Image title: Velikkara (Vellakkara) Inscription

English text:

Velikkara Inscription
Reign — After the death of Vijayabahu!
Period — 12th century A.D.
Script — Grantha Tamil and Sinhala
Language — Tamil Mixed with Sanskrit

Introduction

The Velaikkaras rebelled against King Vijayabahu (1055-1110 A.D.) in his 30th year refusing to fight against the Colas and they were punished. It seems that Velaikkaras provided protection to the Temple of Tooth even during the early period of Vijayabahu due to the mention of construction of some buildings by them around the Temple of Tooth. Perhaps after the rebellion they were removed beings the guards of the Temple of Tooth. After the death of Vijayabahu there were several internal struggles and it is very likely that Mugalan Thera decided to engage Velaikkara forces again, for the protection of the Tooth Relic and the Bowl Relic of the Buddha, during that turbulent period. The purpose of this Inscription is to give an assurance by the Velai…

Contents

The Temple of Tooth Relic built by the Commander Nagaragiri Deva on the instructions of King Vijayabahu and the surrounding shrines founded by the Velaikkaras shall be protected by the Velaikkara forces unto the dissolution of the world.

Obeisance to the Buddha! In the prosperous island of Lanka King Sirisangabo Vijayabahu scion of the lineage of Iksavaku of the Solar Race gaining victory over many an enemy, entered Anuradhapura At the request of the Buddhist monks he put on the crown in order to protect the Buddhist Religion. The king invited monks from Aramana (Myanmar) and purified the three Nikayas The king who brought Lanka under a single canopy made donations to the three Nikayas three times equivalent to his own weight (colns), reigned 55 years and lived 73 years.

The Tooth Relic and the Bowl Relic which was at the Uttaramula of Abhayagiri Vihara was brought to Pulanari or Vijayarajapura and permanently kept at the Temple of Tooth Relic. The first anointment ceremony (of Vijayabahu) was held there (according to the Culavamsa in the 18 year at Polonnaruva) which also housed the colossal Buddha Statue, in which is held annually the ceremony of unloosening of sacred eyes and applying collyrium to them.

Rajaguru Mugalan Thera of Uttaramula, who is virtuous and learned, associating himself with the dignitaries came to the spot, cailed us and said 'The Tooth Relic Temple should be under your custody'.

Thereupon we convened a meeting along with our elders and named the shrine 'The great Temple of Tooth Relic belonging to three divisions of Velaikkaras' and decided that it will remain as our charitable institution under our own custody. For the protection of the shrine one servitor from each of the (three divisions) was appointed and one veli of land was allocated for the maintenance of each person. We shall protect the villages the retainers, and the property belonging to the shrine, as well as those who enter for refuge, even it is detrimental to us. We shall endeavour as long as our lineage exists and even if we suffer deeper than we have suffered already.

To attest this we have delivered over (to Mugalan Thera), having had it engraved on copper plate and also engraved on stone, so that it may last as long as the sun and the moon endure.

Accordingly anyone who infringes (what is stated above) or consent to infringes or tell others to infringe becomes our enemy, who has committed an offence against Matantra, committed five great sins, a great sinner who had appropriated what was offered to gods, committed and offence against the (Triple) gem, who will enter the hell.

Sinhalese text (not proofread):

වේලක්කාර සෙල්ලිපිය
රාජ්‍ය කාලය — පළමුවන විජයබාහුගෙන් පසු කාලයේ
කාලය — ක්‍රිස්තු වර්ෂ 12 වන සියවස
අක්ෂර — දෙමළ, ග්‍රන්ථාක්ෂර හා සිංහල
භාෂාව — සංස්කෘත මිශ්‍ර දෙමළ

හැදින් වීම

පළමුවන විජයබාහු (1055-1110) රජුගේ බිස්වැනි වසරේ දී යෙඝ්‍රයට විරුද්ධව යුද්ධ කිරීම ප්‍රතික්ෂේප බලු වේලක්කාර භටයෝ රජුට විරුද්ධව කැරලිලත් ඇති කළහ. ඒ සියා රජු ඔවුනට දැඬුවම් කරණු ලැබීය. විජයබාහු රජුගේ මුල් කාලයේ ද ඔවුන් දළදා මාළිගාව ආරක්ෂා කළ බව ඔවුන් විසින් අවට ගොඩනැගිලි ඉදිකළ බවට ඇති සඳහනෙන් පැහැදිලි වේ. කැරැල්ලෙන් පසුව ඔවුන් ආරක්ෂක සේවයෙන් ඉවත් කරන්නන්ට ඇත. විජයබාහු රජුගේ මරණින් පසු රටේ වියවුල් ඇති වූ කාලයේ මේ ශිලා ලේඛගය පිහිට වූ බව පෙනේ. මේ කලබල සහිත කාලයේ දී දළදා මාළිගාවේ ආරක්ෂාව නැවත වේලක්කාර භටයන්ට පැවරීමට මුගලන් තෙරුන් වහන්සේ කටයුතු කර ඇත. අනාගතයේ කුමක් සිදු වුද්ව ද තමන් ධාතූන් වහන්සේලාගේ ආරක්ෂාව සපයන බවට වේලක්කාර භටයින් විසින් තඹ පත් ඉරුවක සහ මෙම ශිලාලේඛනයෙහි කොටා දිවි හිමියෙන් ශපථ කර තිබේ.

