“Anuradhapura Anthem” composed by RW Ievers, c.1890

R.W. Ievers (1850-1905)  was the Government Agent of the North Central Province …See Manual of North Central Province (1899) ……This poem was provided by H.C.P. Bell, Archaeological Commissioner of Ceylon to the Times of Ceylon in 1917 and appeared on its Christmas Number of that year.

Anuradhapura! City grand and vast,

Lanka’s famous Capital, in ages of the past:

In the “Mahawansa” the story has been told

Of thy palaces, and temples, and pinnacles of gold.

Chorus

Hail! then hail! to the worth of a bygone day,

Hail! all hail! to the relics of kingly sway

Hail to thee, Fair City, glorious in decay,

Hail! thrice hail! For ever and for aye!

 

Si monumentum quaeris – cast your gaze around

Ruined fanes and dagobas everywhere abound

Alas! Glory faded, for erstwhile beauty sped

For hierarchs and heroes, long numbered with the dead

 

Hail! then hail!…

Great Ruwanaveli Seya, once fairest of the fair,

The splendour of thy palmy days has melted into air,

And like Imperial Caesar now ‘dead and turned into clay’,

Thy sacred bricks ‘may stop a hole to keep the wind away.’

 

See ‘Bayagiri’ massive – ‘Fearless Mount’ forsooth –

Centre once of schism rank, from ‘Great Vihara’ truth.

Patched up by prison labour, anew it flaunts on high

A ‘hideous excrescence’ athwart a tranquil sky.

 

Jetawanarama, Great Sena’s priestly boon

Comely shape and giddy height will crumble all too soon;

Where forest trees and chequered shade a peaceful picture lend,

From cruel axe and ruthless spade, may gracious Heaven defend.

Thuparama graceful, in outline clear and bold,

Begirt with column chaste and slim, a gem in the ring of gold

To thee pertains high honour a pious people gave –

The tomb of Sanghamitta, and Prince Mahinda’s grave.

With bricks and mortar bolstered up, behold the Sacred Bo;

To some – misguided mortals – ‘tis but a ‘bo-gas’ show.

Where humble Mirisveti a monarch’s fad recalls,

Lo! Royal Siam’s silver now builds its futile walls.

What need to tell of sculptures, of ’pokunas’ galore,

Of balustrades and Yogi stones and half a hundred more,

Of brazen Palace spacious, with gilt-roofed storeys dight –

A modern race more ‘braze’ would desecrate each site.

For midst these sacred ruins of shrines and cloistered hall,

A reckless generation disports with little balls

Whilst ‘Parliamentary language’ and imprecations deep

Disturb the peaceful solitude where saintly Rahats sleep.

Iconoclasts and vandals have had their little day;

No more shall ancient pillars to culverts find their way.

No more a watchful Government such sacrilege condones –

One may not meddle with the gods, nor tamper with the stones.

Anuradhapura! Thy glory shall revive;

Thy sons shall swarm within thee like bees about a hive.

The effort of the present for past neglect atones;

New breath of life resuscitates this vale of driest bones.

Publications by Ievers about Anuradhapura

• Ievers, Robert Wilson (1890). Letter from the Government Agent, Anurádhapura, on the subject of the restorations of the Abhayagiri and Mirisawẹṭiya Dágabas. Colombo: G. J. A. Skeen – Government Printer.
• Ievers, Robert Wilson (1899). “Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland”. Customs and Ceremonies connected with Paddy Cultivation. VI. Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 46-52.
• Ievers, Robert Wilson (1899). “Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland”. Beligala. VII. Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 440-461.
• Ievers, Robert Wilson (1899). “Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland”. The Custom of Polyandry in Ceylon. XVI. Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 3-6.
• Ievers, Robert Wilson (1899). Manual of the North-Central Province. Colombo: G. J. A. Skeen – Government Printer.