Moonstones at Abhayagiri Panchavasa
The two most exquisitely carved Sandakada Pahana (moonstones) (Sinhala: අභයගිරි පංචාවාස සඳකඩ පහන) in Sri Lanka is found in two monastic residential complexes (Panchavasa) located adjacent to each other in the premises of Abhayagiriya Monastery Complex in Anuradhapura District. Sandakada Pahana is an elaborately carved semi-circular stone slab, usually placed at the bottom of staircases and entrances. It is considered a unique feature of the Sinhalese architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. Sandakada Pahana I The first Sandakada Pahana (moonstone) is found at the foot of the steps leading to the centre building of the monastic residential complex which is commonly identified by many as the Mahasen's Palace or Mahasen Maligawa (Jayasuriya, 2016; Wikramagamage, 2004). Although it is called a palace, archaeologists have identified this as a monastic residential complex (a Panchavasa) which is also known as Pirivena, Prasada or Arama. It consists of a principal residential unit with four small…
