An Investigative Study of the Theories Surrounding the Standing Buddha Statue at the Polonnaruwa Rock Temple

It can be recognised from the literary evidence that Buddha statues were created from the time when Buddha was alive. However, the oldest archaeological evidence is considered to be the Buddha image created on a gold coin during the reign of King Kanishka. After that, the Buddha statue began to spread throughout the entire island of Sri Lanka. After the Anuradhapura period, Buddha statue art also became popular in the Polonnaruwa period, and the Buddha statues in the rock temple can be recognised as its peak. Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara, the standing Buddha statue, has a special place. The unique and different features present in the variations of the image here were the reason for this. There has been a theory that a Buddha statue, a statue of Ananda Thero, has been published. Since the mudra of the statue is not commonly used for other statues, it has attracted special attention. Although this mudra is primarily known by the name Paradukkha Dukkhitha, various scholars have expressed different opinions about this mudra. It has also been called by the names Animisa Lochana, Swastika, and Avadhana. The main objectives of this research are to study the meanings expressed in the theories about this mudra. The theories about this mudra have been studied through secondary sources. Literature itself has been the main factor in various scholars presenting their theories about this statue. According to the facts mentioned in Buddhist literature, theories have been expressed about the posture of this statue and the mudra. In general, the statue has been created with three primary meanings. That is, it depicts the second week of the Seven Weeks after the Enlightenment, the Animisa Locana Puja, the Depiction of Ananda Thero, the Great Passing Away of Buddha (Parinirvana), and the Buddha's compassionate gaze on the beings of the world. The form in which the Buddha looks with compassion towards the beings of the world. It can be confirmed that this statue is a statue of the Buddha in a standing posture.