Pada Lanchana
The sculptural representation of the two footprints of the Buddha's feet is known as Pada Lanchana (Sinhala: පාද ලාංඡන සිරි පතුල් ගල්) (or Siri Pathul Gal/ Sri Pada Gal ). They have been symbolically shown in sculptures or stone slabs placed in Buddhist monasteries to indicate the presence of the Buddha. The pre-Christian sculptures of Sanchi, Bharut, and Bodhgaya in India always showed the presence of the Buddha by several symbols such as the empty throne, Buddhist wheel, Bodhi tree, trident and footprints (Narangoda, 2015). Even after the introduction of the Buddha image, ancient sculptors have used these symbols continuously as is evidenced in the sculptures of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda. Sri Lankan sculptors also appear to have preserved the tradition of worshipping the footprints during the Anuradhapura Period . The Sri Lankan tradition of worshipful places hallowed by the Buddha's imprinting of the feet such as Sri Padaya could well have influenced the worship of the footpri…
