Sri Lankan Monastic Architecture (An Old and Rare Book)

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Sri Lankan Monastic Architecture is the Second Volume in the outstanding Studies on Sri Lanka Series, deals with the Monastic Architecture of Sri Lanka, based on a historical significance of Polonnoruva, the medieval Capital of Sri Lanka, which is called Palasthipura in Medieval times. The situation of Polonnaruva midway between the earlier capital of Anuradhapura & Rohana. A well-documented & critical study of the history & development of Buddhist monas-ticism & monastic architecture of Sri Lanka. The Growth of the City of Polonnurauva began with the reign of Vaijayabahu I. The activities of Vijayabahu I in the sphere of Buddhism could be discussed on resettlements of the Buddhist Monks, reintroduction of the higher ordination & the revival of the Bhikkhu Community.

While providing an overview of the research in this area, the author point out, the history of Polonnaruva and describe its monuments of Worship, ecclesiastical and residential buildings like Arama, Kuti, Avase, Viharam Parivena and Pasada all used as residences. The inner citadal is exclusively occupied by the royal palaces and other courtly buildings, ponds, Tooth relic Temple, Siva devale, Galvihara & there are some Other Ruins of Hindu Shrines dedicated to Siva, Vishnu, Durga & Kali and also describe its method and Construction of Stupa, Vahalkadas, Fronticepices, Basements , walls, Door & Openings, Pillers & Plasters, Roofs & Materials used in the Construction and their Orientation. The book is profusely illustrated with plates, figures, maps and site plan.

Dr. H.T. BAS6AYAKE. is at present Head, Department of History, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He is also Archaeological Director, Sigiriya and Dam-bulla Cultural Triangle Projects of the UNESCO- Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Programme.

This book has grown out of my research for my doctoral dissertation. I have substantially altered the first two chapters and have added more material to the rest of the chapters as a result of the excavations carried out by the UNESCO-Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project in Polonnaruva.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Professor L. Prematilleke, Professor of Archaeology and the Head of the Department of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka for guiding and directing me to write this book; to Mr. Roland Silva, Director-General of the Central Cultural Fund and the Commissioner of Archaeology for kindly consent-ing to examine it; to Dr. Senake Bandaranayake, the Head of the Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya for very generously giving me scholarly advice and suggestions; to Mr. Marcus Fernando, retired Assistant Commissioner of Archaeology and the visiting lecturer in Archaeology, University of Kelaniya for helping me in reading my manuscript and giving me very valuable suggestions to improve its quality; to Mr. M. H. Sirisoma for extending me every assistance to collect data and to Mr. Saratwattala for giving me every possible help t o examine the monuments at the site.

Furthermore I wish to thank all others who helped me in various ways.

Finally I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to Mr. Naresh Gupta and his brother Mr. Sunil Gupta, the Directors of the Indian Books Centre for undertaking the publication of this book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**