අන්තර්ගතය

විජයබාහු රජු විසින් සේනාධිපති නගරගිටි දේව ලවා ඉදි කරවන ලද වළදා මාළිගාව ද ඒ අවට ගොඩනැගූ සිද්ධස්ථාන ද වේලක්කාර භටයින් විසින් කල්ප අවසානය දක්වා ආරක්ෂා කළ යුතු වේ ම ය. බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේට නමස්කාර වේවා! මේ සමෘද මත් දිවයින වූ ලංකාවේ ඉක්ෂවාකු පරම්පරාවේ උරුමක්කාර වූ සූර්ය වංශික විජයබාහු රජු බොහෝ සතුරන්ට විරුද්ධ ව යුද්ධ කොට ජයගෙන අනුරාධපුරයට ගියේ ය. ඉන් අනතුරුව භික්ෂුන්ගේ ඉල්ලීම පරිදි බුද්ධාගම ආරක්ෂා කර ගැනීම සඳහා ඔටුනු පැළදී ය. අරමණයෙන් (බුරුමයෙන්) භික්ෂූන් ගෙන්වා තුන් නිකාය පිරිසිදු කළේය. ලංකාව එක්සේසත් කළ විජයබාහු රජු දස රාජ ධර්මයෙන් රජකම් කරමින් තුන් නිකායට තෙවරක් තුලා භාර දී (තමාගේ බරට සමාන වූ ධන පරිත්‍යාග කර) පහස්පස් වසරක් රජ නම් කළ අතර හැත්තෑ තුන් වසරක් ජීවත් විය.

අභයගිරියේ උත්තර මූලයේ තිබූ දළදා හා පොතු ධාතූන් වහන්සේලා විජය රාජ පුරය නම් පුලනරි නගරයට රැගෙන ඒමෙන් අනතුරුව දළදා මාළිගාවේ ස්ථිර ව තැන්පත් කරන ලදී. (විජයබාහු රජතුමාගේ) ප්‍රථම රාජ්‍ය අභිෂේක උත්සවය (චුලවංසයට අනුව රාජ්‍යත්වයෙන් දහ අට වැනි වසරේ දී පොළොන්නරුවේ දි) ද පවත්වනු ලැබිණ. මෙම දළදා මාළිගාවේ තැන්පත් කර ඇති විශාල බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාවේ නෙතු ගලවා අංජන තැවරිමේ උත්සවය වසරක් පතා පවත්වනු ලැබේ.

උත්තර මුල වාසී සිල්වත් උගත් රාජගුරු මුගලන් තෙරුන් වහන්සේ. රාජ්‍යමාත්‍යාදීන් සමග මේ ස්ථානයට වැඩම කර අප කැඳවා " දළදා මාළිගාව ඔබලාගේ භාරයේ තිබිය යුතු ය” යි වදාළ සේක. ඉන් අනතුරුව අපගේ වැඩිමහල්ලන් හා නායකයින් සමඟ කතිකා කොට මෙම සිද්ධස්ථානයේ නාමය ¨වේලක්කාර සේනාවන්ගේ දන්ත ධාතු මහා විහාරය" ලෙස නම් කර. එය අප භාරයේ පුණ්‍ය ආයතනයක් ලෙස පවත්වා ගත යුතු යයි තීරණය කරණ ලදී. සිද්ධස්ථානයේ ආරක්ෂාව පිණිස හමුදා කණ්ඩායම් තුනෙන් එක් භටයෙකු බැගින් සැපයීමටත් ඔවුන්ගේ නඩත්තුව සඳහා එක් අයෙකුට වෙලි එකක ඉඩම් ප්‍රමාණයක් දීමටත් තීරණය විය. විහාරස්ථානයට අයත් ගම් බිම් ද, සේවකයන් ද, එසේ ම අභය පතා මෙම ස්ථානයට ඇතුළු වන්නන් ද අපට විපත්තිකාරී විය හැකි වුව ද අප විසින් ආරක්ෂා කරනු ඇත. අපගේ පරම්පරාව පවතින තාක් කල් අප දැනටමත් මුහුණ දී ඇති ව්‍යවසනයන්ට වඩා ව්‍යවසනයන්ට මුහුණ පැමට සිදු වුව ද අපගේ දිවි හිමියෙන් මේ ව්‍යයාමය සිදු කරනු ඇත. ඉර හඳ පවතින තුරු මෙම කාරණය (ඉටු කිරීම) සහතික කිරීම සඳහා අප විසින් මෙය තඹ පතක ලියා (මුගලන් තෙරුන් වෙත) භාර දී මෙලෙස ශිලා ලේඛනයක් ද පිහිටුවනු ලැබිණ. ඒ අනුව මෙම (එකඟතාවය) උල්ලංඝනය කරන්නෙකු හෝ එසේ කිරීමට අනුබල දෙන්නෙකු අපගේ සතුරෙකු වේ. ඒ නැනැත්තා මාතන්ත්‍රයට විරුද්ධව අපරාධයක් කළා වේ. පස් පවු කළා වේ. දෙවියන්ට පිදු දේ සොරකම් කළ පවුකාරයකු වේ. ත්‍රි රත්නතුයට විරුද්ධව අපරාධයක් කළා වේ. ඔහු නිරයට ම යන්නේය.

Transcription (not proofread):

vēlakkāra sellipiya
rāj‍ya kālaya — paḷamuvana vijayabāhugen pasu kālayē
kālaya — kristu varṣa 12 vana siyavasa
akṣara — demaḷa, granthākṣara hā siṅhala
bhāṣāva — saṅskruta miśra demaḷa

hædin vīma

paḷamuvana vijayabāhu (1055-1110) rajugē bisvæni vasarē dī yeghrayaṭa viruddhava yuddha kirīma pratikṣēpa balu vēlakkāra bhaṭayō rajuṭa viruddhava kæralilat æti kaḷaha. ē siyā raju ovunaṭa dæṇḍuvam karaṇu læbīya. vijayabāhu rajugē mul kālayē da ovun daḷadā māḷigāva ārakṣā kaḷa bava ovun visin avaṭa goḍanægili idikaḷa bavaṭa æti sandahanen pæhædili vē. kærællen pasuva ovun ārakṣaka sēvayen ivat karannanṭa æta. vijayabāhu rajugē maraṇin pasu raṭē viyavul æti vū kālayē mē śilā lēkhagaya pihiṭa vū bava penē. mē kalabala sahita kālayē dī daḷadā māḷigāvē ārakṣāva nævata vēlakkāra bhaṭayanṭa pævarīmaṭa mugalan terun vahansē kaṭayutu kara æta. anāgatayē kumak sidu vudva da taman dhātūn vahansēlāgē ārakṣāva sapayana bavaṭa vēlakkāra bhaṭayin visin taḅa pat iruvaka saha mema śilālēkhanayehi koṭā divi himiyen śapatha kara tibē.

