Sri Lankan King receiving Sanghamitra

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Artist
Walimuni Solias Mendis

Painting Title
Theri Sanghamitta’s arrival in Sri Lanka

Time Period
20th century

Location Found
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya (Kelaniya Temple), Sri Lanka

Material
Fresco

 

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Solias Mendis’s 20th-century mural depicting Theri Sanghamitta’s arrival at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara captures a pivotal moment in Sri Lankan history with impressive detail. In a Neo-Classical style inspired by Ajanta, the mural features vibrant, earthy colours and highlights the event’s royal grandeur. It depicts Sanghamitta on an ornate ship, accompanied by the sacred Bodhi Tree sapling, warmly received by King Devanampiya Tissa. The composition emphasises the establishment of Buddhism and the Bhikkhuni Order in Sri Lanka, serving as a devotional visual record for temple visitors. In contrast to Nandalal’s more personal work, Mendis’s mural reflects the public and historic significance of this shared cultural event between India and Sri Lanka.

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