Isurumuniya Lovers (ඉසුරුමුණි පෙම් යුවල)

2010-07-24 (Lali's Home Comming, Thammanna Hotel, Anuradhapura)

While attending our batch mate Lalindu's Home Coming, I had chance to visit ancient Buddhist temples (ATAMASTANA - අටමස්ථාන) in Anuradhapura, with few of my batch (UCSC_2003-4) mates.

4-6th Century Gupta style carving. The woman, seated on the man's lap, lifts a warning finger, probably as a manifestation of her coyness; but the man carries on regardless."

The figures may represent The Great King Dutugemunu's son Saliya(සාලිය) and the law caste (Sadol Kula - සැඩොල් කුල) maiden Asokamala(අසෝකමාලා) whom he loved. It's known that he gave up the throne for her.