antargataya

vijayabāhu raju visin sēnādhipati nagaragiṭi dēva lavā idi karavana lada vaḷadā māḷigāva da ē avaṭa goḍanægū siddhasthāna da vēlakkāra bhaṭayin visin kalpa avasānaya dakvā ārakṣā kaḷa yutu vē ma ya. budurajāṇan vahansēṭa namaskāra vēvā! mē samruda mat divayina vū laṅkāvē ikṣavāku paramparāvē urumakkāra vū sūrya vaṅśika vijayabāhu raju bohō saturanṭa viruddha va yuddha koṭa jayagena anurādhapurayaṭa giyē ya. in anaturuva bhikṣungē illīma paridi buddhāgama ārakṣā kara gænīma sandahā oṭunu pæḷadī ya. aramaṇayen (burumayen) bhikṣūn genvā tun nikāya pirisidu kaḷēya. laṅkāva eksēsat kaḷa vijayabāhu raju dasa rāja dharmayen rajakam karamin tun nikāyaṭa tevarak tulā bhāra dī (tamāgē baraṭa samāna vū dhana parit‍yāga kara) pahaspas vasarak raja nam kaḷa atara hættǣ tun vasarak jīvat viya.

abhayagiriyē uttara mūlayē tibū daḷadā hā potu dhātūn vahansēlā vijaya rāja puraya nam pulanari nagarayaṭa rægena ēmen anaturuva daḷadā māḷigāvē sthira va tænpat karana ladī. (vijayabāhu rajatumāgē) prathama rāj‍ya abhiṣēka utsavaya (chulavaṅsayaṭa anuva rāj‍yatvayen daha aṭa væni vasarē dī poḷonnaruvē di) da pavatvanu læbiṇa. mema daḷadā māḷigāvē tænpat kara æti viśāla buddha pratimāvē netu galavā aṅjana tævarimē utsavaya vasarak patā pavatvanu læbē.

uttara mula vāsī silvat ugat rājaguru mugalan terun vahansē. rāj‍yamāt‍yādīn samaga mē sthānayaṭa væḍama kara apa kændavā " daḷadā māḷigāva obalāgē bhārayē tibiya yutu ya” yi vadāḷa sēka. in anaturuva apagē væḍimahallan hā nāyakayin samaṅga katikā koṭa mema siddhasthānayē nāmaya ¨vēlakkāra sēnāvangē danta dhātu mahā vihāraya" lesa nam kara. eya apa bhārayē puṇ‍ya āyatanayak lesa pavatvā gata yutu yayi tīraṇaya karaṇa ladī. siddhasthānayē ārakṣāva piṇisa hamudā kaṇḍāyam tunen ek bhaṭayeku bægin sæpayīmaṭat ovungē naḍattuva sandahā ek ayekuṭa veli ekaka iḍam pramāṇayak dīmaṭat tīraṇaya viya. vihārasthānayaṭa ayat gam bim da, sēvakayan da, esē ma abhaya patā mema sthānayaṭa ætuḷu vannan da apaṭa vipattikārī viya hæki vuva da apa visin ārakṣā karanu æta. apagē paramparāva pavatina tāk kal apa dænaṭamat muhuṇa dī æti v‍yavasanayanṭa vaḍā v‍yavasanayanṭa muhuṇa pæmaṭa sidu vuva da apagē divi himiyen mē v‍yayāmaya sidu karanu æta. ira handa pavatina turu mema kāraṇaya (iṭu kirīma) sahatika kirīma sandahā apa visin meya taḅa pataka liyā (mugalan terun veta) bhāra dī melesa śilā lēkhanayak da pihiṭuvanu læbiṇa. ē anuva mema (ekaṅgatāvaya) ullaṅghanaya karanneku hō esē kirīmaṭa anubala denneku apagē satureku vē. ē nænættā mātantrayaṭa viruddhava aparādhayak kaḷā vē. pas pavu kaḷā vē. deviyanṭa pidu dē sorakam kaḷa pavukārayaku vē. tri ratnatuyaṭa viruddhava aparādhayak kaḷā vē. ohu nirayaṭa ma yannēya.

Transcription (not proofread):

velakkara sellipiya
raj‍ya kalaya — palamuvana vijayabahugen pasu kalaye
kalaya — kristu varsha 12 vana siyavasa
akshara — demala, granthakshara ha sinhala
bhashava — sanskruta mishra demala

hadin vima

palamuvana vijayabahu (1055-1110) rajuge bisvani vasare di yeghrayata viruddhava yuddha kirima pratikshepa balu velakkara bhatayo rajuta viruddhava karalilat ati kalaha. e siya raju ovunata danduvam karanu labiya. vijayabahu rajuge mul kalaye da ovun dalada maligava araksha kala bava ovun visin avata godanagili idikala bavata ati sandahanen pahadili ve. karallen pasuva ovun arakshaka sevayen ivat karannanta ata. vijayabahu rajuge maranin pasu rate viyavul ati vu kalaye me shila lekhagaya pihita vu bava pene. me kalabala sahita kalaye di dalada maligave arakshava navata velakkara bhatayanta pavarimata mugalan terun vahanse katayutu kara ata. anagataye kumak sidu vudva da taman dhatun vahanselage arakshava sapayana bavata velakkara bhatayin visin taḅa pat iruvaka saha mema shilalekhanayehi kota divi himiyen shapatha kara tibe.

