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Anuradhapura Sandakada Pahana (Moonstone) animal symbolism: elephant, horse, lion, and bull?

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Venerable Nanda Stone•945 rep

What four life stages and cosmological cardinal directions are represented by the quadruped procession on classical Anuradhapura threshold moonstones?

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In classical Anuradhapura architecture (3rd to 10th century), the semi-circular carved threshold stone (Sandakada Pahana) served as a spiritual metaphor traversed before entering temple shrines. The outer animal band features four repeating beasts in continuous procession: the Elephant (East / birth and water), the Horse (South / renunciation and energy), the Lion (North / royalty and strength), and the Bull (West / decay and steadfastness). Together, they symbolize the unending cycle of Samsara (rebirth, decay, disease, and death). Monks stepping over the stone mentally renounced worldly suffering before entering the sanctum.

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Dr Senarath CCF•1920 rep

The inner band of geese (Hamsa) carries blooming lotuses, symbolizing pure spiritual discernment capable of extracting truth from delusion.

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Venerable Nanda Stone•945 rep

The central innermost motif is a blooming half-lotus (Padma), which represents the attainment of Nirvana and liberation from worldly attachment.

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Guru Dharmasena Wood•1830 rep

The Queen’s Palace (Biso Maligawa) moonstone in the Abhayagiri complex displays the sharpest relief carving of the four animals in motion.

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Minoli Heritage•1850 rep

Visitors must remove all footwear before walking in temple precincts; do not step directly on ancient carved moonstones with shoes or sandals.

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Sarah Field Scout•1720 rep

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