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Title	Biso-Māligāwa
Photographer	Bopearachchi, Osmund
Built by	Unknown
Subject	Moonstones (Early to late Anurādhapura Period)
Site Location	Abhayagiri Monastery
City/Region	Anurādhapura
Country	Sri Lanka
Year Established	Circa 8th century C. E.
Description	This is a moonstone or sandakadapahana - a semi-circular stone slab (originally rectangular in shape), which may be highly decorated or left undecorated. It is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs leading to a stupa or shrine or other edifice. The moonstone is at the image house, the "Queen's pavilion" - Biso Maligāva), and is considered among the most beautiful extant examples of one. Although considered unique to Sri Lanka, an early example is also found at the Buddhist Caitya, in Nāgārjunikonda, India, among other sites on the sub-continent. According to the late eminent archeologist Senarat Paranavitane moonstones symbolize samsaric life (endless life cycles). The moonstones were used as a paving on which to wash feet. In the semi-circle below that of the flame motif there are thirteen animal figures in three sequences of an elephant, horse, lion, and bull, with the elephant repeated a fourth time. Next to the semicircle of the foliage there are thirteen sacred geese, each holding a bud with two leaves. Finally, in the center of the moonstone is the lotus motif. The lotus is the symbol of purity and the symbolism of the lotus represents the pure abodes — those who have left their house and home must be considered as having attained the stage of 'no-return' (anāgāmi). More recently, others have presented different interpretations. See also the Glossary. Length: 9.5 feet. Width: 4 feet 9 inches. Diameter: 2.920 meters. Sculptured on gneiss.
Publisher	Claremont Colleges Library
Date	2016
Reference	Godakumbura, C. E. “Moonstones: Art Series.” No. 9. Archeological Department. Colombo, undated. Paranavitana, S. ‘The Significance of Sinhalese Moonstones.’ “Artibus Asiae.” Vol. 17, No. 3/4 (1954), pages 197-231.
Collection	Ancient Buddhist Sites and Royal Residences in Sri Lanka - http://cdm15831.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15831coll15
Rights	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Type	Image
Format	image/jp2
Object File Name	acs00620.jpg

Biso-Māligāwa

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