antargataya

vijayabahu raju visin senadhipati nagaragiti deva lava idi karavana lada valada maligava da e avata godanagu siddhasthana da velakkara bhatayin visin kalpa avasanaya dakva araksha kala yutu ve ma ya. budurajanan vahanseta namaskara veva! me samruda mat divayina vu lankave ikshavaku paramparave urumakkara vu surya vanshika vijayabahu raju boho saturanta viruddha va yuddha kota jayagena anuradhapurayata giye ya. in anaturuva bhikshunge illima paridi buddhagama araksha kara ganima sandaha otunu paladi ya. aramanayen (burumayen) bhikshun genva tun nikaya pirisidu kaleya. lankava eksesat kala vijayabahu raju dasa raja dharmayen rajakam karamin tun nikayata tevarak tula bhara di (tamage barata samana vu dhana parit‍yaga kara) pahaspas vasarak raja nam kala atara hattǣ tun vasarak jivat viya.

abhayagiriye uttara mulaye tibu dalada ha potu dhatun vahansela vijaya raja puraya nam pulanari nagarayata ragena emen anaturuva dalada maligave sthira va tanpat karana ladi. (vijayabahu rajatumage) prathama raj‍ya abhisheka utsavaya (chulavansayata anuva raj‍yatvayen daha ata vani vasare di polonnaruve di) da pavatvanu labina. mema dalada maligave tanpat kara ati vishala buddha pratimave netu galava anjana tavarime utsavaya vasarak pata pavatvanu labe.

uttara mula vasi silvat ugat rajaguru mugalan terun vahanse. raj‍yamat‍yadin samaga me sthanayata vadama kara apa kandava " dalada maligava obalage bharaye tibiya yutu ya” yi vadala seka. in anaturuva apage vadimahallan ha nayakayin samanga katika kota mema siddhasthanaye namaya ¨velakkara senavange danta dhatu maha viharaya" lesa nam kara. eya apa bharaye pun‍ya ayatanayak lesa pavatva gata yutu yayi tiranaya karana ladi. siddhasthanaye arakshava pinisa hamuda kandayam tunen ek bhatayeku bagin sapayimatat ovunge nadattuva sandaha ek ayekuta veli ekaka idam pramanayak dimatat tiranaya viya. viharasthanayata ayat gam bim da, sevakayan da, ese ma abhaya pata mema sthanayata atulu vannan da apata vipattikari viya haki vuva da apa visin araksha karanu ata. apage paramparava pavatina tak kal apa danatamat muhuna di ati v‍yavasanayanta vada v‍yavasanayanta muhuna pamata sidu vuva da apage divi himiyen me v‍yayamaya sidu karanu ata. ira handa pavatina turu mema karanaya (itu kirima) sahatika kirima sandaha apa visin meya taḅa pataka liya (mugalan terun veta) bhara di melesa shila lekhanayak da pihituvanu labina. e anuva mema (ekangatavaya) ullanghanaya karanneku ho ese kirimata anubala denneku apage satureku ve. e nanatta matantrayata viruddhava aparadhayak kala ve. pas pavu kala ve. deviyanta pidu de sorakam kala pavukarayaku ve. tri ratnatuyata viruddhava aparadhayak kala ve. ohu nirayata ma yanneya.

Translation of Sinhalese text (automated translation):

Velikara inscription
Reign — After Vijayabahu I
Period — 12th century AD
Scripts — Tamil, Granthakshara and Sinhala
Language — Sanskrit mixed Tamil

Introduction

In the twentieth year of the reign of King Vijayabahu I (1055-1110), the Baluwelaka troops refused to wage war against the Yeghra and rebelled against the king. That King Zia punished them. It is clear from the reference that they built the surrounding buildings that they protected the Talada Palace during the early days of King Vijayabahu. After the mutiny, they have been dismissed from the security service. It seems that this inscription was created during the period of turmoil in the country after the death of King Vijayabahu. During this turbulent time, the Mughals have arranged for the security of Dalada Maliga to be entrusted to the re-enforced troops. The Velakara troops have taken a life's oath inscribed in a copperplate image and in this inscription that they will protect the relics no matter what happens in the future.

contents

King Vijayabahu had the army chief Nagargiti Deva build the palace and the shrines built around it should be protected by the Velakara troops till the end of the kalpa. Worship Lord Buddha! King Vijayabahu of Surya dynasty, the heir of the Ikshavaku lineage of this prosperous island of Ceylon, fought against many enemies and won and went to Anuradhapura. After that, at the request of monks, crowns were planted to protect Buddhism. Brought monks from Amara (Burma) and purified the three sects. King Vijayabahu, who united Sri Lanka, reigned under the Ten Kingdom Dharma, handed over the scales three times to the three sects (donated wealth equal to his own weight), was named king for fifty-five years, and lived for seventy-three years.

After bringing the Talada and Pathu relics from the northern root of the Abhayagiri to Vijaya Rajapura, the Pulanari city, they were permanently buried in the Dalada Maliga. (King Vijayabahu's) first coronation ceremony (according to Chulawamsa in Polonnaruwa in the eighteenth year of his reign) was also held. The Anjana Thavarim ceremony is held for a year to remove the eyes of the large Buddha statue placed in this Dalada Maliga.

Rajaguru Mughalan, a resident of Uttara Mulla, was a virtuous and learned man. He came to this place along with the Rajmatyads and called us and said "Dalada Maliga should be in your charge". After that we discussed with our elders and leaders and named this shrine as "Danta Dhatu Maha Vihara of Velakkara Senawan". It was decided that it should be maintained as a charitable institution under our trust. It was decided to provide one soldier from each of the three military groups for the protection of the shrine and to give each one a weli of land for their maintenance. We will protect the village lands belonging to the temple, the servants and also those who enter this place seeking refuge, even if it may be disastrous for us. As long as our generation lasts, we will do this exercise with our lives, even if we have to face more disasters than we have already faced. We wrote this on a copper plate (to the Mughals) and thus established an inscription to ensure this (fulfillment) until the sun and moon lasted. Accordingly, anyone who violates this (agreement) or encourages them to do so is our enemy. That aunt committed a crime against the regime. The five parts are done. He is a thief who has stolen what belongs to God. A crime has been committed against the Three Jewels. He will go to hell.

