A comparative study of wood materials used in building construction (reference to maimathaya)

Abstract

When constructing a building, it is very important to think about its durability. The material used for it is important here. Accordingly, there should be an understanding of types of wood, use of wood, etc. "Maimataya", an vāstuvidyā source, includes methods on the use of wood. The poems are written using very simple Sinhala language and the culture of that time for ease of understanding of the people of the past. Does the matter of wood used in home design contain any scientific method? is the problem of this research. The main aim of this research is to highlight the inherent scientific nature of vāstuvidyā sources. The objectives are also to educate society to identify suitable wood and reduce counterfeit use. "Maimataya" contains the methods used in the construction of ancient houses. Among them, the methods used since then have been mentioned on the points to be taken care of while choosing some woods. When choosing a plant, the nature of the plant was concerned with its strength and included mystical facts that were easily understood by the people of the time. Due to these facts, there are misconceptions about vāstuvidyā today. There are those who view vāstuvidyā with skepticism, seeing it as a pseudoscience. They argue that its principles can limit scientific creativity and impose unnecessary restrictions on construction and design. Vāstuvidyā is therefore largely dismissed as superstition. The purpose of this research is to dispel that myth to some extent. Also gives good knowledge about wood used in construction. It also creates awareness in society about how to choose wood properly. The research method here is the qualitative research method. According to the overall study of the research, it can be concluded that the facts contained in vāstuvidyā have a scientific substance.