maluva lesa handinve. mehi pihiti atadageya namin handin vena godanagilla maha vijayabahu raju (kri. va. 1055 - 1110) visin idi kala dalada maligavayi. e asalama pihiti shila lekhanaye mema dalada maligave arakshava velayikkara gatayinta pavaruna bava dakve. mehi pihiti vatadageya maha parakramabahu raju (kri. va. 1153 - 1186) visin idi kala dalada maligava vannata atayi anumana kala hakiya. ehi idipasa pihiti hatadagey nam mandiraya nishshankamalla raju (. va. 1187 - 1196) visin idikala dalada maligavayi. ita nuduruva pihiti galpota shila lekhanaya ema rajuge viratvaya vidahapayi. e asala satmahal prasadaya namati godanagilla virala ganaye stupayaki. polonnaruve parani pilima geval atara vadat hondin araksha vi ati thuparamaya nam vu vishala pilima geyat, nishshankalata mandapaya nam vu alankara nelum mal phalaka valin yut gal tam sahita godanagillat atulu tavat pujaniya godanagili kihipayakma dalada maluva tula pihita ata.

yatura
a. vatadage [vatadageya]
b. gatadage [gatadageya]
c. galpina
d. sathmahal prasada [prasadaya]
e. ??? heyi
r. atadageyi
g. bosan pilimage [pilimageya]
h. nishshankalata mandapaya
i. satapena pilimageya
j. bodhigharaya [bodhighara]
k. thuparamaya [thuparama]
l. velaotkara lipiya
m. dvara mandapa [mandapaya]

Translation of Sinhalese text (automated translation):

This is known as Dalada Malwa because the palace where Dalada resided was built in a raised square area. The building known as Atadageya located here is the Dalada Palace built by King Vijayabahu (1055 - 1110 AD). In the nearby inscription, it is indicated that the protection of this Talada temple was assigned to Velaikkara Gatas. It can be speculated that the Vatadageya located here may have been the Dalada Palace built by King Parakramabahu (1153 - 1186 AD). The mansion called Hatadagay located in front of it is the Talada Palace built by King Nisshankamalla (1187 - 1196 AD). The stone inscription located not far from it shows the heroism of that king. The seven-storey building nearby is a rare Stupa. Several other sacred buildings are located in Dalada Malwa, including the best-preserved of Polonnaruwa's old idol houses, the large idol house called Thuparamaya, and the Nishankalata Mandapam, a stone-tamed building with beautiful lotus flower plaques.

Tamil text (not proofread):

துல்தா முற்றம் (மலுல)—உயாந்த சதுரமான இடத்தில் தலதா தந்தம் வைக்கப்பட்ட மாளிகை கட்டப்பட்டதால் இது தலதா முற்றம் (மலுவ) என்று கூறுவர். மகா விஜயபாகு (கி.பி. 1055-1130) என்ற மன்னனால் கட்டப்பட்ட தலதா மாளிகையே இங்குள்ள அட்டதாகைய என்ற பெயரில் அழைக்கப்படும் கட்டிடமாகும். அதன் அருகில் அமைந்துள்ள கல்வெட்டில் இந்த தலதா மாளிகையின் பாதுகாப்பை வேலைக்காரப் படைக்குப் பொறுப்புக் கொடுத்ததாகக் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இங்இ அமைந்துள்ள வட்டதாகே மகாபராக்கிரமபாகு அரசனால் கட்டப்பட்ட தலதா மாளிகையாக இருக்கக்கூடும். அதன் முன் பக்கத்தில் அமைந்துள்ள ஹெட்டதாகே என்னும் மாளிகை நிசங்கமல்ல அரசனால் (கி.பி. 1188 1196) கட்டப்பட்ட தலதா மாளிகையாகும். அதற்கு அருகில் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கல்பொத்த என்னும் கல்வெட்டில் அந்த அரசனின் வீரத்தன்மை கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதற்கு அருகிலுள்ள ஏழடுக்கு மாளிகைக் (சத்மகல் பிரசாதய) கட்டிடமானது அரிதாகக் காணக்கூடிய தூபியாகும். தூபாராமை என்னும் சிலையைக்கொண்ட சிறந்த அறையும் தாமரை மலர்கள் பொறிக்கப்பட்ட கற்றூண்களைக் கொண்ட நிசங்கலதா மண்டபமும் தலதா முற்றத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

திறப்பு
a. வட்டதாக
b. ஹெட்டதாக
c. கல்பொத்த(கற் புத்தகம்)
d. ஏழடுக்கு மாளிகை (சத்மஹல் பிராசாதய)
e. நேபன்மதி மனை
f. அட்டதாகெய
g. போசத் சிவர் சிலை இல்லம்
h. நிஸ்ஸங்கமல்ல மண்டபம்
i. சயனச் சிலை இல்லம்
j. போதிகரய
k. தூபாராம
l. வேலயக்கார கல்வெட்டு
m. நுழைவாயில்

