Inscription technology and the culture of irrigation in the ancient Hela Diva

Inscriptions,epigraphies,methodologies of sculpturing & writing of Kataram[1] and methodology of seasoning & using rocks found 300 years before the Anuradhapura era in Hela Diva, in Gautama Buddha’s period, cannot be seen in any time any country in the world. The inscriptions done across Hela Diva before the Anuradhapura period are discovered not in thousands, but in ten thousands and more. Inscriptions, Kataram & other related things covered by the thick jungle and what need to be discovered more are greater than what is discovered up to now.

Not a single inscription was found from any part in India until such time that King Ashoka installed 32 inscriptions. (other than what was discovered from Mohenjo Daro periods). It is very clear that all these 32 inscriptions by King Ashoka were done either by the masons from Lankan or on their instructions. It is proved today that most of the things done with rocks in places like Sanchi, Wellora and Ajantha were done in 4th, 5th, or 7th century. One single thing written on a rock cannot be found in Buddha’s period in India. But in Lanka they were in great numbers. In this period, other than Ashoka inscriptions, Kataram and letters engraved in caves cannot be found in India. But in Lanka, there are uncountable evidences in all most all the villages where Kataram had been made in caves & caverns and offered them for the use of Buddha and Maha Sanga. Discovering more than 30 inscriptions today with the name “Gothama Samana alone proves that more than 30 caves, engraved the letterings Gothamoshamana, had been offered to Gautama Buddha himself. All these inscriptions had been done in Buddha’s time, prior to Anuradhapura period. If someone considers only the large no of inscriptions found everywhere from Mulathiv to Thissamaharama in Deva Hela and compares the facts such as the status of Hela Diva in the past, other relevant sources, information in Tripitaka, it is not difficult to take a clear picture of the existence of the kingdom of Buddha in the ancient Hela Diva. If someone hesitates to understand this truth, based on the teachings of Buddha, he can be considered as a michaa drushtika[2].

Every regional ruler reigned in Deva Hela arranged the caves found in their regions with Kataram, their names were engraved to those caves and offered to Buddha and Maha Sanga. It should be very clearly mentioned here that more than in Anuradhapura period, many caves with Kataram are found in numbers from Ruhuna & eastern regions and all of them date back to Buddha’s period. Based on this, it is proved that Gautama Buddha lived and preached Dhamma in the areas in Deva Hela in this Hela Diva. Anyone who thinks that Buddha Dhamma was preached in India does not have the ability to present any information of this nature which is so firm and rich. It is your duty to understand this truth and for that it is necessary to read this information carefully, read other relevant texts, visit and exam the said places. It is your duty to go and see these places which are fallen upon due to the blessings of the nations. The definitive heritage that you get as someone born in Janbudveepa in Hela Diva is nothing but Buddha Dhamma. The most supermandane Buddha Dhamma is found only here in this land of virtue, in the past as well as now. Hence, heritage of Hela Diva is the most sacred Buddha Dhamma which will certainly be the aid to achieve Nirvana.

The culture of irrigation

The culture of irrigation in the Buddha’s period in Hela Diva and how did that people lived whiles maintaining a very close relationship with the tanks had been broadly explained in many Suttas in Tripitaka. The ancient people who lived in Hela Diva managed waters and cultivated paddy fields with the help of the plough. In many places in Tripitaka, Buddha had taken the tanks for examples.

But by this time tanks or a culture related to irrigation were not found in India. In Buddha’s ear in Hela Diva, prior to Anuradapura and Polonnaruva periods, there had been a culture of irrigation and it could be observed in all big and small villages in the east & Ruhuna. In Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods the irrigation system which was developed is something peculiar to us, but not a culture of irrigation brought to us from a foreign land. Even in the Buddha’s period, it was very developed here in Hela Diva. The most ancient Sorowwa [3] discovered by the engineers who built Maduruoya Tank is a classic example for this. This Sorowwa was built in the city of Kimbulwath in the reign of King Suddodana. It is proved that the old Maduruoya Tank had been built more than 500 years before Anuradhapura period.



[1] Methodology of carving the drip ledges of the rock as a mean to block the waters flowing on the rock surface and drippin inside the cave. A roof is made under the Kataram, so the waters will flow on to the roof and would not go inside the cave.

[2] One who fallows false ideas.

[3] The sluice (Or Horowwa in Sinhala) is a master piece in the field of irrigation engineering in the ancient Lanka.

Next Chapter

Share Button