Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting

Ardhanarisvara, hermaphrodite, Half god and half goddess facing opposite directions

Ardhanarisvara--Goddess

Bronze image--National Museum (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Hermaphroditism in art

Reflecting the Ardhanarisvara concept is this bronze, shown with the male and female halves facing opposite directions. It was originally found in a Buddhist temple at Veragala in the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka, The statue exhibited in the Colombo National Museum, may belong to the Anuradhapura period.

Sirima Kiribamune

Colombo National Museum, Sri Lanka

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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