Sri Lnakan Buddha image

According to literature sources Buddha image appeared to have been introduced to Sri
Lanka in the 3
rd
century B.C at the same time of Buddhism was introduced to this island.
It is said that in ahavamsa the great chronicle of Sri Lanka that the !"rusilapatima# a
large stone image was e$isted in Sri lanka% but we have not found out archaeological to
evidence to say that there was a large stone image in Sri Lanka.
&his account on the Buddha image is not given in his reign of king 'evanampiyatissa.
But this account is given in connection the fourth century A.' &hen again in the
ahavamsa it is said that the Buddha images were deposit in (uvanweliseya in
Anuradhapura. But as we have not seen so that it is difficult to believe.
According to archaeological evidence we find Buddha image in Sri Lanka in the fourth
century A.'. )owever there are three kinds of Buddha images in Sri Lanka seated image%
standing image and sleeping image. And the sleeping image is considered as the passing
away of the Buddha. &hese images are made of wood% brick% plaster% stone% matter%
brown% and in later time made of gold and silver.
&he most popular Buddha image in Sri Lanka is seated Buddha image. Seated Buddha
images are made as being of seated in *erasana. It means the seated of )ero% the right
foot placed on the left side. &he seated Buddha image is very popular in !'hyana udra#
the posture of editation and also in !Abhaya udra# the posture of blessing of giving
liberation to all beings.
And very rarely we see the seated of Buddha image in the form of !'hammacakka
udra# the posture of preaching or !Bhumiphassa udra# the posture of touching earth.
In the covering of the body with the robe there seems to have been two traditions. +ne is
covering one shoulder and the robe is transparent. &he other in the type the robe is thick
and has folds and also covers one shoulder. It appears that at first the seated Buddha
image was introduced.
&hird type is recumbent or dying. But that figure is always made the Buddha lying side
ways in ! Sakyasinhaleela#. ,or very beautiful image good e$ample is !SamadhiBuddha
image# in Anuradhapura. In that Buddha image the robe is transparent. &he "snisha is
not like Indian one but shorter than the Indian image.
Sri Lankan artists have made the Buddha images with the Sri Lankan facial features.
,rom there% the images of the body lean and beautiful and the feature in a balanced
manner. )ere the Sri Lanka image is -uite different from India Buddha image. It is said
Sri Lanka Buddha image is an independent creation.