Sadakada
Pahana(The moonstone)
Sadakada
Pahana or the moonstone is known as the most creative and exciting creation of architecture in Sri Lankan history.
The location of this exciting creation is in Anuradhapura the ancient kingdom
of Sri Lanka. It is a creatively designed semi circular stone slab that is
created at the door step of a stare case or an entrance. It said that the first
Sadakada Pahana was made during the Anuradhapura kingdom. This amazing doorstep
was made by the carving of animals that symbolize an internal meaning. The swans,
elephants, lions, horses and bulls on the paving symbolize that these four
animals symbolize four stages of life, the growth, energy, power, forbearance.
The Sadakada Pahana took a different from the period of the carving that took place in Polonnaruwa period. The end of the carving has flames that symbolize the Later on due to the connection of Hinduism the bull was removed from the Sadakada Pahana. During the period of Kandy and Gampola period the Sadakada Phahna was changed to a shape of a semi triangular slab that has a certain patterns that denotes a meaning.
Dr Senarath Paranavithana was the only person that read these carvings. According to his reading the curving symbolizes the (Samsara) the circle of the life. The liyavel denotes the desires (Thanna). The lotus denotes the final achievement (Nirvana). The elephant, bull, lion and horse symbolize the birth, decay, disease, and death respectively. The swans denote the different between good and bad. It is a world famous carving that has curved using sensitive curving method.
The Sadakada Pahana took a different from the period of the carving that took place in Polonnaruwa period. The end of the carving has flames that symbolize the Later on due to the connection of Hinduism the bull was removed from the Sadakada Pahana. During the period of Kandy and Gampola period the Sadakada Phahna was changed to a shape of a semi triangular slab that has a certain patterns that denotes a meaning.
Dr Senarath Paranavithana was the only person that read these carvings. According to his reading the curving symbolizes the (Samsara) the circle of the life. The liyavel denotes the desires (Thanna). The lotus denotes the final achievement (Nirvana). The elephant, bull, lion and horse symbolize the birth, decay, disease, and death respectively. The swans denote the different between good and bad. It is a world famous carving that has curved using sensitive curving method.
