Moonstone

Abhayagiri Monastery, Anuradhapura

The image house near Abhayagiri Dagoba dates from the 8th - 9th century AD. It is distinguished by the moonstone seen here, one of the finest in Sri Lanka. Directly behind the moonstone, the risers of its five entrance stairs are exquisitely decorated with half-figure ganas, who peer down from between carved pillars as if contemplating the moonstone below.