Standing Buddha

SRI LANKA

The typically Sri Lankan Buddha has a flame ornament replacing the conventional usnisa. The monastic robe leaves the right shoulder bare and clings to the body, emphasizing the slender-waisted physique. The close pattern of the folds and the way the material hangs free on the right side of the figure is characteristic of the national style. The right hand in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra reveals floral patterns on the palm, a theme reflected in the niche that encloses the Buddha.
Though decorative arches such as the one under which the Buddha stands are common in Sri Lanka, few are as finely detailed as this one. The lintel, arched into a bell shape, has a lion’s head located at the top. Ornate floral patterns spill forth from the lion’s mouth, to be swallowed by the makaras on either side. Floral patterns also fill the supporting composite columns that rest on a many-layered base. A separate pedestal on which the Buddha stands is also balanced on this base.