Statue of Parakramabahu I, located near the Pothgul Vehera in

Polonnaruwa Poḷonnaruwa, (; ) also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in History of Sri Lanka, ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, ...

is a stone sculpture dating back to the

Polonnaruwa period The Polonnaruwa period was a period in the history of Sri Lanka from 1017, after the Chola conquest of Anuradhapura and when the center of administration was moved to Polonnaruwa, to the end of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa in 1232. The Kingdom o ...

of ancient

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

. Its identity is uncertain, although the widely accepted theory is that it is a statue of

Parakramabahu I Parākramabāhu I (Sinhala language, Sinhala: මහා පරාක්‍රමබාහු, 1123–1186), or Parakramabahu the Great, was the List of Sinhalese monarchs, king of Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186. He oversaw ...

. However, it has also been suggested as the statue of a sage. Carved on a large boulder, the statue depicts a majestic figure with a grave expression, holding a book or yoke in his hands.

Location

The statue, which is located to the north of the city of

, is situated near the eastern bank of the

Parakrama Samudra Parakrama Samudra (or King Parakrama's sea or the Sea of King Parakrama) is a shallow reservoir ( wewa), consisting of five separate wewa (reservoirs) (thopa, dumbutulu, erabadu, bhu, kalahagala tanks) connected by narrow channels in Polonnaruwa, ...

a reservoir. This reservoir was actually built by Parakramabahu I himself. You can find the statue approximately north of the ancient Potgul Vehera monastery.

Characteristics

The statue was built presumably in the 12th century, during the reign of

. The statue of Parakramabahu I is one of the best stone sculptures belonging to the

. The statue is carved in high relief on a large boulder, with full use being made of its height. Its upper body is bare except for a single thread worn over the left shoulder. A long object is held in the hands. The statue's face carries a grave expression, with half-closed eyes, a high forehead, a long beard and a moustache. The shoulders of the statue are rounded, suggesting "extraordinary strength". The right leg is relaxed with the right knee bent forward slightly. The left leg carries the weight of the body, while the hip is also slightly inclined to the left. According to archaeologist Senarath Paranavitana, this statue is "the very embodiment of strength, majesty and dignity".

Identity

The statue has not been positively identified, but the popular and widely accepted belief is that the statue is of King

, who ruled the country 1153 to 1186. Historian Mendis Rohanadeera has suggested that the statue shows a man belonging to the Lambakanna clan, because a hare—a symbol of this clan—is depicted above the left shoulder of the statue. This supports the theory that it is a statue of Parakramabahu I, who was of the Lambakanna clan. However, another theory is that it is the statue of a sage; either

Agastya Agastya was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the Indian tradition, he is a noted recluse and an influential scholar in diverse languages of the Indian subcontinent. He is regarded in some traditions to be a Chiranjivi. He and his wife ...

or Pulasthi. The object held in the hands of the statue may be an

ola Ola may refer to: Places Panama *Olá, a subdistrict in Coclé Province * Olá District Russia *Ola, Russia, an urban settlement in Magadan Oblast * Ola District, an administrative division in Magadan Oblast * Ola (river), a river in Magadan ...

(cured palm leaves) book. This, and the fact that it is located close to the Potgul Vehera, which was a library in ancient times, supports this theory. However, another belief is that the object is a "yoke of kingship". There is also a belief that this statue represents King Nissankamalla.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Statue Of Parakramabahu I Kingdom of Polonnaruwa Archaeological protected monuments in Polonnaruwa District