Isurumuniya is most famous for the stone carving of a couple located there. This carved stone was found in the royal pleasure garden and brought here. There are many interpretations for this carving. Isurumuniya temple built in the 3rd century B.C. is noted for its rock carvings. The best known among these is the "Lovers". Many a poet and song writer has taken inspiration from this carving to write their masterpieces. It is believed that the carving may represent Saliya the son of the great king Dutugamunu and the low-caste maiden whom he loved.
The most popular is that this carving shows the prince Saliya (the son of the great king Dutugamunu) and his mistress Asokamala. Asokamala was of a lover cast called “Chandala” and the prince Saliya gave up the right to be the king by marrying this girl of a lower cast.
Another belief is that this couple represent the god Siva and goddess Parvathi of Hindu belief.
The Isurumuniya Vihara is situated between two rocks in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka and is a beautiful temple. The temple is famous among local and foreign tourists for its carvings, Isurumuniya lovers, the image house and the wonderful surrounding with lakes, paddy fields and rocks.
It is believed that the temple was initially built by king Devanampiyatissa who ruled the country from 250 – 210 B.C. and developments were done by many kings after. When kingdom was moved from Anurdhapura, the temple befell, like many others, however with the dawn of the 19th century the attention of many foreign academics was drawn to the ruins of Rajarata (Anurdhapura used to call by this name) and the area again came into prominence.
The vihara also has another stone slab which depicts a court scene which is thought to be the court of king Dutugemunu. Both these stone slabs are thought to be originated in the 8th century.
The vihara itself is built on a rock and the sacred tooth relic of Buddha has been originally kept here when it arrived to the island from India in the 312 AC.
At the entrance to the rock temple is a large pond. Above the pond there is a carving of bathing elephants and on the top-level of the stairs there is another carving of a man seated in a royal pose and a horse head.
The top carving is thought to be carving of Agni and Parjanya. Parjanya is the god for rain. The elephants below represent the clouds. With this interpretation it is believed this place was also used by the king to perform ceremonies for rain God.
The stupa and the Buddha image in this temple are of recent origin. But there are some caves which probably were used earlier but now have become a haven for bats.