Avukana Buddha statue

The Avukana statue is a standing statue of the Buddha near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. The statue, which has a height of more than 40 feet (12 m), was carved out of a large granite rock face during the 5th century. It depicts a variation of the Abhaya mudra, and the closely worn robe is elaborately carved. Constructed during the reign of Dhatusena, it may have been made as a result of a competition between a master and a pupil. The Avukana statue is one of the best examples of a standing statue constructed in ancient Sri Lanka. It is now a popular tourist attraction.

Avukana Buddha Statue
Avukana Buddha Statue
Year7th century
TypeStone sculpture
LocationKekirawa, Sri Lanka
Coordinates8°0′39.1″N 80°30′45.6″E
WebsiteOfficial website

Location and appearance

The Avukana statue is located in the village of Avukana (also spelled Aukana) near Kekirawa. It is close to the Kala Wewa reservoir, and faces it.[1] It was carved out of a large granite rock face,[2] but is not completely separated. A narrow strip of rock has been left at the back of the statue, connecting it to the rock face and supporting it.[3] However, the pedestal on which the Buddha stands, which is carved in the form of a lotus flower, was carved separately and positioned under the statue. The statue alone is 38 feet 10 inches (11.84 m) in height, and with the pedestal the total height of the Avukana statue reaches 42 feet (13 m).[4][5] The statue had been located within a large image house or shrine, of which parts of the walls still remain. The structure was made of brick and stone, and was 74 feet (23 m) long and 63 feet (19 m) wide.[6]

Characteristics

The Avukana statue is considered to be one of the best examples of a standing statue of the Buddha from ancient Sri Lanka.[3] The Avukana statue shows some influence of the Gandhara school of art, as well as the Amaravati school of art of India. The robe is worn tightly, clearly outlining the shape of the body, and its pleats are carved clearly and delicately. It is worn over the left shoulder, and the right shoulder is bare, as is the tradition in Buddha statues of Sri Lanka. The Buddha's body is straight, and the left hand clutches the robe at the left shoulder. The right hand is raised up to the right shoulder, with the palm facing left.[1][4] This position is known as the Asisa mudra, a variation of the Abhaya mudra.[7]

Construction
Avukana Buddha statue

The Avukana statue is widely believed to have been constructed in the 5th century during the reign of King Dhatusena and under his orders.[4] However, another theory is that it was done by an individual named Barana.[8] There is another nearby standing statue of the Buddha, quite similar to the Avukana statue, at Sasseruwa. According to legend, the two statues are the result of a competition between a stone sculpting guru (master) and gola (pupil). The story goes that the master constructed the Avukana statue, while the pupil made the statue at Sasseruwa. The first to complete his statue had to notify the other by ringing a bell. The master managed to complete his statue first and won the competition. This is said to be why the Sasseruwa statue is unfinished. The Avukana statue is considered to be the better of the two, and similarities between them have led historians to believe that the story is actually true.[9] However, that is a mere legend as the Sasseruwa stature was built nearly four hundred years prior to the Avukana Buddha image. Reswehera Rajamaha Vihara is an ancient temple which was built by the king Devanampiya Tissa (307-267 BC).

Current situation

Today, pilgrims visit the statue from all parts of the country and the Avukana statue has become a popular tourist attraction.[10] Although the site lacked many facilities, it has now been improved by the Department of Archaeology and the Civil Defence Force.[8]

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See also

References
  1. Diganwela, T. (1997). කලා ඉතිහාසය [History of Art] (in Sinhala). Wasana Publishers. pp. 23–24.
  2. Walters, Alan (1997). Palms & pearls, or, Scenes in Ceylon. 9788120612358. Asian Educational Services. p. 78. ISBN 978-81-206-1235-8.
  3. Siriwera, W. I. (2004). History of Sri Lanka. Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. pp. 286–287. ISBN 955-551-257-4.
  4. Sarachchandra, B. S. (1977). අපේ සංස්කෘතික උරුමය [Cultural Heritage] (in Sinhala). Silva, V. P. pp. 121–122.
  5. De Silva, K. M. (1981). A history of Sri Lanka. University of California Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-520-04320-6.
  6. Bandaranayake, Senake (1974). Sinhalese monastic architecture: the viháras of Anurádhapura. Brill. p. 206. ISBN 978-90-04-03992-6.
  7. De Silva, D. G. B. (12 May 2001). "Misconceptions about Sri Lankan Buddha image". The Island. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  8. Perera, Harshini (21 June 2009). "A new facelift to Avukana precincts". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  9. "A guru-gola battle for supremacy". Sunday Times. 6 June 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  10. Davidson, Linda Kay; Gitlitz, David Martin (2002). Pilgrimage: from the Ganges to Graceland : an encyclopedia. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-57607-004-8.

Further reading

von Schroeder, Ulrich (1990). Buddhist Sculptures of Sri Lanka. (752 p.; 1620 illustrations). Hong Kong: Visual Dharma Publications, Ltd. ISBN 962-7049-05-0

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