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Dondra or Devinuwara
(city of the god) is situated four miles form Matara, on a a narrow
Peninsula, the most southerly Point of Ceylon, latitude 5` 50” and
longitude 80`40 E .Here, interspersed amongst native huts, gardens and
coconut plantations, several hundred upright stone pillars still remain:
they are cut into various shapes and exhibit different sculptures; amongst
others Rama,with his bow and arrows, may be discerned in various forms. A
square gateway formed of three stones elaborately carved ,leads to a
wretched “mud edifice” in which four stone windows superior workmanship
are evidences that a very different style of building had formerly
occupied the site of this hovel. It is now ,however ,the only temple of
Vishnu at Dewinuwara,a station reckoned particularly sacred by his
votaries, as being the utmost limit which now remains of his conquest when
incarnate in that perfect |
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5671953 prince ,and
peerless warrior ,Ramachandra. Although his temple is so mean, the place
still retains much of its sanctity, and an annual festival which takes
place at the full moon in the in the month of July continues to attract
many thousands of the worshippers of Vishnu. From the temple, a broad
road, overshadowed by coconut trees, leads to a group of plain stone
pillars near the sea-shore; but from these my attention was attracted by a
single pillar, situated on a low rocky point, over which the sea breaks
amidst hewn stones, the remains of some ancient building.
If rama`s
expedition and conquest of Lanka existed in any form or ad any foundation,
more material than a poet’s fancy, this lone pillar may be considered as
an index which has rested the waste of ages, and now battles with the
waves of ocean to maintain its position and mark the utmost limit which
remains of Vishnu`s conquests and religion. The pillar is of a form
alternately octagonal and square,andexactly resembles columns that are to
be seen on the sacred promontory of Trincomalee. |
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Near the temple of Vishnu stand a
Buddhist vihara and dagaba ;and a quarter of mile farther inland is
situated a stone building called Galgane. Consisting of two rooms; and
roof as well as the walls ae of hewn stone, and exhibit excellent
specimens of masonry. On the top of there appears to have been a
dagoba;but the ruin is now coved with shrubs and creeping plants that find
root in the interstices of the building. These remains of Buddhism were
completed or restored in the reign of Dapuloo the Second A.D 686. A stone,
which had been rescued form near one the ruins, was pointed out to me at
the house of my friend. Mr.B….. the collector of the District. With whom I
was residing. It owes its preservation and present place of safety to
Mrs.B…….,to whom I am indebted for much information regarding the
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antiquities in this part of the Island. In
the inscription of this slab I recognized the name and sounding titles of
King Parakrama Bahoo, a zealous restorer of religious buildings, and a
most persevering recorder of his own virtues and power : he reigned form
A.D. 1153 to 1186.
On an upright stone. Near the temple of Vishnu,
is cut an inscription in the ancient Singhalese character; although
considerably decayed, by perseverance it might probably be deciphered.
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