A novel that opens new vistas for the reader

Swarnamandaparamaya (The Temple of the Golden Pavilion)

Translated by Jayanta Vimalasena

Published by Visidunu

Publishers, Boralesgamuwa

Prof. Abaya Aryasinghe

FICTION: The Japanese nation is endowed with the credit of writing the first ever novel in the world. The author of this novel is a court lady called 'Murasaki Shibiki'. Her novel The Tale of Genji deals with the nature of the Royalty in Japan as existed in her time (early years of the 11th century). The Tale of the Golden Pavilion by Sukio Misuma (1915-1970) deals with the nature of the clergy prevailed in his time.

This work has been translated into Sinhala by Jayanta Wimalasena. His translation contains a shower of Sanskrit words some of which may not be understood by the average reader.

It appears that the translator has not deviated from the accepted practice of adopting a style of language commonsurates with the subject matter which the original work conveys. It is evident that Jayanta follows this yardstick in translating The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. This feature may account for the presence of a heavy volume of Sanskrit words.

Any book in one language cannot be translated to another language well preserving the taste and merit which the original work inherits. Wimalasena challenges this idea by the style of his own, embodied in the translation. His translation would have been a better attempt if the Sanskrit words give place to the simple Sinhala words, if such words are available.

The chief character of the novel is a prelate who is In-Charge of a Temple. There lived a prominent novice who looks after the health and the needs of the Chief Incumbent. This novice has been tipped by the Chief to succeed him in future.

So the time passed, the novice realises the folly and questionable conduct of his chief. It becomes clear that the monetary accounts of the Temple submitted to the benefactors are unfaithful. The novice is an eyewitness to some of his misconducts.

One of such behaviour was the association with the Geisha girls. The novice is no better. Both are living under the same roof in suspicion. This state of affairs does not continue for a long time.

The Chief Incumbent changes his mind and gives up the idea of recommending the novice to succeed him. The latter's reaction becomes apparent. He keeps many a secret to himself. Yet the secrets spread quickly. The young novice takes drastic step to leave the Temple for a distant destination.

Yet his thought remains on the Golden Temple. He could not forget the Phoenix bird perched on the ridge of the Temple roof. This bird has taught a good lesson to the novice. The mystical bird called Phoenix supposed to be the only bird of its kind, that after living five or six centuries in the Arabian desert, burnt itself on a funeral pile to start a new circle of life.

The inner meaning of this replica appears to have prompted the novice to start a new life span. At first he wants to commit suicide. One fine day he takes a box of matches and a bottle of poison and leaves the temporary residence to a place known only to himself. He takes with him bundles of straw to be used on a bonfire.

He enters the Golden Temple secretly and sets it on fire. His next thought is to kill himself by drinking poison. He changes his idea and throws the bottle of poison saying "I want to live".

Jayanta Wimlasasena's Swarnamandaparamaya opens a new vista for the Sinhala reader to step into a vast field of international fiction thereby understanding and exchanging universal culture and thoughts.

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