5th century Buddha Statue

The Aukana Buddha statue is situated in the Anuradhapura district near a small,
picturesque village called Nagampaha in Sri Lanka. The Buddha statue is close to
Kekirawa city on the Kandy-Jaffna main road. This massive Buddha statue is built on the
east bank of the Kalawewa (Kalawewa Lake) facing the lake and against shining sun.
From the top of the temple one can have a magnificent view over the surrounding
vegetation and small villages.

Aukana is an important pilgrimage as well as archeological site for Buddhist in the
island. One can see the remnant of a roof on the Buddha statue. It had been built using
bricks and placed above the stone walls. The roof was destroyed at the time of discovery
of the statue. And the roof which was built in 1976 removed later while it did not match
the statue. Now it can be seen as it was found in 1895.

Aukana Buddha statue is one of the biggest standing Buddha statue in Sri Lanka. The rest
of the statues are Rasvehera Buddha statue, Maligavila Buddha statue, Buduruwagala
Buddha statue and the Buddha statue at Dova temple in Bandarawela. All these Buddha
statues are hewn out of granite stone. The statues of Dova rock temple and Buduruwagala
considered being in Bas-relief. Aukana and Raswehera Buddha statues are carved in a
rounded style. There is different opinion among the archeologist calculating the
beginning of Aukana Buddha statue. It has been dated to the 4th, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th
centuries A.D.

Well known archeologist Mr.Paranavithana claims that the Buddha statue was done in 2nd
half of the 5th century A.D. And statue was hewn during the rule of king Dhatusena (459-
477). King had ordered his artisans to build the Buddha statue facing the Kalawewa (one
of the biggest man made lakes in Sri Lanka) and both constructions of the tank and the
statue to be finished simultaneously.

Height of this massive granite statue is 11.36m measuring from the Lotus pedestal to the
top of the head. The estimated weight of the statue is 75-80 tons. This Buddha statue is
one of the most beautiful Buddha statues in the world. It is indescribably impressive the
face a perfection of benign power, confirming the blessing given by the right hand. The
robe flow, if you think granite could never be made to flow, in this Buddha statue they
almost move in the wind. The style of the statue shows that it is belongs to one of the
schools of art in Anuradhapura period.
Source Holiday Sri Lanka

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