Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting

Tara as consort of Avalokiteśvara

Tara (goddess)

Avalokiteśvara (Buddhist deity)--Sri Lanka

Stone carving--Buduruvagala Buddhist temple--Sri Lanka

This group of colossal Mahayana stone reliefs is seen at Buduruvagala, Sri Lanka. Standing on his left, Tara is shown as the female companion of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. The simple drapery, the lack of ornamentation and the piled up hair are among the more common characteristics of Tara images noticed at Buduruvagala, Sri Lanka too. The goddess carries a vessel in her left hand. It is dated approximately to the period between the 7th and 10th centuries on stylistic grounds.

Sirima Kiribamune

Buduruvagala in the Moneragala district, Sri Lanka

ca. 7th-10th century A.D.

Period of study: 1986-1987

Version: 01/12/2012

Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Technical Officer: Wijesinghe, Lalith

Technical Assistant: Jayasundare, Subhashini

Photographer: Madanayake, I.S.

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

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