Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.54.1

c19.54.1

The whole of the Mahāvaṃsa is extraordinarily full of the idea of art and craft, especially architectural. The ideals of civic and architectural magnificence and beauty are continually dwelt upon, often in poetical and imaginative passages of the highest order.* I quote in full the description of the restoration of Riḍi Vihāra by Kirti Śri. “And the lord of Painting the land gave unto the novice Siddhattha the large vihāra called Rajata [Riḍi Vihāra] that the king Duṭṭhagāmanī had built, who had verily come (into this world) with the desire Riḍi Vihāra to become the chief disciple of Maitri Buddha. And the ruler of Laṅkā caused that priest to be ordained, and bestowed offices on him and on all the priests who dwelt in the Uposatārāma, and also showed them favour in many ways. And that they might restore that vihāra which had been long in a state of decay, the lord of Laṅkā provided them with divers artificers and many painters, and much refined gold for gilding the statue of Buddha, and all the labour and instruments that were necessary. And when the eminent monk Siddhattha had received all these things he removed everything that was old and decayed, and made the thick high wall of solid stone, to shine, and the floor and the outer wall also. And he caused a picture of the Supreme Buddha, as he was engaged in the battle with Māra, to be painted on the roof of the rock, and divers flowers and branches also.