30/12/2022
The Moonstone - Sri Lanka (සඳකඩ පහන)
Moonstone is a unique feature of the architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. It is an elaborately carved semi-circular stone slab, usually placed at the bottom of staircases and entrances. The moonstones show the highest level of creativity and the most highly ornate ones have generally been dated to the 8th-10th centuries, towards the latter half of the Anuradhapura era
The sculptural design, in its main features, consists of a half lotus in the center, surrounded by concentric bands of a row of geese, a foliated pattern, and a procession of animals.
In most of the richer moonstones of the Anuradhapura Era, the outer edge is designed with a ring of flames and below that is a ring filled with 4 types of animals – The elephant, the horse, the lion, and the bull chasing each other. Some moonstones show these beasts in their own semicircular band. The next is a semi-circle of a creeper with a wavy stem with foliage (“liyawela”). Next is a line of swans with a twig of flowers and a leaf on their mouth. Next is again a floral pattern and at the center is a lotus with petals all around the semi-circle on the moonstone
The moonstone depicts some aspects of life, with the different concentric bands, that need to be conquered in order to attain the ultimate spiritual goal. The outermost band of the moonstone shows the styled flames and symbolizes desire. The next band shows a procession of animals and symbolizes the four sorrow of life.
Animals that are carved onto the surface and their representations are, the elephant symbolizes birth, the lion represents illness, the horse represents aging and the bull symbolizes death.
This band of animals shows the endless cycle of rebirths or Samsara, the ultimate goal of Buddhists. The entangling life force is represented by the twisting creepers, the band-carved inner ward of the animals. The purity is represented by the geese of the next band, and the lotus buds in the beaks symbolize wisdom and discrimination.
The center of the moonstone is occupied by the lotus flower, the sacred flower of Buddhists which symbolizes Nirvana. The lotus flower is given a prominent place in the Sinhala-Buddhist society and can be seen in architecture, Sri Lanka arts, and literature.
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