Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c14.15

c14.15

“A true Hindu would not heedlessly injure the slightest object that has life. A tree is as much a manifestation of the Divine Wisdom and Power as the man himself, and the Dēvas engaged in the building up of a flower, love their work with as much fond regard as the artist, who paints its picture, loves the semblance. The man, who, through thoughtlessness or ignorance, injures these divine works, incurs the anger and ill-will of these elemental workers. Therefore a Hindu in plucking a flower or cutting a twig prays to the Supreme, and asks permission of the industrious ones who have made it. By the very fact that he recognizes their labour and appreciates their actions he propitiates these Sylvan Dēvas and gets their good-will and blessing.”*