In this book an attempt is made to describe the many salient features of the wooden architecture of the Kandyan era, which is perhaps the earliest period of the survival of examples of wooden architecture. J. P. Lewis writing in Caves Book of Ceylon has drawn attention to the similarity in shape and design in the details of the carvings of the stone pillars seen in the Hindu temples in Southern India and North Ceylon which are traceable to a wooden origin. It is true, he wrote, that they resemble Mudbidri pillars in having their angles partly square and partly octagonal, but after all this is an elementary shape for a wooden pillar to assume... the capitals of the pillars which usually consist of two blocks of wood or stone placed cross wise with drooping lotus flowers carved on the undersides appear to be of a Hindu patter Dr. C. E. Godakumbura commenting on these pillars had said The skill of the ancient masters is to be seen most of all in the medial panels of the pillars with their wide range of motives. Commenting on this wide range of motives he writes Here are displayed in low relief the conventional Sinhalese designs, the swan, at times single, at times with heads entwined, the double headed eagle, the woman growing out of the wine, a Bacchchanalian figure, .......a wrestling pair, dancers, soldiers, men and women in fluent and graceful movement, floral designs of many combinations, based chiefly on the lotus, no one design resembling another in the whole collection of designs.The charming head and tail pieces are from L. T. P. Manjusris Design Elements from Sri Lankan Paintings