Rock paintings--Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, Colombo, Sri Lanka
In a different medium is this representation of Tara found painted on a rock boulder at Kotgalkanda, 8 ½ miles from Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. This is an artist's re-production of it, available at the Post-Graduate Institute of Archaeology in Colombo. Seated in an attitude of meditation, the image is barely visible in outline. She carries a water-lily, a traditional symbol of Tara. Somewhat heavily ornamented, it reflects a departure from the usual austerity associated with Tara images in Sri Lanka. Though not precisely dated, it may be attributed to the second half of the Anuradhapura period (6th to the 10th centuries A.D.), when Mahayana worship was fairly widespread according to scholarly belief.
Post-Graduate Institute of Archaeology, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Technical Assistant: Jayasundare, Subhashini
International Center for Ethnic Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo
All rights reserved by International Center for Ethnic Studies, Sri Lanka.
Forms part of Photographic documentation of Women as depicted in early Sri Lankan sculpture and painting / Slide in present collection