The female as cult object in Buddhism

Limestone image of Tara

Tara (goddess)

Limestone sculpture--National Museum (Colombo, Sri Lanka).

Also from southern Sri Lanka but of more modest proportions, is this lime-stone Tara image in the round. It was originally found in a temple at Siyambalagasvila in the Hambantota district, Sri Lanka. Displaying the usual simplicity of dress associated with Tara images in Sri Lanka, she has her hair piled up in a crowning coiffure ‘jata makuta’. The statue may belong to the 8th to the 10th century A.D. phase of Mahayana Buddhism in Sri Lanka. This sculpture is found in the National Museum, Colombo.

Sirima Kiribamune

Colombo National Museum, Sri Lanka

ca. 8th to the 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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