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.

Isurumuniya rock and tank, Sri Lanka.

Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe of the Isurumuniya rock temple, tank and dagoba..

Elephants sculpted on rock, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe - Olympus digital.

Isurumuniya, stone carvings, 6th Century AD, Sri Lanka.

The Isurumuniya rock temple dates from 3rd century BC. It is situated in Anuradhapura. The rock carvings are of a later date probably 6th century AD. Various interpretations are given for the figure of the horse and a man positioned looking at a lake nearby. It has been suggested by some that it could be the figure of the God Ayyanayake, who looks after forests and lakes. Photo by Charaka Wickremasinghe.