Transcription (not proofread):

tultā muṟṟam (malula)—uyānta caturamāṉa iṭattil talatā tantam vaikkappaṭṭa māḷikai kaṭṭappaṭṭatāl itu talatā muṟṟam (maluva) eṉṟu kūṟuvar. makā vijayapāku (ki.pi. 1055-1130) eṉṟa maṉṉaṉāl kaṭṭappaṭṭa talatā māḷikaiyē iṅkuḷḷa aṭṭatākaiya eṉṟa peyaril aḻaikkappaṭum kaṭṭiṭamākum. ataṉ arukil amaintuḷḷa kalveṭṭil inta talatā māḷikaiyiṉ pātukāppai vēlaikkārap paṭaikkup poṟuppuk koṭuttatākak kūṟappaṭṭuḷḷatu. iṅi amaintuḷḷa vaṭṭatākē makāparākkiramapāku aracaṉāl kaṭṭappaṭṭa talatā māḷikaiyāka irukkakkūṭum. ataṉ muṉ pakkattil amaintuḷḷa heṭṭatākē eṉṉum māḷikai nicaṅkamalla aracaṉāl (ki.pi. 1188 1196) kaṭṭappaṭṭa talatā māḷikaiyākum. ataṟku arukil amaikkappaṭṭuḷḷa kalpotta eṉṉum kalveṭṭil anta aracaṉiṉ vīrattaṉmai kūṟappaṭṭuḷḷatu. ataṟku arukiluḷḷa ēḻaṭukku māḷikaik (catmakal piracātaya) kaṭṭiṭamāṉatu aritākak kāṇakkūṭiya tūpiyākum. tūpārāmai eṉṉum cilaiyaikkoṇṭa ciṟanta aṟaiyum tāmarai malarkaḷ poṟikkappaṭṭa kaṟṟūṇkaḷaik koṇṭa nicaṅkalatā maṇṭapamum talatā muṟṟattil amaikkappaṭṭuḷḷatu.

tiṟappu
a. vaṭṭatāka
b. heṭṭatāka
c. kalpotta(kaṟ puttakam)
d. ēḻaṭukku māḷikai (catmahal pirācātaya)
e. nēpaṉmati maṉai
f. aṭṭatākeya
g. pōcat civar cilai illam
h. nissaṅkamalla maṇṭapam
i. cayaṉac cilai illam
j. pōtikaraya
k. tūpārāma
l. vēlayakkāra kalveṭṭu
m. nuḻaivāyil

Transcription (not proofread):

thultha murram (malula)—uyantha sathuramana idathil thalatha thantham vaikkappatta maligai kattappattathal ithu thalatha murram (maluva) enru kuruvar. maga vijayapagu (ki.pi. 1055-1130) enra mannanal kattappatta thalatha maligaiye ingulla attathagaiya enra peyaril azhaikkappadum kattidamagum. athan arugil amainthulla kalvettil intha thalatha maligaiyin pathugappai velaikkarap padaikkup poruppug koduthathagak kurappattullathu. ingi amainthulla vattathage magaparakkiramapagu arasanal kattappatta thalatha maligaiyaga irukkakkudum. athan mun pakkathil amainthulla hettathage ennum maligai nisangamalla arasanal (ki.pi. 1188 1196) kattappatta thalatha maligaiyagum. atharku arugil amaikkappattulla kalpotha ennum kalvettil antha arasanin virathanmai kurappattullathu. atharku arugilulla ezhadukku maligaig (sathmagal pirasathaya) kattidamanathu arithagak kanakkudiya thupiyagum. thuparamai ennum silaiyaikkonda sirantha araiyum thamarai malarkal porikkappatta karrunkalaig konda nisangalatha mandapamum thalatha murrathil amaikkappattullathu.

thirappu
a. vattathaga
b. hettathaga
s. kalpotha(kar puthagam)
d. ezhadukku maligai (sathmahal pirasathaya)
e. nepanmathi manai
f. attathageya
g. posath sivar silai illam
h. nissangamalla mandapam
i. sayanas silai illam
j. pothigaraya
k. thuparama
l. velayakkara kalvettu
m. nuzhaivayil

Translation of Tamil text (automated translation):

It is said to be Talatha Courtyard (Maluva) because the palace where Talatha ivory was kept was built in the Uyanda square. The building known as Attakaya here is the Dalata Palace built by King Maha Vijayabahu (1055-1130 AD). In an inscription near it, it is said that the protection of this Dalata mansion was entrusted to the servant force. The site where this is located may be the Talatha mansion built by King Mahaparakramapachu. In front of it is the mansion called Hettadagae which was built by king Nisangamalla (1188-1196 AD). The Kalpotha inscription erected near it mentions the heroism of that king. Adjacent to it is the seven shrine (Satmagal Prasadaya) building which is a rare obelisk. A great room with an idol of Thuparam and Nisangalatha Mandapam with pillars decorated with lotus flowers is situated in the Dalatha courtyard.

Gallery information:

These photographs were taken at the Polonnaruwa archaeological site which preserve some of the monuments and religious structures of the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa (also Pulathisipura or Vijayarajapura) of Sri Lanka dating to the 10th century CE. Some of the important kings who reigned in this kingdom are King Vijayabahu I and his grandson, king Prakramabahu the Great. The city and it's architecture were influenced by various religious such as Hinduism in its early history, Shaivism and later Buddhism.