two parts were introduced as ‘Purapakshaya’ and
‘Awapakshaya’ respectively. The terms Duruthu,
Navam, Medin, were used to name the months
of thirty days time.
The eastern term ‘Vasa’ or ‘Havajara’ has been
used to name a time period of twelve months
in the inscriptions. The term ‘Vasa’ from the
Sanskrit word ‘Varsha’ and the term ‘Havajara’
from the Sanskrit word ‘Sanvasthara’ were
derived. The present term ‘Avurudu’ has derived
from the ancient term ‘Havajara’ (Havajara >
Havurudu > Avurudu). The term ‘Thithiya’
was used to mean a day. The word ‘Thatha’ has
been mentioned in an inscription, established
by king Abhaya, found in the place
called Rajagala in present day Batticaloa
district. It means ‘Thithiya’. A day is made
of Muhurthas (moments). The term
‘Mohotha (moment)’ has derived from
the term ‘Muhurtha’.Scientific thoughts are needed in using
measurements and numbers. We can
understand that our ancestors had
thought scientifically to understand the
complex elements in the world. Several
scientific experiences of Sri Lankans,
who lived in the ancient time, have been
explained in this lesson by means of such
mathematical concepts.Dedigama Elephant Lamp (Eth Pahana)The place Punkagama, where king
Parakramabahu I (1153 -1186 A.D) was
born, is presently known as Dedigama.
It is in Kegalle district. A stupa has
been built in memory of his birth. It is
known as Dedigama Suthighara Stupa.
In 1951 this Stupa was excavated by the
archaeologists. They were able to find a
bronze lamp from the Stupa. This lamp
consists of two human figures sitting on
a tusker. The tusker is holding a sugar
cane in its trunk. The special featureChart 5.1 Several numerical figures that could be seen in
ancient inscriptions in Sri Lanka.
of this lamp is that it has been made to pour
the oil into the abdomen of the tusker. It is the
storehouse of oil. The oil trickles to the lamp
through the genital organ of the tusker. When
the oil level of the lamp dwindles by burning,
spontaneously the oil stored inside the abdomen
of the tusker trickles to the lamp. A scientific
theory has been followed here. It belongs to the
non-motile hydrology. Here, the oil regulation
occurs automatically. Dedigama Suthighara
bronze elephant oil lamp is an obvious example
to substantiate the knowledge that the ancient
Sri Lankan engineers had on fundamentals of
complex physics.