The Buddha is standing erect, his right hand forming a teaching gesture, vitarka mudra, and his left hand held down by his side. The robes cover one shoulder and are formed in a stylised rhythmic wavy pattern following the contours of the body. The Buddha’s more usual cranial bump has been replaced by a flame finial.A unique style of the Buddha developed during the Kandy period. It is characterised by the rigid posture, the highly stylized robes and the type of flame finial. These features had been evolving in Sri Lankan art since the 5th century as can be seen in the Buddha at Avukana in Polonnaruna. However the features reached a distinctive zenith during the 18th and 19th century.
