Isurumuni Lovers
6th Century Gupta style carving. The woman, seated on the man's lap, lifts a warning finger, probably as a manifestation of her coyness; but the man carries on regardless. The figures may represent Dutugemunu's son Saliya and the low caste (Sadol Kula) maiden Asokamala whom he loved. It's known that he gave up the throne for her. Around that time, It is illegimate to betroth or engage with a woman who is from the inferior rank(Sadol Kula was the lowest).
After donating Vessagiriya to Maha Sangha this sculpture would have been removed and placed at its present place. Ramayana states that Vaisrawana who lived in Vessagiriya ruled Sri Lanka from Lankapura before Rawana.
【Text by Lakpura™. Images by Google, copyright(s) reserved by original authors.】
