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.

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Weheragala Rajamaha Viharaya

Weheragala Rajamaha Viharaya

          Located on the boundary of the Thamankaduwa and Ampara Districts in the Polonnaruwa District, this is a beautiful temple. It is believed to have been built during the Anuradhapura period. The three stone inscriptions adjoining the forty-foot high rock provide some indication in the history of the temple. But the inscriptions are so bad that they are unreadable. In these articles the reigns of two kings are given. The first article is about King Buddhadasa. This king was crowned The state viz., 340-368. He was a talented doctor in the history of Ceylon. The second and third article deals with the reign of Mahanama (410 - 432 AD). Buddhaghosa Thera, a renowned monk, came to Sri Lanka during this period. A letter from King Nissankamalla (1187 - 1196 AD), who came to power in the vicinity of the Viharaya, was found. This means that these areas were inhabited when the kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were present. This temple has been further enhanced.

          The remains of this temple are scattered throughout the historical ruins. The main reason is the stupa. This is two hundred feet round and ten feet high. It appears that the stupa had been fitted with Alva footrests.

         Bodhi below the stupa. There is a flight of stairs to go to. There is also an ancient Buddha statue of that era in the temple premises. The staircase, set at that time to climb to the top of the rock, is more beautiful. There were two beautiful ponds on the top of the rock. Rajarata Civilization After the fall of 1215, the population of these areas became unpopular with the migration of the southwest.

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