Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva in the Buddhist tradition of art in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Avalokiteśvara is a prominent Bodhisattva in Mahāyana Buddhism venerated in the Buddhist community throughout Asia. This research was focused on the representation of Avalokiteśvara in Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition of art, aiming at exploring how Avalokiteśvara has been portrayed as a symbolic icon of Bodhisattva in Buddhist art. The study used intertextual analysis of Mahayana texts and Avalokiteśvara iconography to understand his role and representation in Sri Lankan Buddhist art. The study was focused on rock cuts, stone sculptures, and metal sculptures. The research identified two types of Avalokiteśvara statues in Sri Lankan Buddhist art, namely Yogi Avalokiteśvara and Rajakumara Avalokiteśvara. Different seating and head designs were discovered, such as Vīrāsana, Rājalīlasana, Bhadrasana, Lalitāsana, Jatāmakuta, and Kiritamakuta. Several distinct Yogi Avalokiteśvara-type statues were identified in Sri Lanka, including those located in Giridara, Thiriyāya, Sithulpauva, Budhumuththeva, and Buddharuvagala. These statues were designed without upper body ornaments. In contrast, Raja Kumara Avalokiteśvara statues were found in complete Raja Kumara costumes, as seen in the Dambegoda Selmuwa and the Weligama Kushtarajagala statues. The statue of Avalokiteśvara in Thiriyaya was found to be designed as a sage. The country's oldest statue of Yogi Avalokiteśvara was found in Sithulpauva, reflecting the tendency to depict Avalokiteśvara as a sage. The study also explored the changes in the depiction of Avalokiteśvara over time, as recorded in oral tradition. It was noted how the images of Yogi Avalokiteśvara were initially reidentified as Lord Natha. The Avalokiteśvara has developed a particular discipline in Buddhist art through various cultural understandings, establishing a vast range of symbolic icons of the Bodhisattva. Although the symbolism of Avalokiteśvara represented in different images of Sri Lankan Buddhist Art was unique to each of them, it was apparent that all forms bear a closely connected relationship.