known originally rock temple situated ancient city sri_lanka fashioned 12th century central feature temple rock relief statues carved face large granite rock images consist large seated figure smaller seated figure inside artificial standing figure figure considered best examples ancient carving arts visited monument images follow different style images previous period significant differences identity standing image subject certain dispute historians archaeologists argue depicts monk images carved way uses maximum possible area rock heights decided based height rock statue appears image house indicated remains brick walls site held congregation monks buddhist later drew code conduct code conduct recorded inscription rock face containing images rock monastery named large rock face images carved originally named northern monastery located according prominent temples built king mentions build caves rock finishing temple cave spirits knowledge cave sitting image cave sleeping image described caves cave image houses similar walls connected rock face walls evidently decorated destroyed bases remain time ascended throne buddhist country divided held congregation monks reconcile order corrupt monks help elders fraternity later drew code conduct buddhist monks recorded inscription area images resembles terrace believed location assembly hall congregation held inscription recording code carved flat polished rock face standing image abandoned fall functioned educational establishment inception abandonment centre buddhist education country images main feature images carved single large granite rock face considered best examples rock carving arts ancient rock cut feet deep create rock face accommodate statues example country natural rock excavated extent purpose images position temple alongside significant monuments survive ancient kingdoms sri_lanka celebrated visited temple images large smallest feet tall largest feet long fourth image feet located inside artificial carved rock seated image left rock right seated image right standing image image unlike statues period found image house preserved provide good indication preserved examples size image decided based height rock point maximum possible area according archaeologist images evidently coated gold early years style images differs somewhat statues earlier period notable changes broader forehead images carved parallel lines single line seen period influenced school art seated image large seated image feet inches tall depicts seat carved shape lotus flower base decorated carvings flowers lions statue sits carved throne decorated images small images identical larger image carved inside small chambers unusual feature ancient sculpture presumably result influence small statue feet inches height similar appearance larger neighbour located inside artificial cave named cave created carving feet rock leaving square stone columns sides foot wide inch high opening base lotus shaped seat image decorated designs lions throne carved elaborate design larger image halo carved head statue rests armed deities according archaeologist god right god left walls cave decorated traces remain corners cave standing image standing image focus discussion historians archaeologists general belief statue image feet inches tall stands low pedestal shaped like lotus relaxed manner arms folded chest statue face carries expression image depicts lies led believe monk demise deathbed remains walls indicate images separate chambers believes statue depicts sorrow sorrow rarely gesture sculpture seen locations country possibility image shows second week enlightenment spent gratitude providing shelter image mentioned mentions indication image possible earlier period image feet inches length image largest statue largest sculptures southeast_asia depicts lying right right arm supporting head bolster left arm lies body thigh palm right hand feet single lotus flower carved commissioner stated bolster rests head carved looks like cotton stuffed carved rock upper foot left foot image slightly withdrawn indicate image depicts attained merely lying unlike images image decorated pedestal lies bare rock wall image carved rock remains stone columns suggesting missing image house wooden roof
Gal Vihara