Tamil text (not proofread):

வேலக்கார சிலா சாசனம்
ஆட்சி காலம் — முதலாவது விஜயபாகுவிற்கு பிற்பட்ட காலம்
காலம் — கி.பி. 12ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு
எபுத்துக்கள் — தமிழ், நூலெழுத்து மற்றும் சிங்களம்
மொழி — சமஸ்கிருதமுடன் களப்பட்ட தமிழ்

முகவுரை

முதலாவது விஜயபாகு (1055-1110) அரசனது மப்பத வருடத்தில் சோழர்களுக்கு எதிராக போரிடுவதை மருக்கப்பட்ட வேலக்கார போர்ப்படையினர் அரசனுக்கு எதிராக ஒரு கலகத்தை ஏற்படுத்தினர். ஆகையால் அவர்களை தண்டிக்கப்டப்டது. விஜயபாகு அரசனது ஆரம்ப காலத்திலும் இவர்கள் தளதா மாளிகையை பாதுகாத்ததாகவும் சுற்றுப்புற கட்டிடங்களை நிருமாணித்திருப்பதாகவும் உட்பட்டுள்ள குறிப்பினால் தெளிவாகின்றது. கலகத்திற்கு பின்னர் இவர்களை சேவையில் இருந்து அகற்றப்பட்டிருக்கலாம். விஜயபாகு அரசனது மரணத்தின் பின்னர் நாட்டில் கலவரங்கள் ஏற்பட்ட காலத்தில் இச் சிலாசாசனத்தை ஸ்தாபித்திருப்பதாக காணப்படுகின்றது. இக் கலவரமான காலத்தில் தளதா மாளிகையின் பாதுகாப்பை மீண்டும் வேலக்கார படையினருக்கு பொறுப்பளிக்க வனக்கத்திற்குரிய முகலன் தேரர் நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளார். எதிர் காலத்தில் என்ன நடந்தாலும் தம்மால் வனக்கத்திற்குரிய தாதுகளின் பாதுகாப்பை வழங்குவதாக வேலக்கார படையினரால் செம்பு தகடில் மற்றும் இச் சிலாசாசனத்தில் பொறித்து உயிர் அர்ப்பணிப்புடன் உறுதிசெய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

உள்ளடக்கம்

விஜயபாகு அரசனால் சேனாதிபதி நகரகிரி தேவவைக்கொண்டு நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்ட தளதா மாளிகை மற்றும் அதன் சுற்றுப்புறத்தில் நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்ட புனித தளங்களை வேலக்கார படையினரால் உலக இறுதி வரை நிச்சயமாகவே பாதுகாத்தல் வேண்டும். புத்தப்பிரானுக்கு நமஸ்காரமாக, இச் சுபிட்ச்சையான தீவான இலங்கையில் இக்ஷ வாக்கு தலைமுறையின் உரித்தாளர்களான சூரிய வம்ச விஜயபாகு அரகள் அனேகமான பகைவர்களுக்கு எதிராக போர்களமிரங்கி வெற்றியீட்டி அனுராதபுரத்திற்கு சென்றனர். இதன் பின்னர் பிக்குமார்களின் வேண்டுகோளுக்கமைய பௌத்த சமயத்தை பாதுகாத்திட கிரீடம் அணிந்தார். பர்மா நாட்டில் இருந்து பிக்குமார்களை அழைத்து பௌத்த பீடங்கள் மூன்றை பரிசுத்தப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இலங்கையை ஐக்கியப்படுத்திய விஜயபாகு அரசன் தசராஜ தருமத்தால் ஆட்சிப்புரிந்து மூன்று பீடங்களுக்கு மூன்று முறை துலாதானம் கெபது (தமது எடைக்கு சமனாக பொன் அன்பளித்தல்) ஐந்பது வருடங்கள் ஆட்சி புரிந்ததுடன் எழுபத்தி மூன்று ஆண்டுக்கள் வாழ்ந்துள்ளார்.

அபயகிரியில் உத்தர மூல எனும் பிரிவினரிடம் இருந்த வனகத்திற்குரிய தளதா மற்றும் பாத்திர தாதுக்களை விஜயராஜ புரம் எனும் பலநரி நகரத்திற்கு கொண்டு வந்ததன் பின்னர் தளதா மாளிகையில் நிலையாகவே வைக்கப்பட்டது. (விஜயபாகு அரசனின்) முதலாவது அரச முடிசூடல் விழாவை (சூல வம்சத்திற்கமைய அரச ஆட்சிபை கைப்பற்றி பதிநெட்டாவது வருடத்தில். பொலன்னறுவையில்) நடாத்தப்பட்டது. இத் தளதா மாளிகையில் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள பெருமாண்டமான புத்தப்பிரானது திருவுருவத்தின் கண்களை அகற்றி அஞ்சனம் பூசுகின்ற விழாவை ஆண்டுதோறும் நடாத்தப்பட்டது.

