Avukana Ancient Rock Temple, Sri Lanka

Address

Avukana Ancient Rock Temple Kalawewa-Avukana Rd, Avukana, Sri Lanka

Diety

Avukana Buddha

Introduction

The Avukana statue temple is a standing statue of the Buddha near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. The statue, which has a height of more than 12 m, was carved out of a large granite rock face during the 5th century. It depicts a variation of the Abhaya mudra, and the closely worn robe is elaborately carved. Constructed during the reign of Dhatusena, it may have been made as a result of a competition between a master and a pupil. The Avukana statue is one of the best examples of a standing statue constructed in ancient Sri Lanka.. Today, pilgrims visit the statue from all parts of the country and the world and the Avukana statue has become a popular tourist attraction .Although the site lacked many facilities, it has now been improved by the Department of Archaeology and the Civil Defence Force. The statue stands on a pedestal that has been carved from a separate piece of granite, believed to have been added on later. The lotus shaped pedestal depicts a double-petal lotus flower and called the “padmasana”.The Avukana statue is widely believed to have been constructed in the 5th century during the reign of King Dhatusena and under his orders. However, another theory is that it was done by an individual named Barana.