GAL VIHARA, Yala

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The suspicius place name Gal Vihare (note 1) or Gal Vihara (rock monastery) appears to hint to sacred -cave- or modified natural rock shelter (temple cave). ETYMOLOGY: The Sinhala -gal- is a contraction of -gala- (rock) and -vihara- is Buddhist complex, including a shrine containing a statue of the Buddha, a congregational hall and a monk's house (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 295). Yaal, a score; twenty ammonams' extent of land; or twenty ammonams of grain, or twenty head of cattle (FORBES 1840, 1841. vol. 2: 337 note).The suspicius place name Gal Vihare (note 1) or Gal Vihara (rock monastery) appears to hint to sacred -cave- or modified natural rock shelter (temple cave). ETYMOLOGY: The Sinhala -gal- is a contraction of -gala- (rock) and -vihara- is Buddhist complex, including a shrine containing a statue of the Buddha, a congregational hall and a monk's house (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 295). Yaal, a score; twenty ammonams' extent of land; or twenty ammonams of grain, or twenty head of cattle (FORBES 1840, 1841. vol. 2: 337 note).