உத்தரமூல எனும் பிரிவை சார்ந்த சமய கட்டுபாடுடைய, அறிவுடைய வனக்கத்துக்குரிய ராஜகுரு முகலன் தேரர், அரச அதிகாரிகளுடன் இவ்விடத்திற்கு வருகை தந்து எம்மை அழைத்து "தளதா மாளிகை உங்களது பொறுப்பில் இருக்க வேண்டும் கூறினர் . இதன் பின்னர் எமது முதிந்தோர்கள் மற்றும் தலைவர்களுடன் களந்துரையாடி இப் புனித தளத்தின் பெயரை "வேலக்கார படையினரின் தந்ததாது மகாவிகாரை" என மாற்றி அமைத்து அதனை எமது பொறுப்பில் ஒரு புனித நிறுவனமாக வைத்திருக்க வேண்டுமென தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டது. புனிததளத்தின் பாதுகாப்புக்காக மூவித போர்ப்படைகளிலிருந்தும் ஒவ்வொருவரை வழங்குவதற்கும் இவர்களின் தேவைப்பாடுகளுக்காக ஒரு "வெலி " நிலத்தை பெற்றுக்கொடுப்பதற்கும் தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டது. விகாரைக்கு சொந்தமான கிராம நிலங்களும், சேவையாளர்களும் இதுப் போலவே உயிர்வாழ இவ்விடத்திற்கு வருவோரையும் மெக்கு அனர்த்தம் விளைவிக்க இயலுமாக இருப்பினும் எம்மால் பாதுகாத்திடப்படும். எமது பரம்பறை இருக்கும் வரை எம்மால் ஏற்கனவே முகங்கொண்டுள்ள அழிவுகளைவிட கூடிய அழிவுகளுக்கு முகங்கொள்ளாயினும், எமது உயிர் அர்ப்பணிப்புடன் இம் முயற்சியை நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்படும். சூரியன் சந்திரன் இருக்கும் வரை இவ் விடயத்தை (நிறைவேற்றுவதை) உறுதிப்படுத்துவதற்காக எம்மால் இதனை செம்பேடில் எழுதி (முகலன் தேரரிடம் ) பொறுப்பளித்து இவ்வாறாக ஒரு சிலா சாசனத்தையும் ஸ்தாபிக்கப்பட்டது. அதற்கேற்ப இவ் (இணக்கத்தை) மீறுவோர்கள் மற்றும் அவ்வாறு செயற்படுவதற்கு தூண்டுவோரும் எமது பகையாளர்களாவர். அந் நபர் நிருவாகத்திற்கு எதிராக ஒரு குற்றத்தை செய்ததாத கருதப்படும். பஞ்ச பாவங்களை செய்ததாகும். கடவுளுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்ததை களவாண்ட பாவியாக கருதப்படும் அவன் நீச்சயமாகவே என

Transcription (not proofread):

vēlakkāra cilā cācaṉam
āṭci kālam — mutalāvatu vijayapākuviṟku piṟpaṭṭa kālam
kālam — ki.pi. 12ām nūṟṟāṇṭu
eputtukkaḷ — tamiḻ, nūleḻuttu maṟṟum ciṅkaḷam
moḻi — camaskirutamuṭaṉ kaḷappaṭṭa tamiḻ

mukavurai

mutalāvatu vijayapāku (1055-1110) aracaṉatu mappata varuṭattil cōḻarkaḷukku etirāka pōriṭuvatai marukkappaṭṭa vēlakkāra pōrppaṭaiyiṉar aracaṉukku etirāka oru kalakattai ēṟpaṭuttiṉar. ākaiyāl avarkaḷai taṇṭikkapṭapṭatu. vijayapāku aracaṉatu ārampa kālattilum ivarkaḷ taḷatā māḷikaiyai pātukāttatākavum cuṟṟuppuṟa kaṭṭiṭaṅkaḷai nirumāṇittiruppatākavum uṭpaṭṭuḷḷa kuṟippiṉāl teḷivākiṉṟatu. kalakattiṟku piṉṉar ivarkaḷai cēvaiyil iruntu akaṟṟappaṭṭirukkalām. vijayapāku aracaṉatu maraṇattiṉ piṉṉar nāṭṭil kalavaraṅkaḷ ēṟpaṭṭa kālattil ic cilācācaṉattai stāpittiruppatāka kāṇappaṭukiṉṟatu. ik kalavaramāṉa kālattil taḷatā māḷikaiyiṉ pātukāppai mīṇṭum vēlakkāra paṭaiyiṉarukku poṟuppaḷikka vaṉakkattiṟkuriya mukalaṉ tērar naṭavaṭikkai mēṟkoṇṭuḷḷār. etir kālattil eṉṉa naṭantālum tammāl vaṉakkattiṟkuriya tātukaḷiṉ pātukāppai vaḻaṅkuvatāka vēlakkāra paṭaiyiṉarāl cempu takaṭil maṟṟum ic cilācācaṉattil poṟittu uyir arppaṇippuṭaṉ uṟuticeyyappaṭṭuḷḷatu.

uḷḷaṭakkam

vijayapāku aracaṉāl cēṉātipati nakarakiri tēvavaikkoṇṭu nirmāṇikkappaṭṭa taḷatā māḷikai maṟṟum ataṉ cuṟṟuppuṟattil nirmāṇikkappaṭṭa puṉita taḷaṅkaḷai vēlakkāra paṭaiyiṉarāl ulaka iṟuti varai niccayamākavē pātukāttal vēṇṭum. puttappirāṉukku namaskāramāka, ic cupiṭccaiyāṉa tīvāṉa ilaṅkaiyil ikṣa vākku talaimuṟaiyiṉ urittāḷarkaḷāṉa cūriya vamca vijayapāku arakaḷ aṉēkamāṉa pakaivarkaḷukku etirāka pōrkaḷamiraṅki veṟṟiyīṭṭi aṉurātapurattiṟku ceṉṟaṉar. itaṉ piṉṉar pikkumārkaḷiṉ vēṇṭukōḷukkamaiya pautta camayattai pātukāttiṭa kirīṭam aṇintār. parmā nāṭṭil iruntu pikkumārkaḷai aḻaittu pautta pīṭaṅkaḷ mūṉṟai paricuttappaṭuttappaṭṭatu. ilaṅkaiyai aikkiyappaṭuttiya vijayapāku aracaṉ tacarāja tarumattāl āṭcippurintu mūṉṟu pīṭaṅkaḷukku mūṉṟu muṟai tulātāṉam kepatu (tamatu eṭaikku camaṉāka poṉ aṉpaḷittal) ainpatu varuṭaṅkaḷ āṭci purintatuṭaṉ eḻupatti mūṉṟu āṇṭukkaḷ vāḻntuḷḷār.

