'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.

Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

The top of the rock where the Sacred Footprint is worked in stone.

In the early days after the passing away of Lord Buddha, Lord Buddha did not have any statues made of him. Since he went away 'to nothingness' only objects reminding him were used by devotees. Representation of foot-prints, an empty chair, an umbrella etc were used by devotees to be reminded of the 'Thathagatha'. The 'Foot-print' was used extensively. Thus 'Isurumuniya' one of the earliest places of Buddhism in ancient Sri Lanka, had this. The 'Foot-print' is still found on the top of this rock in present Isurumuniya.

Old rock cuttings used to ascend the rock.

The enclosed site of the ancient Foot-print.

A view of the pool from the top of the rock.

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.

Artifacts and monkeys at Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

A drainage channel of stone.

A wall with neatly fittes stone blocks and a stone stairway.

Monkey on a tree in the premises.

A monkey next to a decorative water pot made of stone.

Built by King Davanampiya Tissa (250-210 BC) this rock temple donated to the Buddhist monks, has an aura of serenity. It has a collection of workings in stone which surpasses any similar ones in the world by their beauty and simplicity of style.