Moonstone

Vatadage, Polonnaruwa

The moonstone displays hamsas (outer band), elephants (middle band), and horses (inner band). Compared to the earlier moonstones at Anuradhapura, the lions and bulls have been omitted - the latter out of respect, it is said, for Hindus, who would have objected to Buddhists trampling on the sacred vehicle of Lord Shiva, and the former, perhaps - although this may be reading too much into it - out of respect for the Sinhalese, since the lion was their national symbol.