Carvings in stone, at the museum, Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Isurumuniya as seen in the 1960s - Photo by Mr. Jayaratne, Puwakpitiya. See the famous stone carving of the 'Lovers' in its original site.  

Click on the web-links  below to hear the old and then a new version of the song ‘Isurumuniye’ :-

1. http://youtu.be/ZyDTdNBWpyc

2. http://youtu.be/WpO8YW-ybCc

Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Offerings to the 'Sacred Foot-print'.

Ariel view of the surrounding country side.

Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, beginnings 2nd Century BC.

The stories of this site goes back to the 2nd Century BC. A group of 'High caste' aspirants were ordained as Monks at this site during the time of Mahinda Thera.

'The lovers', Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Isurumuni Lovers

'6th Century Gupta style carving. The woman, seated on the man's lap, lifts a warning finger, probably as a manifestation of her coyness; but the man carries on regardless. The figures may represent Dutugemunu's son Saliya and the low caste (Sadol Kula) maiden Asokamala whom he loved. It's known that he gave up the throne for her.
‘Siddha mahayaha kuni – maha (la) ka Asala yaha (di) ni’ [Hail! The cell of Mahaya is given to Venerable Asalaya]
The above Brahmi inscription was inscribed at the original place where the Isurumuniya Lovers were originally sculptured and placed. It is a special one as a letters in this inscription is 3 inches x 4 inches in size. After donating Vessagiriya to Maha Sangha this sculpture would have been removed and placed at its present place. The Lovers in the sculptured plaque are King Kuvera Vaisrawana and his Queen Kuni. Ramayana states that Vaisrawana who lived in Vessagiriya ruled Sri Lanka from Lankapura before Rawana'. (Refer Sri Lanka Rawana Rajadhaniya – Ariyadasa Seneviratna Chapter 9)

-          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isurumuniya

IIt has been claimed  by some that the 'mudra' of the right hand of the female figure, indicates a

a'desire for sexual congress'. If it is so, it indicates a high degree of sophistication in the era of this stone-cutting (PGV).

The 'Lovers' in their original site in the 1950s. Photo of Mr.Jayaratne, Puwakpitiya, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Stairways and doorway, Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Under an overhanging rock.

Early stage of cracking open a boulder.

 Holes were made in a large rock and special wooden pegs were inserted into these holes and tightened. When the wooden pegs were soaked with water they swelled up and cracked the boulder open. This technique was used about 2000 years ago. There were no electric drills nor dynamite available those days.

Stone-stairway.

A decorative door-way made from granite.

Scenes from Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

View from the far side of the pond.

A stone carving of a squirrel?

The Buddha image under the overhanging rock.

Scenes from the life of Lord Buddha.

The recumbent image of Lord Buddha lies under the overhanging rock. Repeated applications of paint over the years and the drawings on the walls give it a very tasteful sight.

Works of the stone-cutters, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

Decorated stone pillars.

Doorway to the old rock-temple

Decorated door-posts.

Decorated door-posts.

 Granite slabs of stone have been worked by the stone-cutters two millenia ago. It looked as easy as working with wax.

Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

The rock-temple

Elephant figures carved on the rock near the pool.

Monkey frolicking near the pool.

'The temple was built by King Devanampiya Tissa who ruled in the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura. After 500 children of high-caste were ordained, Isurumuniya was built for them to reside. King Kasyapa I (473-491 AD) renovated this viharaya and named it as "Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera". This name is derived from names of his 2 daughters and his name. There is a viharaya connected to a cave and above is a cliff. A small stupa is built on it. It can be seen that the constructional work of this stupa belong to the present period. Lower down on both sides of a cleft, in a rock that appears to rise out of a pool, have been carved the figures of elephants. On the rock is carved the figure of a horse. The carving of Isurumuniya lovers on the slab has been brought from another place and placed it there. A few yards away from this vihara is the Ranmasu Uyana'. - Wikipedia.

A loving couple in stone, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

The 'loving couple' is a famous stone sculpture belonging to the 5th century AD, at the Isurumuniya rock temple, Sri Lanka. The stone slab bearing this has been moved into a protected area now. The picture on top was taken in the late 1950s. Various interpretations have been given to the poses of the couple ranging from shyness of the female, to invitation for sexual congress as expressed by the posture of the fingers of the female's hand. Note the decorative stone jar on the top right corner.

Guard-stone, ('dwara-paalaka' - Sinhalese), Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

The 'guard-stones' were erected at the entrance to buildings in ancient Sri Lanka. They were called 'Dwaara Paalaka' in Sinhalese and mean what they say in Tamil - namely 'administrators of the opening' - guards of the entrance. They were in pairs facing each other across the entrance. They were chiseled in granite. Each figure carried a 'pun kalasa' - Sinhalese or 'nirai-kudam' in.Tamil. This latter represented prosperity and was an auspicious sign. The seven headed cobra protecting the crowned head of the figure means, that the figure represented was a 'Naga' king. This was photographed at Isuruminiya by Charaka Wickremasinghe.

Another view, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

You can see in this picture, the elephant figures cut on the rock, the man and horse and two beautiful guard-stones at the entrance to the rock temple.  Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe.

Isurumuniya rock and tank, Sri Lanka.

Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe of the Isurumuniya rock temple, tank and dagoba..

Elephants sculpted on rock, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe - Olympus digital.

Isurumuniya, stone carvings, 6th Century AD, Sri Lanka.

The Isurumuniya rock temple dates from 3rd century BC. It is situated in Anuradhapura. The rock carvings are of a later date probably 6th century AD. Various interpretations are given for the figure of the horse and a man positioned looking at a lake nearby. It has been suggested by some that it could be the figure of the God Ayyanayake, who looks after forests and lakes. Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe.