Bodhisattva Painting

Tivanka Image House, Polonnaruwa

Tivanka is located north of Gal Vihara, at the boundary of Polonnaruwa's archaeological zone. Inside this large and squarish gedige, there are precious 12th-century paintings of Indian-like Bodhisattvas and Buddhist Jataka stories. A Bodhisattva of beautiful expression is imaged here, in the dim light of the interior.

"Tivanka" and "Thivanka" are alternate spellings. The name is derived from the tribhanga posture of a standing Buddhist sculpture on the building (later page).