Maligawila Buddha statue
Encyclopedia
The Maligawila Buddha statue is a standing figure of the Buddha
in Sri Lanka
, which has been carved out of a large limestone rock during the 7th century by a prince named Aggabodhi. It is the tallest free-standing ancient statue of the Buddha found in the country. It had been broken into several pieces by the time it was found in 1951. The statue was reconstructed and raised again in 1980 under the direction of the then president Ranasinghe Premadasa
.
in the Moneragala District
of the Uva Province
in Sri Lanka
. It has been carved from a single large limestone
rock, and is considered to be the tallest ancient free-standing image in Sri Lanka, at a height of 37 in 10 in (11.53 m). Along with the Buddha statues of Avukana and Buduruvagala
, the Maligawila Buddha statue is considered one of the best examples of the standing image of the Buddha from ancient Sri Lanka. It bears a close resemblance to the Avukana statue, and depicts the same asisa mudra, a variation of the Abhaya mudra. The standing Buddha clutches the robe at the left shoulder, while the right hand is raised to the right shoulder.
Ruins around the statue indicate that an image house had been constructed around the statue. It appears to have been about 80 feet (24.4 m) each in length and breadth, with walls 4 feet (1.2 m) thick. Its height would have been about 65 feet (19.8 m).
. It mentions that he built a temple named Pathma Vihara, and also constructed a great statue of the Buddha there.
The statue was discovered in 1951, fallen from its pedestal and lying broken to pieces. Before that, it had been damaged by treasure hunters around 1948. A 1974 attempt to raise the Maligawila statue ended in failure. However, another attempt was made in 1980 under then-president Ranasinghe Premadasa
. Several of the broken pieces had been damaged, including the right hand, face and feet; these were repaired before reconstructing the statue and re-erecting it. This has been described as a "very significant task" carried out under Premadasa's direction. The Maligawila Buddha statue attracts a large number of pilgrims every year.
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, which has been carved out of a large limestone rock during the 7th century by a prince named Aggabodhi. It is the tallest free-standing ancient statue of the Buddha found in the country. It had been broken into several pieces by the time it was found in 1951. The statue was reconstructed and raised again in 1980 under the direction of the then president Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
.
Appearance
The Maligawila Buddha statue is located close to the village of MaligawilaMaligawila
Maligawila, or Maligavila is a village in Sri Lanka, approximately south from Moneragala and from Okkampitiya in the Moneragala District...
in the Moneragala District
Moneragala District
Moneragala is a district in Uva Province of Sri Lanka. It is the largest of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, with an area of 7,133 km².-Statistics:In 2008 - Source-External links:*...
of the Uva Province
Uva Province
Uva is Sri Lanka's second least populated province, with 1,187,335 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla බදුල්ල பதுளை and Moneragala මොනරාගල மொனராகல. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It has been carved from a single large limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
rock, and is considered to be the tallest ancient free-standing image in Sri Lanka, at a height of 37 in 10 in (11.53 m). Along with the Buddha statues of Avukana and Buduruvagala
Buduruvagala
Buduruwagala is an ancient buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought. The statues date back to 10 century AD. The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it...
, the Maligawila Buddha statue is considered one of the best examples of the standing image of the Buddha from ancient Sri Lanka. It bears a close resemblance to the Avukana statue, and depicts the same asisa mudra, a variation of the Abhaya mudra. The standing Buddha clutches the robe at the left shoulder, while the right hand is raised to the right shoulder.
Ruins around the statue indicate that an image house had been constructed around the statue. It appears to have been about 80 feet (24.4 m) each in length and breadth, with walls 4 feet (1.2 m) thick. Its height would have been about 65 feet (19.8 m).
History and restoration
According to the ancient chronicle Chulavamsa, the statue was built in the 7th century by a prince named Aggabodhi from RuhunaRuhuna
Ruhuna is a region of southern Sri Lanka. It was the centre of a flourishing civilization and the cultural and economic centres of ancient Sri Lanka, Magama, Tissamaharama and Mahanagakula , were established here....
. It mentions that he built a temple named Pathma Vihara, and also constructed a great statue of the Buddha there.
The statue was discovered in 1951, fallen from its pedestal and lying broken to pieces. Before that, it had been damaged by treasure hunters around 1948. A 1974 attempt to raise the Maligawila statue ended in failure. However, another attempt was made in 1980 under then-president Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
. Several of the broken pieces had been damaged, including the right hand, face and feet; these were repaired before reconstructing the statue and re-erecting it. This has been described as a "very significant task" carried out under Premadasa's direction. The Maligawila Buddha statue attracts a large number of pilgrims every year.