Foot-print in stone, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

In the early centuries after the 'Parinibbana' of Lord Buddha, His memory was celebrated using signs. Thus foot-prints, an empty chair, a parasol or a chamara were the articles used in worship. This had a good theological foundation for the Lord Buddha 'ceased to exist' when he attained 'Parinibbana'. Around the first century BC, images representing   Lord Buddha began to appear. The Jains also worshipped foot prints of their leader. This photo was taken by Charaka Wickremasinghe in Anuradhapura Sri Lanka.

A loving couple in stone, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

The 'loving couple' is a famous stone sculpture belonging to the 5th century AD, at the Isurumuniya rock temple, Sri Lanka. The stone slab bearing this has been moved into a protected area now. The picture on top was taken in the late 1950s. Various interpretations have been given to the poses of the couple ranging from shyness of the female, to invitation for sexual congress as expressed by the posture of the fingers of the female's hand. Note the decorative stone jar on the top right corner.

The 'moon-stone' - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

The 'moon-stone' is shaped like a half-moon. It depicts the progression towards liberation. This it is claimed, was an object very sacred. Some sects of Buddhism when they gained the upper hand, used it as a door-step to denigrate the concepts depicted by it. Look at the image of the dwarfs carrying the steps of the stairway.

Guard-stone, ('dwara-paalaka' - Sinhalese), Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

The 'guard-stones' were erected at the entrance to buildings in ancient Sri Lanka. They were called 'Dwaara Paalaka' in Sinhalese and mean what they say in Tamil - namely 'administrators of the opening' - guards of the entrance. They were in pairs facing each other across the entrance. They were chiseled in granite. Each figure carried a 'pun kalasa' - Sinhalese or 'nirai-kudam' in.Tamil. This latter represented prosperity and was an auspicious sign. The seven headed cobra protecting the crowned head of the figure means, that the figure represented was a 'Naga' king. This was photographed at Isuruminiya by Charaka Wickremasinghe.

Another view, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

You can see in this picture, the elephant figures cut on the rock, the man and horse and two beautiful guard-stones at the entrance to the rock temple.  Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe.