This book investigates how the encounter between 16th and 17th-century Portuguese colonial forces and indigenous Sri Lankan society fundamentally altered the expression and practice of Buddhism. Stephen C. Berkwitz, a scholar of South Asian religions, utilizes the poetic corpus of Alagiyavanna to map these cultural shifts. By analyzing five specific works, the author argues that colonial pressure necessitated a re-articulation of Buddhist identity and social hierarchy within a rapidly changing political landscape.

Scholars in the field of South Asian studies recognize this work as a significant contribution to the understanding of colonial-era religious literature. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the precise historical context provided for Alagiyavanna's poetry.