The harm created by a difference of a name

නාමයක වෙනස කළ හදියක්

The scholars introduce the Isurumuniya, Vessagiriya and Ranmasu Uyana as a triple. The base for this particular introduction is nothing but the false explanation. The reason for this is the belief which directs to the false idea that these three places were originated only after the visit of Arahat Mahinda Thero. The texts such as Pali Mahavamsa helped to establish this idea. The texts such as Mahavamsa do not show the genuine information over the history of Heladeepa. The prime objective of these ancient texts was to analyze and explain the ancient incidents occurred in Heladeepa as a property originated in India. Since books had been written based on a background of this nature, the history of above mentioned triple had not been presented properly.

The inscriptions found in Vessagiriya say that the Sage called Thrunavindu and the Sage called Pulasthi had lived there. But, the Sri Lankan scholars who did not conduct any successful research on this matter believed in Mahavamsa alone and wrote the history accordingly. These scholars did not add any life in to the history as they acted upon the guidance of their masters, the Englishmen.

The Ramayana says that these above mentioned Sages had lived in Lanka and when that idea is taken as correct this truth can be discovered. If the information of Lanka was defaced by the writers of Indian origin who wrote texts such as Mahavamsa, it is not necessary to feel any doubt over the defacements made for the texts written in India. Hence, the facts highlighted in those texts, before accepting them, should be thoroughly analyzed.

The origination of the story about Sage Thrunavindu and Sage Pulasthi highlighted in Ramayana can be identified from the inscriptions in Vessagiriya. The truth can be understood after an analytical explanation. The Sage Pulasthi had lived in the Thrunavindu Ashram (1) situated near the rock Meru, the Ramayana records (Volume 3, page 199, G S B Senanayake). The text i.e. the inscription, found there will help to identify this place as Vessagiriya.

(In “Inscriptions of Ceylon”, Professor Senarath Paranavitha has misinterpreted the above inscription. He had presented it as “ගණ චොදක දතහ ලෙණෙ ශගශ” 86 – Gana Chodaka Dathaha Lene Shagasha ).

It is clear that the rock called Meru highlighted here is the Mega Giri known as Isurumuni today. Hence it can be understood that the rock called Mega (Mega Parvatha) had been changed in to the rock called Meru (Meru Parvatha)  to deface the incident.  The truth of this is proved better by the inscription found at Vessagiriya which carries the name of Sage Thrunavindu. When someone observes the cave which carries this name, it is understood that he had been there as the chief person. Not only that, when this incident is thoroughly analyzed, his chieftainship also can be identified.

 1 - The hermitage called Thrunavindu. 

{The English translation of 'ඉසි රමණ විහර' (Isi Ramana Vihara)} - Part - IV 

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)