Stamp Bulletin No. 786 Commemorative Issue
Guardstone - Rathanaprasadaya
- 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.
