The novel is considered an outstanding work in modern Sinhalese fiction due to the significance of its theme and the sophistication of its technique.

[1] The story is based on a virtuous character called Aravinda, a Sinhalese youth raised in a traditional Buddhist family in the South.

First published in 1956 in Sinhala, the novel was translated into English language in 1985 by Professor Ashley Halpe, under the title The Way of the Lotus.

Aravinda starts his story with a special introduction of his father who works as a local physician (Veda Mahattaya) to make the ends meet.

Aravinda's father dies and his mother finds out that her husband has mortgaged the house to Dharmadasa for three thousand rupees.

Frustrated mother leaves the house despite her daughter's pleas that she and Aravinda can stay at their home until they die.

Realising that he is a threat to his own nephew, Sirimal, Menaka and Dharmada's son, he decides to leave the house and to rent a place.

He employs Gunawathi as housemaid who has a ten year old girl named Bathee with whom Aravinda builds up a father-daughter relationship.

Kulasuriya,a retired postmaster who wanders in the village aimlessly encourages Aravinda's existentialist ideology and they enjoy each other's company.