The King Statue of Polonnaruwa

The King Statue of Polonnaruwa

            The statue, located to the north of the Pothgul Vihara on the banks of the Toppa Tank, is a great work of the ancient Sinhalese. It is 11 feet high and 6 inches high. There are many opinions among historians about this statue. Some say that it is a statue of King Parakramabahu I (1153 - 1186 AD) or another king who ruled over the Polonnaruwa kingdom. Another view is that Siri Gunasinghe is a statue of a Brahmin or a Sasiwa.

          Prof. Senarath Paranavitana is of the opinion that there is a yoke in his hand. According to the accepted Bharatan concept in Sri Lanka, the yoke is a symbol of the king's responsibility to maintain justice and peace. Although a number of theories have been made, it is not yet known who the statue is. Inspired by this image of inspiration and vigor, whoever it is, is a masterpiece of a great sculptor. The stone on which the sculpture was carved is found on a stone inscription, but it could not be read.