<P> 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 Dutugemunu's son Saliya and the low caste (Sadol Kula) maiden Asokamala whom he loved . It's known that he gave up the throne for her . </P> <P>' Siddha mahayaha kuni--maha (la) ka Asala yaha (di) ni' (Hail! The cell of Mahaya is given to Venerable Asalaya) </P> <P> The above Brahmi inscription was inscribed at the original place where the Isurumuniya Lovers were originally sculptured and placed . It is a special one as a letter in this inscription is 3 inches x 4 inches in size . After donating Vessagiriya to Maha Sangha this sculpture would have been removed and placed at its present place . The Lovers in the sculptured plaque are King Kuvera Vaisrawana and his Queen Kuni . Ramayana states that Vaisrawana who lived in Vessagiriya ruled Sri Lanka from Lankapura before Rawana . </P> <Ul> <Li> Place: Isurumuniya Viharaya </Li> <Li> Century: 8th century A.D </Li> <Li> Period: Anuradhapura Period </Li> <Li> Tradition: Guptha Kala (mystic) </Li> <Li> Medium: Granite </Li> <Li> Method: low relief "Ardha Unnata" </Li> </Ul>

The man and the horse's head in isurumuniya