kumherath
The Moonstone
The moonstone (Sandakada Pahana) is a permanent feature of the Buddhist buildings of all historical periods. This is a semi circular piece of stone which stood at the foot of a flight of steps in most Buddhist buildings. The moonstone is generally semi circular. It is thought that the moon stones originated as blank square stone and later developed in to a semi circular shape.
The design of the moonstone has undergone many changes over time, But the moonstones show the highest level of creativity towards the end of the Anuradhapura Era.
In most of the moonstones of 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 semi circular band. The next is a semi circle of a creeper with a wavy stem with foliage. Next is a line of swans with a twig of flower and a leaf on their mouth. Next is again a floral pattern and at the center is lotus with petals all around the semi circle on the moonstone.
The meanings of this combination of patterns are debated widely. Professor Paranavithana believes that the outer ring of fire represents the never ending life and the pains of passion associated with it. The four animals represent the four noble truths (“Chathurarya Sathya”) which are birth, old age, disease and death. The leafy creeper next to it is a reminder of desires which creates little fruits but only foliage Next is a motif of swans. It is said that the swan is capable of separating out milk from a mixture of water and milk. He who understand (conquer) four noble truths can easily filter the good from the bad like the swan filters out milk. Once you do that you are capable of attaining the “Nibbana” represented by the lotus.
The Moonstone
The moonstone (Sandakada Pahana) is a permanent feature of the Buddhist buildings of all historical periods. This is a semi circular piece of stone which stood at the foot of a flight of steps in most Buddhist buildings. The moonstone is generally semi circular. It is thought that the moon stones originated as blank square stone and later developed in to a semi circular shape.
The design of the moonstone has undergone many changes over time, But the moonstones show the highest level of creativity towards the end of the Anuradhapura Era.
In most of the moonstones of 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 semi circular band. The next is a semi circle of a creeper with a wavy stem with foliage. Next is a line of swans with a twig of flower and a leaf on their mouth. Next is again a floral pattern and at the center is lotus with petals all around the semi circle on the moonstone.
The meanings of this combination of patterns are debated widely. Professor Paranavithana believes that the outer ring of fire represents the never ending life and the pains of passion associated with it. The four animals represent the four noble truths (“Chathurarya Sathya”) which are birth, old age, disease and death. The leafy creeper next to it is a reminder of desires which creates little fruits but only foliage Next is a motif of swans. It is said that the swan is capable of separating out milk from a mixture of water and milk. He who understand (conquer) four noble truths can easily filter the good from the bad like the swan filters out milk. Once you do that you are capable of attaining the “Nibbana” represented by the lotus.