Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c13.38

c13.38

Another building that has been referred to is the baṇa maḍuva or preaching hall; these are open pillared buildings, sometimes temporary booths, where large crowds assemble on pohoya days to hear the sacred books read, which is done by the priest who sits on an elevated stool or rather cage, concealed from view by white cloths. The baṇa maḍuva is usually separate from the vihāra itself; at Doḍantale, however, the ground floor of the vihāra building itself is the baṇa maḍuva.