Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c13.24

c13.24

Cave temples consist usually of a natural cave somewhat enlarged and smoothed, with a drip line (*kaṭaraya*) cut round the rock outside, beneath which is a lean-to roof supported on carved wooden pillars, or stone pillars with wooden brackets (*pẹkaḍa*) forming a verandah. A solid wall with one or more doors and windows separates this more or less open verandah from the actual cave in which the image or images are placed. This wall is of mud (wattle and daub), stone, burnt clay, or brick, and being carefully smoothed and plastered is then covered with paintings of jātakas and other edifying subjects. Some cave temples, such as that at Dambulla and Riḍī vihāras have been occupied continuously from a time not much later than the introduction of Buddhism into Ceylon, but at first rather as retreats for the priests than as temples; and many have early inscriptions in the Asōka character. Amongst the most notable cave temples in the eighteenth century were Riḍī Vihāra, Danagirigala, Degaldoruva, Dambulla and Aluvihāra.‡