histoy G-10 E

Fig. 5.5. The ruins of an ancient Devalaya, discovered in a place named

Pallebadde Galpaya in Sabaragamuwa province. This was buried in four feet

deep from the ground level. The place, has been identified as a place where

‘Kirimadu Yagaya’ was performed. This belonged to the second century A.D.

Viyatha consists of 9 inches. Small measurements
were essential in constructing buildings and
making statues. The measurements like Gawwa,
Yoduna and Usaba were used to measure long
distances. King Nissankamalla ordered to erect
posts to mark every distance of Gawwa. It is very
similar to present day Kilometer posts. Those
stone posts were named as Gawuthakanu. Two
of such Gawuthakanu posts have been discovered
in areas named Katugahagalge and Weligaththa
in the Southern province. It seems that this
measuring system had been used commonly in
ancient eastern countries. Try to understand its
mathematics by reading the cycle given below.

Paramanu 36 = Anu 1

Anu 36 = Thjjari 1

Thajjari 36 = Ratharenu 1

Ratharenu 36 = Likkha 1

Likkha 7 = Ukha 1

Ukkha 7 = Dhannamasa 1

Dhannamasa 7 = Angula

Angula 12 = Viyath 1

Measuring the weight

There were methodical units to

measure the weight too. Specially,

in trade affairs measuring the

weight of some commodities was

needed. According to the pillar

inscription of Soraborawewa, it

was prohibited to use weights,

scales and measuring units

which were not approved by the

government. Try to understand

the nature of the measuring

system used in the ancient time

by reading the cycle given below.

Veeha 4 = Gunja 1

Gunja 2 = Masaka 1

Masaka 2.5 = Aka 1

Aka 8 = Dharana 1

Dharana 5 = Swarna 1

Swarna 2 = Pala 1

We are well aware of the fact that we need digits

to mark the measurements. Present day we use

digits introduced by the Arabs.

Therefore, they are called Arab numbers. But

there was an old digit system in our country. The

numbers ranged from one to ten can be seen in

ancient inscriptions. The way they were written

has been given in the chart 5.1.

Measuring Time

Measuring time is very important for a society

based on agriculture. Sowing seeds and reaping

the harvest should be done according to the

correct time. The sources provide us sufficient

evidence to understand the methods used to

measure time by our ancient people. The term

‘Varshaya’ was used to measure a long time period.

It was based on a method of months according

to the lunar cycle. Thirty days time, fifteen days

from new-moon day to the full-moon day and

another fifteen days from the full-moon day to

new-moon day, was considered a month. These