Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c11.s1.25

c11.s1.25

It may be remarked that the title of king or lord is often given to representations of the *hamsa*, lion or cobra—it is the *hamsa rāja*, *simha rāja* or *nāga rāja* whose form is represented, rather than individual animals. This is but another way of saying that all Indian art is idealistic, representing types rather than individuals.