Shiva Devale, Polonnaruwa

Shiva Devale (29 August, 2005)

Shiva Devale, or a Hindu temple to the deity Shiva, is one of the fourteen Hindu temple ruins found in Polonnaruwa. They are remnant from the time when the city was invaded by South Indians during the 10th century.

Numbered stones of the restored Shiva Devale (29 August, 2005)

Today the Hindu temples in Polonnaruwa are in ruins, and Shiva Devale is one of the best restored. It was built by the Chola rulers of Polonnaruwa, and contains the male lingam and female yoni, Hindu icons representative of the male and female reproductive organs.

The temple bears sign that it has been restored by anastylosis, a method of restoration which was also employed in Angkor and Borobudur, in which the stones are carefully dismantled, and then reassembled. Missing pieces are replaced with similar stones only for the purpose of maintaining the structure from falling apart.

As I explored Shiva Devale, I couldn't help comparing it to the ruins I have seen at The walls of Shiva Devale (29 August, 2005)