Maligawila

God Naatha Statue (God Awalokithshwara) in Maligavila

Maligawila, or Maligavila is a village in Sri Lanka, approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) south from Monaragala and 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) from Okkampitiya in the Monaragala District. It is the site of several important archaeological pieces, including a free-standing 11 meters (36 ft 1.1 in) or 12 meters (39 ft 4.4 in) tall limestone statue of Buddha, claimed in some quarters to be the tallest free-standing statue of Buddha in the world, though the Avukana Buddha Statue is also said to be taller.[1][2] This Buddha draws many tourists to the region.[3] It also boasts the Avalokitesvara statue, a 10 meters (32 ft 9.7 in) limestone portrait. These statues, which were discovered in the 1950s and restored between 1989 and 1991, are believed to have been commissioned by the 7th-century prince Agghabodhi.[4] There is additionally a 10th-century historical pillar placed in the 10th year of the rule of Mahinda IV (956-972 AD).

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References

  1. ↑ Plunkett, Richard; Brigitte Ellemor; Verity Campbell (2003). Sri Lanka (9 ed.). Lonely Planet. p. 267. ISBN 1-74059-423-1. One of the statues, an 11-m high Buddha, is reckoned to be the world's largest free-standing Buddha figure.
  2. ↑ Frey, Elke; Gerhard Lemmer; Jayanthi Namasivayam (2001). Sri Lanka (3 ed.). Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 146. ISBN 3-88618-229-0. At 12 meters in height, it is almost as tall as that of Aukana in Rajarata, and its head alone weighs around six tons.
  3. ↑ Frey, et al. p. 146.
  4. ↑ Plunkett et al., 267.


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