apayakiriyil uttara mūla eṉum piriviṉariṭam irunta vaṉakattiṟkuriya taḷatā maṟṟum pāttira tātukkaḷai vijayarāja puram eṉum palanari nakarattiṟku koṇṭu vantataṉ piṉṉar taḷatā māḷikaiyil nilaiyākavē vaikkappaṭṭatu. (vijayapāku aracaṉiṉ) mutalāvatu araca muṭicūṭal viḻāvai (cūla vamcattiṟkamaiya araca āṭcipai kaippaṟṟi patineṭṭāvatu varuṭattil. polaṉṉaṟuvaiyil) naṭāttappaṭṭatu. it taḷatā māḷikaiyil vaikkappaṭṭuḷḷa perumāṇṭamāṉa puttappirāṉatu tiruvuruvattiṉ kaṇkaḷai akaṟṟi añcaṉam pūcukiṉṟa viḻāvai āṇṭutōṟum naṭāttappaṭṭatu.

uttaramūla eṉum pirivai cārnta camaya kaṭṭupāṭuṭaiya, aṟivuṭaiya vaṉakkattukkuriya rājakuru mukalaṉ tērar, araca atikārikaḷuṭaṉ ivviṭattiṟku varukai tantu emmai aḻaittu "taḷatā māḷikai uṅkaḷatu poṟuppil irukka vēṇṭum kūṟiṉar . itaṉ piṉṉar ematu mutintōrkaḷ maṟṟum talaivarkaḷuṭaṉ kaḷanturaiyāṭi ip puṉita taḷattiṉ peyarai "vēlakkāra paṭaiyiṉariṉ tantatātu makāvikārai" eṉa māṟṟi amaittu ataṉai ematu poṟuppil oru puṉita niṟuvaṉamāka vaittirukka vēṇṭumeṉa tīrmāṉikkappaṭṭatu. puṉitataḷattiṉ pātukāppukkāka mūvita pōrppaṭaikaḷiliruntum ovvoruvarai vaḻaṅkuvataṟkum ivarkaḷiṉ tēvaippāṭukaḷukkāka oru "veli " nilattai peṟṟukkoṭuppataṟkum tīrmāṉikkappaṭṭatu. vikāraikku contamāṉa kirāma nilaṅkaḷum, cēvaiyāḷarkaḷum itup pōlavē uyirvāḻa ivviṭattiṟku varuvōraiyum mekku aṉarttam viḷaivikka iyalumāka iruppiṉum emmāl pātukāttiṭappaṭum. ematu parampaṟai irukkum varai emmāl ēṟkaṉavē mukaṅkoṇṭuḷḷa aḻivukaḷaiviṭa kūṭiya aḻivukaḷukku mukaṅkoḷḷāyiṉum, ematu uyir arppaṇippuṭaṉ im muyaṟciyai naṭaimuṟaippaṭuttappaṭum. cūriyaṉ cantiraṉ irukkum varai iv viṭayattai (niṟaivēṟṟuvatai) uṟutippaṭuttuvataṟkāka emmāl itaṉai cempēṭil eḻuti (mukalaṉ tērariṭam ) poṟuppaḷittu ivvāṟāka oru cilā cācaṉattaiyum stāpikkappaṭṭatu. ataṟkēṟpa iv (iṇakkattai) mīṟuvōrkaḷ maṟṟum avvāṟu ceyaṟpaṭuvataṟku tūṇṭuvōrum ematu pakaiyāḷarkaḷāvar. an napar niruvākattiṟku etirāka oru kuṟṟattai ceytatāta karutappaṭum. pañca pāvaṅkaḷai ceytatākum. kaṭavuḷukku arppaṇittatai kaḷavāṇṭa pāviyāka karutappaṭum avaṉ nīccayamākavē eṉa

Transcription (not proofread):

velakkara sila sasanam
adsi kalam — muthalavathu vijayapaguvirku pirpatta kalam
kalam — ki.pi. 12am nurrandu
eputhukkal — thamizh, nulezhuthu marrum singalam
mozhi — samaskiruthamudan kalappatta thamizh

mugavurai

muthalavathu vijayapagu (1055-1110) arasanathu mappatha varudathil sozharkalukku ethiraga poriduvathai marukkappatta velakkara porppadaiyinar arasanukku ethiraga oru kalagathai erpaduthinar. agaiyal avarkalai thandikkapdapdathu. vijayapagu arasanathu aramba kalathilum ivarkal thalatha maligaiyai pathugathathagavum surruppura kattidangalai nirumanithiruppathagavum udpattulla kurippinal thelivaginrathu. kalagathirku pinnar ivarkalai sevaiyil irunthu agarrappattirukkalam. vijayapagu arasanathu maranathin pinnar nattil kalavarangal erpatta kalathil is silasasanathai sthapithiruppathaga kanappaduginrathu. ig kalavaramana kalathil thalatha maligaiyin pathugappai mindum velakkara padaiyinarukku poruppalikka vanakkathirkuriya mugalan therar nadavadikkai merkondullar. ethir kalathil enna nadanthalum thammal vanakkathirkuriya thathugalin pathugappai vazhanguvathaga velakkara padaiyinaral sembu thagadil marrum is silasasanathil porithu uyir arppanippudan uruthiseyyappattullathu.

ulladakkam

vijayapagu arasanal senathipathi nagaragiri thevavaikkondu nirmanikkappatta thalatha maligai marrum athan surruppurathil nirmanikkappatta punitha thalangalai velakkara padaiyinaral ulaga iruthi varai nichayamagave pathugathal vendum. puthappiranukku namaskaramaga, is supidchaiyana thivana ilangaiyil igsha vakku thalaimuraiyin urithalarkalana suriya vamsa vijayapagu aragal anegamana pagaivarkalukku ethiraga porkalamirangi verriyitti anurathapurathirku senranar. ithan pinnar pikkumarkalin vendugolukkamaiya pautha samayathai pathugathida kiridam aninthar. parma nattil irunthu pikkumarkalai azhaithu pautha pidangal munrai parisuthappaduthappattathu. ilangaiyai aikkiyappaduthiya vijayapagu arasan thasaraja tharumathal adsippurinthu munru pidangalukku munru murai thulathanam kepathu (thamathu edaikku samanaga pon anpalithal) ainpathu varudangal adsi purinthathudan ezhupathi munru andukkal vazhnthullar.

