[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911) › c8.178 # A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c8.178 A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c8.178 - **Language:** English ### [c8.178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911.c8.178) Ambusthāla \*dāgaba\* of Mihintalé, distant eight miles from the early capital. Their purpose has been much discussed. Mr. Smither has demonstrated to my satisfaction that those at the Thūpārāma could not have carried a roof of any kind.¹ It is possible that in some cases they may have been used to support sacred Buddhist symbols, but ordinarily, as Mr. Parker argues, those round the large buildings appear to have been intended primarily as a barrier against evil spirits, and secondarily to support festoons of lamps suspended on great occasions. At the \*waṭa-dā-gē\* shrines, according to Mr. Bell, the pillars were intended to 'hold up a roof to shelter the small \*stūpa\* and worshippers at the shrine'.¹ - [Previous: c8.177](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911.c8.177) - [Next: c8.179](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911.c8.179) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911.c8) ## Linked texts (1) - [Mihintale](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.mihintale) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911.c8.178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.smith-1911.c8.178) · Pramāṇa