South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c9.83.1

c9.83.1

The pancha louha images all of a Saivaite character found in the ruins of a Siva Devale in Polonnaruwa in Ceylon and now deposited in the Ceylon Museum are important documents indispensable for the study of these bronzes.² In fact the figure of Sundaramurti, one of these finds (Plate XXII), undoubtedly claims to be one of the best specimens of its kind which it is difficult to match with any example from the main land. Questions have been raised as to whether these images were imported from India or made locally by Ceylonese sculptors.³ Dr. A. Willey, F. R. S., late Director of the Colombo Museum, has asserted that "they are Polonnaruwa bronzes for better or worse" and are not the works of Tamil craftsmen. It cannot be contested that Buddhism of Ceylon has laid the foundations of a very interesting school of sculpture both in stone and metal and that for several centuries artists both in metal and stone have flourished in Ceylon. But it will be impossible to associate the Saiva images from Polonnaruwa with the local artists of Ceylon brought up in the traditions of Buddhist art. On the other hand the peculiar character and subject of the images forbid any supposition that they could be the works of artists other than those well versed in Saiva iconography, and the rules of image-making specially connected with the same.