Sumana S Dissanayake.
Muditha M Dissanayake.
 
 
WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE.

Architecture is a Science of investigating houses. There are two Sections of Architecture can clearly be identified in Sri Lanka today. Those are, the western Architecture and the Eastern Architecture. Eastern Architecture discussed some concepts, which are not discussed under western Architecture.

The origin of Eastern Architecture has affected the development of the Sinhala Sanskrit. This science has been born in Damba Diwa (India) and in other countries, situated around India where most farmers (Aryayo) lived in ancient times. But, Eastern Architecture is being developed and expanded throughout Sri Lanka, other than in those countries progressively at present.

I would like to define the Eastern Architecture as “the astrological Architecture” I won’t agree with any arguments imposed against this defmition. Because, there is an interrelated connection between Astrology and the Architecture. This connection can clearly be seen through astrological and the architectural activities. The second reason for my disagreement is because, the Astrology is essential in analyzing, building, or conducting some theories of Architecture. And the third fact is that, the 99% of Architects are either Astrologers or Architects with enough astrological knowledge.
 
 
 
 
 
Bahirawaya (Similar to Atles)
 

Eastern Architecture consists of two components.

(a) Science of Houses (Gebim Sasthraya) This is a method of investigating houses using hidden powers. Shall we firstly regard the concepts of Bahirawaya (similar to Atles )“Pada Beddeema “(division of the land avoiding all the defects) is done according to the shape and the activities of the Bahirawaya. It is a kind of observance.Bahirawa defects, (defects on the land )Vina Doosha (defects done by human beings through ghosts ) Boomi doosha (defects on the land ),cutting of Hunium are some concepts connected to this science of houses. It can be seen to someone, the Bahirawa puja as an observance (as a method of Thovil ) which is done at the opening of new houses.

(b) The drawing of building plans, laying foundation, sorting and quantitating timber, furnitures, stornes, bricks and building and landscaping etc.. Are the practical activities of the Architecture or by ancient Architects in acting upon above activities. It is helped to make people’s lives successful.
Theories of Western Architecture had been built up considering following factors. Those are, the strength of houses, existence of houses, suitability of a house for climatic affects and the beauty and the attractiveness of the nature. According to the Western Architecture, it is decided whether to fix doors and windows or not in a house which is by the side of a field (paddy field) based

on natural factors like the beauty or the attraction of the environment. But, in Eastern Architecture it may be decided based on astrological factors like, theory of direction defects (Disa Doosha) or defects originated by facing an object to another object (Veedha Doosha - as an example, if a door is facing to a huge tree)

The Western Architect decides to adjust a well, facing directly to a corner of a wall and a cross foot (Kurusa Padha) in a house, thinking that those incidents as disastrous things affect the strength of that house. But , the Eastern Architect will adjust above situations, thinking that, those situations may be reasons for the tragedy of people living in that respective house. The ideas in Eastern Architecture are so old, traditional and they are not suitable for today. The reason for this should be the westernization of Sinhala nation in present.

Therefore, there is a mixture of these both Architectures in Sri Lanka now