Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c14.25.1

c14.25.1

Summary of partial translation of the Māyāmataya: 1—5. Invocation of Buddha, Dharma and Saṅgha. 5—9. Of those for whom the book is intended, viz., learned and skilful architects. 10—14. “They who know but the (bare) meaning of words sport not in forest of poesy. (But now) let one who is wise (even) in the speech of common folk abide in the forest of poetic sport. I sing in common speech, the meaning of what is written in the ślokas, in Sinhalese that is meet for all. O master builders,* this is an incomparable book, written Māyā-in the common tongue, which if any one regard with the eye of wisdom, ’twere for the mataya bettering of work in this world. . . . How to build houses aright, what site and month are meet, how beams should be cut, to explain, I shall unfold the virtues of Māyāmataya.” 15—16. Of inauspicious months. 17—19. Of bad omens when setting about the work. 20—27. Directions for felling the ‘auspicious post’ (magul kapa).