Samadhi Buddha Statue

Last updated on 26 Jun 2023Show location

One of the outstanding sculptures from the Anuradhapura period is the Samadhi Statue. It is believed to have been carried out around the third or fourth century. It is 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 meters) tall and is built of dolomite marble. This statue was found in the present location in 1886 fallen to the ground with damages to the nose. The nose was then rebuilt once it was put up. It was repaired after treasure hunters discovered damage to it in 1914.

The hollowness of the statue's eyes indicates that valuable stones or crystals were used to imprint them. It's uncertain if this statue and the second statue were preserved in this vihara originally or if they were transported from another one. It is reported that the statue's face reveals three distinct aspects when seen from different angles. From the left and right, the face appears slightly sad on one side and slightly happy on the other. The front view of the face reveals neutral features.

The beauty of this monument has been considerably diminished because it is currently covered by a concrete construction. Even the rebuilding of the nose, which looks highly fake, has not been successful. A ruin of an image house known as the Bodhisattva Image House is located next to the Samadhi monument. The Maithree Bodhisattva was given to the Abhayagiriya Bodhi Tree Temple, and King Dhatusena (459–477) is reported to have built and adorned an image house for it. This is according to Maha Vamsa, the historical chronicle of Sri Lanka. These remnants are thought to be the image home that king Dhatusena constructed.