Posted By: Anita Mui
Posted Date: Dec 07, 2009 (12:54 AM)
Dear Steve
It looks like Tamil Nadu (south India) and Sri Lanka art.
I think it is a part of ceremony chariot fitting from Nayak Dynasty.
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The Nayaks of Kandy (a.k.a. Nayakar Dynasty) were the rulers of Sri Lanka with Kandy as their capital from 1739 to 1815. They were also the last dynasty to rule Sri Lanka. They were the descendents of the royal family of the Madurai Nayak dynasty, of Telugu origin. There were four kings of this lineage and the last king was exiled by the British to Vellore Fort in India. They assumed the Kandy throne through marriage alliances with the much prevailing Matrilineality. These kings were Hindus later converted to Buddhism and were responsible for renaissance of Buddhist culture in the Island.
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Sorry, I can't read Sanskrit.
Have fun
Anita
