The art and architecture of India - Buddhist, Hindu, Jain (Art Ebook)

380 CEYLON AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA
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statue at Polonnaruwa, 29 but actually the closest
stylistic comparison for this figure is in the
apsaras of the Sigiriya frescoes: we note the
same exaggerated fullness of the breasts and
narrow waist combined with an elaborate
towering head-dress as in the Sigiriya nymphs.
On the basis of this comparison it seems justifiable
to assign the image to the sixth to eighth
centuries.
Mention should be made of the various
Hindu temples or Siva Devales, uncovered in
the jungles of Polonnaruwa. These sanctuaries
were probably erected during the period of
massive ashlar blocks and the exterior ornamented
with a series of niches and pilasters that
are unmistakably from the same workshop as
the Great Temple at Tanjore. 30
In the ruins of this and other Hindu shrines
were recovered some of the finest bronzes of the
Hindu Renaissance, earlier than any specimens
known in India proper. It is likely that these
were cast by Tamil silpins in accordance with
the techniques and canons employed in
eleventh-century Tanjore. The date of the
temple's desecration furnishes a terminus ante
quern for their manufacture. Among the finest
"y, 310. Polonnaruwa, Siva Devale No. 1
Chola occupation in the eleventh century and
were desecrated by Parakrama Bahu II in the
thirteenth century. As might be expected,
shrines like the Siva Devale No. 1 are no more
nor less than miniature constructions in the
style of Chola architecture in southern India
[310]. The building illustrated is constructed of
of these statues is the beautiful Nataraja in the
Colombo Museum, already discussed in our
chapter on the metal images of the Chola Period.
The statue of Sundaramurtiswami from
Polonnaruwa is a fitting object with which to
close our account of Singhalese art [311].
Probably made by artisans imported from the