Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c18.12

c18.12

“About A.D. 1165, after the translation of the Sinhalese commentaries into Pāli, the pious and illustrious King Sarvajña Parākrama Bāhu ascended the throne of Laṅkā. Having noted with concern the corruptions that had crept into the Saṅgha since the sway of the great King Vaṭṭagāmini Abhaya he took action to purge it from its corrupt adherents, with the aid of the illustrious Mahā Kāsyapa of Dimbulāgala (Dambulla), and he thoroughly renewed the Cetiya at Purvārāma and other temples (Anurādhapura) and the Uposatha hall, and embellished the parapet around the Bōdhi tree with various beautiful paintings. Mahā Kāsyapa then approached his Majesty and prayed for a translation of the Sāriputra, a portion of the old Vedaṅga, which treats of the dimensions of the images of Buddha for the guidance of lay artists. The King deputed this work to a pupil of the Mahā Thēra Kāsyapa, who was competent to undertake it.”