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

of the inscriptions found on the pillars anti slabs is the twelfth
century. The date of the construction of these aiva and Vaiava
shrines is cert inly later than that. It is not possible to
surmise that these were built before 1212, when Buddhist rulers
were on the thorne. Nor is it possible to date them after lgha
was ousted from Polonnaruva, for with that ecent this city
appears to have been abandoned by the 1.ligas, Tamils and
Ker4as althoIi it is possible that some of the settlers
continued to be there even after that. In all probability the
destruction of Buddhist edifices and the construction of several
at least of the aiva and Vaiava shrines took place in the
time of 1ha. In fact, this is the testimony of the Sinhalese
and Tamil chronicles, too In the light of the examples at
Polonnaruva we may not be wrong in surmising that some at least
of the Saiva shrines found in association with Buddhi t remains
in the Vavuniy district were the work of the invaders and
new settlers in the time of 1 ha. It is possible that some
were built of materials from an abandoned or ruined Buddhist
structure at a later date. Some may have been converted into
aiva temples at a time when the Buddhist po ulafion of the area
ceased to exist due t either slow mi ration or assimilation
1. See sura, pf..•.ci
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