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Iconic Gaṇapati to aniconic Pillaiyār: An archaeological and ethnographical study on iconographic variations of Gaṇēsha figures in Sri Lanka

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dc.contributor.author Dr.Bogahawatta, C.
dc.contributor.author Koshalee, K.V.J.
dc.contributor.author Peiris, P.T.M.
dc.contributor.author Randula, K.K.G.
dc.date.accessioned 2019-01-16T05:58:24Z
dc.date.available 2019-01-16T05:58:24Z
dc.date.issued 2018
dc.identifier.citation Dr.Bogahawatta, C., Koshalee, K.V.J., Peiris, P.T.M. and Randula, K.K.G (2018). Iconic Gaṇapati to aniconic Pillaiyār: An archaeological and ethnographical study on iconographic variations of Gaṇēsha figures in Sri Lanka.4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. p91 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/19520
dc.description.abstract A sculpture of a two-armed Gaṇapati has been found on the frontispiece of Mihintale Kaṇṭaka Cētiya shows the concept of Gaṇapati has been known to Sri Lankan Buddhist society since 2nd century CE. During Polonnaruwa era (11th-12th Century CE) many four-armed stone images and bronzes of Gaṇapati is appeared due to the cultural interaction between Sri Lanka and south India. It is clear that four-armed Gaṇapati became popular among Sinhalese Buddhists since Polonnaruwa era, and he was intruded into Buddhist pantheon. Worshipping Gaṇēsha by the name of Pillaiyār or Pullaiyār in North-Central and Northern Provinces by Sinhalese Buddhists should be paid a special attention owing to the simple aniconic figure of which the deity is represented. Thus, three major forms of representing Gaṇēsha among Buddhists in the area covering North-Central and Northern Provinces from historic period can be identified. It is questionable that 'why the aniconic figure is restricted to a specific area while the four-armed Gaṇēsha figure is still being the common representation among the Buddhists in other parts of the country?'. Therefore, the paper seeks to examine the socio-cultural factors which would have influence the evolution of the Gaṇēsha sculpture of that area. It is revealed that the beliefs of Gaṇapati in the Buddhist socio-cultural context of the area were influenced in forming the iconography of the deity. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher 4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka en_US
dc.subject Gaṇapati en_US
dc.subject Pillaiyār en_US
dc.subject iconic en_US
dc.subject aniconic en_US
dc.subject socio-cultural influences en_US
dc.title Iconic Gaṇapati to aniconic Pillaiyār: An archaeological and ethnographical study on iconographic variations of Gaṇēsha figures in Sri Lanka en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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