Guardstone - Rathanaprasadaya

Stamp Bulletin No. 786 Commemorative Issue

Guardstone - Rathanaprasadaya

 MNH Stamps

 MNH Stamps

First Day Cover

• Date of Issue : 10th March, 2012
• Denomination : Rs. 50.00, Rs. 100.00
• Stamp Designer : Piyarathne Hewabatage
• Stamp Size : 20mm * 25mm
• Format : Vertical
• Printing Process : Offset Lithography
• Sheet Composition : 100 stamps per sheet
• Perforation : 13 1/2 *12
• Printers  : Department of Government Printing Sri Lanka
• Color : 4 Process Colors
• Paper : 102 gsm snow white Stamps Paper with Security fibers
• Gum : PVA
• Quantity Printed : Rs.50.00 - 1,000,000 & Rs.100.00 - 1,000,000

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of the Post issued new Definitive postage stamp in the denominations of Rs. 50.00 and  Rs. 100.00 depicting Rathanaprasadaya - Gaurdstone on the 10th March 2012.
Guardstone secures a significant place among the various features of the fleet of stairs found in front of historical buildings. Experts are of the opinion that the ancient stake fixed to prevent the slabs of stone slipping forward has developed into the Guardstone.
The Guardstone which primarily come into being as a plain slab of stone developed to be the Guardstone to be seen today with carvings of pot of water, conch shell, lotus and the cobra. Of all known Guardstones the most magnificent Guardstone replete with attractive carving is the one found at the fleet of stairs of the chapter house of the Rathanaprasada in the Abhayagiri monastery complex in Anuradhapura. This is considered to be the peak of the evolution of the  Guardstone. It is 4' 6'' tall and 2' 9''wide. The circular arch over the painting of King Cobra in decorated with carvings. On the top of the circle is a door with two end of mouth of a dragon on either side. the king cobra painting with the shape of a human is done in a vivid manner.  All the ornaments are adorned with sublet carvings. The king cobra holds a Pot of Water in one hand and the branch of floral mofiff in the other. the fully blown hood of the Cobra is depicted at the back  of the head of the King Cobra in semi circular manner. The picture of cobra represents the protector of resources and protector of Water. at the bottom of the Guardstone is the picture of a Monkey. On the other pillar that is on the other side of the Guardstone is the picture of an Elephant.