apayagiriyil uthara mula enum pirivinaridam iruntha vanagathirkuriya thalatha marrum pathira thathukkalai vijayaraja puram enum palanari nagarathirku kondu vanthathan pinnar thalatha maligaiyil nilaiyagave vaikkappattathu. (vijayapagu arasanin) muthalavathu arasa mudisudal vizhavai (sula vamsathirkamaiya arasa adsipai kaipparri pathinettavathu varudathil. polannaruvaiyil) nadathappattathu. ith thalatha maligaiyil vaikkappattulla perumandamana puthappiranathu thiruvuruvathin kankalai agarri anchanam pusuginra vizhavai anduthorum nadathappattathu.

utharamula enum pirivai sarntha samaya kattupadudaiya, arivudaiya vanakkathukkuriya rajaguru mugalan therar, arasa athigarigaludan ivvidathirku varugai thanthu emmai azhaithu "thalatha maligai ungalathu poruppil irukka vendum kurinar . ithan pinnar emathu muthinthorkal marrum thalaivarkaludan kalanthuraiyadi ip punitha thalathin peyarai "velakkara padaiyinarin thanthathathu magavigarai" ena marri amaithu athanai emathu poruppil oru punitha niruvanamaga vaithirukka vendumena thirmanikkappattathu. punithathalathin pathugappukkaga muvitha porppadaigalilirunthum ovvoruvarai vazhanguvatharkum ivarkalin thevaippadugalukkaga oru "veli " nilathai perrukkoduppatharkum thirmanikkappattathu. vigaraikku sonthamana kirama nilangalum, sevaiyalarkalum ithup polave uyirvazha ivvidathirku varuvoraiyum mekku anartham vilaivikka iyalumaga iruppinum emmal pathugathidappadum. emathu parambarai irukkum varai emmal erkanave mugangondulla azhivugalaivida kudiya azhivugalukku mugangollayinum, emathu uyir arppanippudan im muyarsiyai nadaimuraippaduthappadum. suriyan santhiran irukkum varai iv vidayathai (niraiverruvathai) uruthippaduthuvatharkaga emmal ithanai sembedil ezhuthi (mugalan theraridam ) poruppalithu ivvaraga oru sila sasanathaiyum sthapikkappattathu. atharkerpa iv (inakkathai) miruvorkal marrum avvaru seyarpaduvatharku thunduvorum emathu pagaiyalarkalavar. an napar niruvagathirku ethiraga oru kurrathai seythathatha karuthappadum. pancha pavangalai seythathagum. kadavulukku arppanithathai kalavanda paviyaga karuthappadum avan nichayamagave ena

Translation of Sinhalese text (automated translation):

Velakkara Sila Sasana
Reign — The first was the period after Vijayabahu
Period — AD 12th century
Texts — Tamil, Script and Sinhala
Language — Tamil mixed with Sanskrit

Introduction

In the eighth year of the first Vijayabagu (1055-1110) king, the Velakkara warriors, who were forced to fight against the Cholas, raised a mutiny against the king. So they were punished. It is clear from the reference that even in the early period of the Vijayabagu reign, they protected the Dalatha Palace and built the surrounding buildings. They may have been removed from service after the mutiny. It is seen that this Silasasana was established during the period of riots in the country after the death of King Vijayabahu. During this tumultuous period, the notorious Mughal Thera has taken action to once again entrust the security of the Dalata Palace to the Velakkara soldiers. Inscribed on copper plate and in this Silasana, the Velakka soldiers have pledged their lives to provide protection of the precious minerals whatever may happen in the future.

Content

The Dalada Palace built by King Vijayabagu under the command of Nagaragiri Deva and the sacred sites built in its vicinity must be protected by Velakkara soldiers till the end of the world. In homage to the Buddha, the descendants of the Iksha Vat generation in Sri Lanka, the surya dynasty Vijayabakus marched to Anuradhapura victorious against numerous enemies. After this he wore the crown to protect Buddhism at the request of monks. Bhikkumars were invited from Burma and three Buddhist pedas were sanctified. Vijayabagu king who united Sri Lanka Dasaraja Darumatala reigned and gave thrice duladanam kepadu (gift of gold equal to his weight) to three pedestals, reigned for fifty years and lived for seventy three years.

Talatha and Chara ores belonging to the Uttara Mula sect of Abhayagiri were brought to Vijayaraja Puram and then kept permanently in the Talatha mansion. The first royal coronation ceremony (of King Vijayabahu) was held (in Polonnaruwa, in the eleventh year after the conquest of the kingdom of the Sula dynasty). An annual ceremony was held to remove the eyes of the deity's eyes from the huge Buddha statue kept in this Talatha House.

Rajaguru Mughalan Thera, a religiously bound and knowledgeable forester belonging to Uttaramula sect, visited this place along with the government officials and called us and said, "Talada House should be under your responsibility. After this, after discussing with our elders and leaders, we changed the name of this holy site to "Tantadhatu Mahavikarai of Velakkara soldiers". It was decided to keep it as a sacred institution under our charge. It was decided to provide each of the three armies for the protection of the holy site and to get a "veli" of land for their needs. The village lands belonging to the vicar and the servants would be protected by us even if they came to this place to live and cause harm. This effort will be implemented with the sacrifice of our lives, even if we face more destructions than the ones we face. To ensure (fulfillment) of this matter as long as the sun and the moon exist, we have written it in Sembed and entrusted it (to Mughal Thera) and thus established a Sila Sasana. Accordingly, those who violate this (harmony) and those who encourage them to do so are our enemies. The person shall not be deemed to have committed an offense against the administration. Pancha is committing sins. It is as if he is regarded as a sinner who has devoted himself to God

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.