Rambodagalla Buddha Statue
Why a replica of the Barmiyan Buddha is being sculpted in the Kurunegala hillside is itself a tale worth relating. It was in the aftermath of the Taleban’s act, that outraged the world, that the agitated village youth met their priest demanding that some action be taken. Ven. Egodomulla Amaramoli Thera gave them a patient hearing and resolved to harness the feelings of the youth. The next day, he called a meeting at which he suggested the building of a replica of the Bamiyan Buddha in the village itself to show the world a positive response to a tragic act. The children of the village, spurred into action, collected Rs. 1,358 and handed it over to the Thera.In the tranquil village of Rambadagalla in Ridigama in the Kurunegala District, a huge stone sculpture is taking shape.Rambodagalla Buddha Statue is no ordinary sculpture but one modeled on the Bamiyan Buddha in Afghanistan which was destroyed by the Taleban in 2001.
Rambodagalla Buddha Statue is the largest granite rock-carved seated Buddha (Samadhi position)
statue in the world.
Its located in Sri Lanka in Monaragala Temple in Kurunegala district.
• There is another Samadhi Buddha famous statue situated at Mahamevnāwa Park in
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra, the posture of
meditation associated with his first Enlightenment. This statue is 7 feet 3 inches in height and carved from
dolomite marble. In the Dhyana Mudra, the Buddha sits cross-legged with his upturned palms placed one
over the other on his lap. This position is universally known throughout the Buddhist world, and this
statue is, therefore, one of the most typical pieces of Buddhist sculpture.
• It is not to be confused with the very similar “Earth-Touching Mudra,” which depicts the simple action the
Buddha took to fend off the illusions projected by Mara, who was desperate to prevent the Buddha from
realizing that his, Mara’s, projections, and with them the entire world, are an illusion. This statue is 8 feet
in height and carved from granite.
• Srilankan President Maithripala Sirisena gifted a very valuable Samadhi Buddha statue (46” x
17.5” x 32.5’) made out of Ath Demata (Botanical Name – Gmelina arborea/White Teak) to PM
Modi on his visit to Srilanka last year.
