Sandakada Pahana is a semi-circular stone slab at Buddhist temple entrances, showing artistic evolution from Anuradhapura to Kandyan periods.
Sandakada Pahana (Sri Lankan Moonstone) S andakada Pahana ( Moonstones ), or Chandra-pasana, Padi-gala , Padi-puwaruwa is a semi-circular slab (plain or decorated) placed at the foot of the flights of steps leading to Buddhist edifices in Sri Lanka. As per the view of scholars, it acquires a unique and high position among the other elements of the ancient Sinhalese Buddhist architecture in the country. It is also one of an association of three aspects of sculpture that adorned the entrance to buildings in ancient times; the other two being the Muragala (guard stone) and Korawakgala (wingstone). History Originated in the Anuradhapura Period , the moonstone continued its function of decorating the entrances to almost all the important temples built during the Kandyan Period (Senadheera, 1990). In the beginning, it was a plain slab of stone and later developed into an artefact of semi-circular shape containing a multitude of carved decorations. Its design has undergone many changes over time and shows a higher level of complexity and…
