Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.62

c19.62

“And afterwards the king built the Mahā Vihāra in the noble city of Sirivaḍḍhana wherein he was born—a city that could not be compared for its situation—and endowed it with great possessions. It consisted of stately houses and open halls, of high walls and gates, and was ornamented with *bō*-trees, dāgabas, groves, and image-houses. The workmanship Painting thereof was diverse and of exceeding beauty, and it was adorned with great splendour. And in the vast space that extended from the city of Jambuddoṇi to the city of Sirivaḍḍhana, *Siri-* the length and breadth whereof was about half a yojana and one usabha, (the highway was) *vaḍḍhana* made even like the face of a drum, covered throughout with sand, exceeding fine and soft. And the divers flags and banners which ornamented the sides thereof were so great in number that they seemed to hide the rays of the sun; and rows of plantain trees were placed along the length thereof, with divers vessels for water, of exceeding beautiful workmanship, filled with ornamental flowers. And within this vast space the chief of men caused royal arches to be raised, one at every space of five cubits, at every space of ten cubits a cloth-arch,* and at every space of hundred cubits a stately house of great size, consisting of three stories and lofty spires, and containing images of the supreme Buddha,—all finished with paintings of exceeding great beauty.