This NHRC replica brings one of ancient Sri Lanka's most debated stone carvings into a home or collection. The original figure — a colossal standing form cut into the southern face of a granite boulder near the Pothgul Vehera monastery in Polonnaruwa — has intrigued historians, archaeologists and travellers for generations. The replica's packaging plaque names it simply 'Standing Statue – Pothgulvihara, Polonnaruwa – Sri Lanka, C10th–C12th Century A.C.', which is the most honest label available for a figure whose true identity has never been settled.
The original is a work of the Polonnaruwa period, placed somewhere within a span running from the tenth to the twelfth century. It stands roughly eleven feet tall, carved in high relief from a semi-circular rock, and depicts a grave, majestic figure holding an object that some scholars read as a palm-leaf manuscript and others as a yoke. Popular tradition links the figure to King Parakramabahu I, who ruled Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186 AD, but equally serious opinion identifies the carving as Sage Pulasti — the figure after whom Polonnaruwa was originally called Pulastipura — or another revered sage. The sculptor is not known. What is agreed is that the statue stands as a rare and distinguished example of secular sculpture from the Polonnaruwa era, within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Pothgul Vehera complex where the original stands is situated south of the ancient Citadel and is traditionally known as the Library Monastery — a designation that lends some weight to the manuscript reading of the object the figure carries, though the question remains open.
The replica is produced by NHRC, a brand that specialises in collectible facsimiles of Sri Lanka's national heritage monuments, including other iconic sites from the island's ancient cities. The figurine renders the standing figure in relief on a reddish-brown, granular slab that evokes the texture of the original stone surface. It is mounted on a black rectangular base, and the gold-coloured plaque on the front of that base carries the same cautiously neutral identification found on all authoritative sources.
This piece suits anyone with an interest in the archaeology and art history of Sri Lanka's ancient capitals, or those who collect representations of the island's UNESCO-listed monuments. It travels well as a considered gift and holds its own on a shelf alongside books, maps or other objects from South and South-East Asian heritage.
