Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c13.36

c13.36

The Buddhist temple is not complete without a bōdhi maḷuva or platform, with or without altars, surrounding a bō-tree; a pansala, or priests' residence; and a ḍagaba or dome-shaped monument enshrining sacred relics, in addition to the actual vihāra or image house. Pansal are not now the comfortless caves at one time exclusively inhabited by the Monasteries priesthood; though cave pansal are still found, having a general resemblance to a cave temple in plan. The typical mediæval pansala resembles a substantial dwelling-house of the same period—a rectangular building with the rooms opening into an inner verandah, and courtyard open to the sky. Kuṇḍasāle and Laṅkātilaka are typical examples; or the monks' cells may be arranged in a row under one roof, or forming a square surrounding the pohoya-gē; these arrangements may be observed at the great monasteries at Asgiriya and Malvatte in Kandy; in the latter there are also separate suites of rooms for the Saṅgha Rāja, besides a refectory, kitchens, and other offices. The Malvatte pansala is a storehouse of eighteenth century wood and metal work, mostly constructed by Kirti Śrī Rāja Siṃha. It was partly constructed from the remains of a palace built at Māpanāvatura; but two doors and frames of the royal bedchamber were used in building the relic room at the Daḷadā Māligāva (Lawrie's Gazetteer, p. 532).