An Investigative Study of the Offering Rituals Revealed from the Sannas of the Kandy Period (Based on selected Sannas and Tudapath)

Abstract

In Sri Lankan history the period from 1590 to 1815 is known as the period of Kandy Kingdom. This era which started with the first King Wimaladharmasuriya (1592-1604 AD) and ended with King Sri Wikrama Rajasingha (1798-1815 AD), can be recognized in the history of Sri Lanka in which Sannas and Tudapath were mostly written. This study is based on the selected Sannas and Tudapath of this era belonging to the Sabaragamuwa district. The objective of this study is to conduct an exploratory study on the allowances given by Sannas and Tudapath Grants. The document with the state seal affixed or certified by the king in favour of one's special qualification is known as sannas, and the document given on a state order related to the above grants to someone by the Maha Adhikaram or by the signature of the Local District Adhikaram of the area is called Tudapath. These sannas and thudapath include certain allowances for the nobles and common people and the maintenance of temples. Here primary and secondary sources are used subject to qualitative research method. As the primary sources, Sannas and Tudapath selected from the old writings of Sabaragamuwe written by Ven. Kirielle Gnanavimala Thero and the investigative books and documents written about the history of Sabaragamuwa are used as secondary sources. The form and value of the gift have been determined based on the seriousness of the service rendered or the extent to which the king is pleased with a certain matter. The areas of the Sannas given to the nobles or the common people are sometimes as the 'badawedilla' of the person concerned, some grants are as 'Nindagam', some grants are as land with a village with a part of the name of the person concerned, and some grants are given privately in the subject of monks. Accordingly, in this study, numerous social, economic, political, and cultural information about the relevant era, which is not found in many historical books, can be obtained.