A Study on the Offering Rituals Revealed in the Ruwanweliseya Slab Inscription of Queen Kalyanavati

Abstract

Inscriptions play a prominent role in socialising information clearly and accurately. Inscriptions can be classified into Cave, Rock, Slab, and Pillar inscriptions, as well as early Brahimi scripts and later Brahmi scripts. Among the existing inscriptions, the slab inscription of the Queen Kalyanavati at the courtyard of the Ruwanweliseya was compiled in A.D. 1203 and is a later Brahmi script. The script reveals information about ancient facts, including religious rituals and offerings of that period. The objective of the study is to investigate the religious offerings stated in the slab inscription of Queen Kalyanavati in the courtyard of the Ruwanweliseya. The research problem is to investigate the nature of offering methods revealed in the slab inscription of Queen Kalyanavati in the courtyard of the Ruwanweliseya. Although there are various inscriptions on the offering methods, the study is limited to the offering methods revealed in the inscription of Queen Kalyanavati. Subject to qualitative research method, library sources, and field studies were used to gather data. In the library sources, both primary and secondary sources were utilised. The Descriptive Analysis Method was used to analyse the collected data and then organised into notes, tables, and diagrams. Although researchers have focused on the text and interpretation of Queen Kalyanavati's inscription, it was first identified that not much attention was paid to the religious rituals mentioned in it. Furthermore, the inscription states that during the second year of the second reign of Queen Kalyanavati, the treasurer of King Parakramabahu and other kings directed his wife Sumedha and brother-in-law Lankadikara Kotadanavu Devalnawan to perform the religious rituals to the Ruwanweliseya. It was observed through the inscription how women during the reign of Queen Kalyanavati organised offering ceremonies and that the rulers of that period paid much attention to religious rituals within a cultural framework during their time of rule.