Detail of a moonstone in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Sandakada pahana, also known as Moon-stone, is a unique feature of the Sinhalese architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. It is an elaborately carved semi-circular stone slab, usually placed at the bottom of staircases and entrances. The first sandakada pahanas were created during the latter stage of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom. The carvings of the semi circular stone slab were the same in every sandakada pahana. A half lotus was carved in the centre, which was enclosed by several concentric bands. The first band from the half lotus is decorated with a procession of swans, followed by a band with an intricate foliage design known as liyavel. The third band has carvings of four animals; elephants, lions, horses, and bulls. These four animals follow each other in a procession symbolizing the four stages in life: growth, energy, power and forbearance. The fourth and outermost band contains a carving of flames.
Size: 4287px × 2848px
Location: Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Photo credit: © Steve Lennie / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ancient, anuradhapura, buddhism, buddhist, bulls, carved, carving, detail, elephants, entrance, horses, lanka, lions, lotus, moonstone, pahana, sandakada, semi-circular, sri, stone, swans, temple
