Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting

Bahiravi, mythical female

Bahiravi (mythology)--Stone image--Vave devale--Minneriya--Sri Lanka

Dwarfs in art

The bahiravas in Sri Lankan art are mythical in character, dwarfish in size and grotesque in appearance. A unique example of a bahirava, this stone figure, which appears to be in a kneeling posture, is placed in the compound of the Vave devalaya at Minneriya, Sri Lanka. It was originally associated with images of other male and female goddesses which are now housed in the inner sanctuary of the develaya. Her dress and ornaments suggest a date in the 3rd or 4th century A.D.

Sirima Kiribamune

Vave devalaya, Minneriya, Sri Lanka

ca. 3rd or 4th 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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