The female as cult object in Buddhism

Stone relief, consort of Bodhisattva

Tara (goddess)

Stone carving--Vijayaramaya Temple--Anuradhapura--Sri Lanka

Bodhisattvas--Spouses

An image of Tara from the Vijayarama reliefs. The images in these reliefs are sometimes identified as Hindu deities. However, as they exist in a Mahayana (Buddhist) temple, the identification of Bodhisattvas and Taras seems justifiable. Copper plaques found in the precincts have invocations to the goddess Tara and the script is Sinhalese of the 8th century A.D. This is one of four reliefs at the Vijayarama Temple.

Sirima Kiribamune

Vijayarama temple at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

ca. 8th 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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