Flanking most of the ancient buildings in the riveting isle of Sri Lanka are two impressive “muragal”, otherwise known as quardstones that bear the expert marksmanship of ancient Sri Lanka artists. The meticulously carved stones are a tried and true testament to the sheer talent of Sri Lankan artisans that reflect the wide array of creative ingenuity that informs Sri Lanka arts, both of antiquated and modern eras. The function of the impressive guardstones was and is twofold: initially as a form of support to the stone balustrades, which then evolved to reflect spiritual beings to invoke protection and prosperity. Some of the most famous guard stones may be spied in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Initially plain, the guardstones then evolved to depict a pot bearing flowers, then to a dwarf guardian deity known as “Bahirawa”, and finally, to an anthropomorphic deity that blended human and serpentine elements to result in the magnificent “Naga-Raja”, or “Cobra King”. Cobras are supposedly the guardians of treasure and water. It is believed that the latter deity was inscribed onto the stone to reflect the common belief that individuals reincarnate as cobras in order to protect their treasures from other lives. The Naga-Raja guardstones are some of the most spectacular renditions on stone as they feature a lithe, princely figure crowned with either a five-, seven-, or nine-headed cobra. The best examples of Naga-Raja stones are installed at the Ratanaprasada in Anuradhapura, or at the Vatadage in Polonnaruwa.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.