113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

of Saivaa in the region of Trincomalee in the time of GajabThu II
and to the antagonism between them and the Sinhalese Buddhists
of the area The event described in this Tamil chronicle to
illustrate this antagonism seems to take us back to a time when
the Sinhalese of the Trincomalee district were being gradually
ousted by or assimilated to the Tamil population. It is stated
in this work that opposite the rock on which the temple of
Kvaram stood the Bud hists built a temple of the Buddha
and harassed the Saiva devotees who took flowers to (varam.
This led to quarrels between the Buddhists and the Pcupatar
(aivas). The latter triumphed over the Buddhists and pushed
some of them down the rock into the sea. The matter was reported
to GajabThu II, who tried to take revenge on the aivas by
attempting to destroy the Cvaram temple. But through divine
intervention he realised his folly, became converted to aivisxn
and made generous benefactions to the temple and to the Brhmaas
there Although the details of this account may not be wholly
acceptable, it is not altogether untrustworthy. GajabThu is
the only Sinhalese monarch who finds mention in the Takçiakailca-mlai.
In this chronicle he is said to have taken the
207
1. E2' 7:89-96.
2. Ibid.