98 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VoL. XXII. 
The ot-pilimaya, or seated image, its dsanaya, and " supporters " 
are all carved from the rock matrix in a sharp-sided recess (11 ft. 
5 in. high by 9 ft. 3 in. broad, with a depth of 6 ft. at the bottom, 
and only 2 ft. 10 in. at top) cut into a northern shelving face of 
the rock plateau at one of its steeper, but not very deep, 
undulations. 
As the top edge of the dsanaya touches the rock's sloping surface, 
only its front is shown, no space having been left on either hand to 
carry the carving round so as to exhibit its sides. In breadth 
9 ft. 3 in. , it rises 3 ft. 3 in. above the rock floor. 
The lines of the moulding are the familiar ogee plinth, block 
between fillets, and cyma coping. The central dado (1 ft. deep) 
is divided into five panels by four pilasters having spreading base 
and capital. Conventional lions of the homely " china-dog with 
frilled-mane " type, seated cat-like fronting {sejant guardant), 
occupy the three middle panels, and a profile lion, turned outward 
{passant guardant), each of those at the end. 
The Buddha, sculptured in three quarter round, is seated well 
back (2 ft.) on his throne. The figure is represented in the 
posture almost universally adopted in Ceylon — the dhydna mudra, 
or attitude of meditation — crossed-legged (the right foot and ankle 
above the left, soles upwards), and hands with open palms laid on 
the lap similarly. The robe {sangala sivura) droops from the left 
shoulder, hiding the left arm, but exposing the right breast 
and arm. 
An oval face, thick fleshy lips, pendent ears (no longer weighted 
with the rings of royalty), and sleepy half -closed eyes give to 
the countenance a sleek expressionless look. 
A sirespota, or " glory," crowns the ushnishika (skull pro- 
tuberance) above the stiff hair curls of the head, which is backed 
by a plain raised circular hhdmandala or halo. 
The intention was doubtless to cut behind the figure a torana 
of uprights and cross bars like that at the Cave Shrine of " Gal 
Vihare," Polonnaruwa; but, beyond the completion of the pair of 
makara heads (with trunks coiled) which would have terminated 
the ends of the uppermost transons, none of the carving of the arch 
was executed. 
At the " Gal Vihare" the sedent Buddha is not only flanked (as 
at Tantri-malai) by a pair of rampant lions, but "supported" on 
either side by an attendant bearing a chdmara, or fly whisk, with 
two gods (Brahma and Vishnu) of the Hindu Trimurti above the 
torana and sesata overhead. Here exigences of space forced the 
sculptors to compress the four anthropomorphic figures into two, 
supplanting the deviyo by the chouri holders (coiffured in tm^bans 
instead of mukuta head gear) and to forego the chatra altogether. 
Measurements : — Buddha, height (exclusive of the sirespota, 
8 in.) from ushnishika to thighs, 7 ft. 6 in.; from knees to rock at 
back, 3 ft. 9 in.; across shoulders, 4 ft. 4 in.; waist, 2 ft. 1 in.; 
elbow to elbow, 4 ft. 9 in.; across knees, 7 ft. 7 in.; head, 8 ft. 8 in. 
by 1 ft. 6 in. ; ears, 1 ft. 4 in. long ; hand, 2 ft. 1 in.; foot, 2 ft. 2 in. 
The rampant sinhayo (3 ft. 9 in. high) of the Indian ydli, or 
horned variety, are represented in profile, addorsed, facing to 
