Royal symbols of Sri Lanka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Lion image as used on ancient foot-stones in Anuradhapura. The Lion was not a royal symbol for ancient Sri Lankan kings and queens. They were all Kshatriyas who claimed descent from Indian Solar and Lunar Dynasties and their royal symbols were the Sun and the Moon. These monarchs used the lion image on foot-stones at entrances to buildings and on urinal-stones.

The Sun and the Moon symbols were the recurrent royal symbols that were used continuously by Sri Lankan monarchs. They represented the claim by Sri Lankan monarchs that they descended from the Indian Solar and Lunar dynasties.

In addition, the Elephant, Ship (or boat) and Fish symbols too are encountered, used intermittently, as dynasties and ruling families changed frequently.

However contrary to popular modern belief, it is impossible to say that the Lion was the perpetual royal symbol of Sri Lanka. It was however the symbol promoted by the Indian born medieval Kalinga kings of Polonnaruwa and the Singhe Dynasty of Jaffna.

See the 20th century creation of the Lion symbol myth by political upstarts who introduced divisive politics to Sri Lanka as their vehicle to political power.

[edit] The Sun and the Moon symbols

The Sun and Moon flag of Sri Lanka. It is now called the flag of the Hatara Korale

An example of an ancient stone inscriptions from Sri Lanka displaying the royal Sun and Moon symbols.

The Sun symbol displayed on the tomb of Don Joan, Prince of Kandy 1642

The Sun, Moon and boat symbols on medieval Kahavanu gold coins of Sri Lanka

Contrary to the popular modern belief, the Kings and Queens of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa did not claim to be Sinhalese, but have consistently claimed in their inscriptions to be from the Kshatriya race and Indian Sun Dynasty (Surya wamsa) and Lunar Dynasty (Chandra Kula). The ancient Mahavamsa chronicle of Sri Lanka too refers to them in the same way.

Accordingly the royal symbols of such monarchs were the Sun and the Moon. The Lion was not a royal symbol for these monarchs and they used the lion image on foot-stones at entrances to buildings and on urinal-stones. The lion appears to have been an important symbol only for the Indian born Kalinga king of Sri Lanka Nissankamalla (1187-1196 ) who claimed to hail from Sinhapura (lion city).

The Sun and Moon figure throughout Sri Lankan history and are found on medieval gold coins and inscriptions. Some modern historians have attempted to re-interpret these symbols and say that they indicate perpetuity rather than the solar and lunar decsent of the monarchs.

The Sun symbol is displayed prominently on the tomb of Prince Don Joan of Kandy and on the throne and also the palace walls of the last king of Kandy Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe.

The Sun and Moon symbols are also recurrent symbols on Karava Heraldry.

[edit] The Fish, Ship and Elephant symbols

an example of a pre-christian Barata inscription with the Ship symbol

A section of a pre-christian Brahmi inscription from Kottademuhela, Sri Lanka showing an example of the fish symbol used by the Kataragama Kshatriyas as their dynastic symbol

A pre-christian coin from southern Sri lanka showing an example of the use of the fish symbol as a dynastic symbol

The Fish and Ship symbols appear to have been the dynastic symbols of several ancient Sri lankan ruling clans.

Many Pre-christian Brahmi rock inscriptions scattered across Sri Lanka right into the deep south, particularly the inscriptions caused to be engraved by Baratas, bear the symbol of a ship. [1]

In addition, the pre-christian rock inscriptions of the Kataragama Kshatriyas always bear the Fish symbol.

An Elephant and Fish coin from the Anuradhapura period

The ancestral flag of the Karava community bearing the Elephant and fish symbols

A part of a 12th century rock inscription showing an example of the use of the fish symbol as a royal symbol in the Polonnaruwa kingdom of Sri lanka

The ancestral flag of the Karava Mihindukulasuriya clan from Chilaw bearing the Fish, Ship and Elephant symbols

The ancestral White Elephant flag of the Karavas bearing the Fish, Ship and Elephant symbols

The ancestral flag of the Karava Arasakularatne clan from Maggona bearing the Ship and Elephant symbols

A medieval gold coin of Gangai Konda Chola displaying his royal insignia: A royal parasol, Tiger and two fish

A Patangatim’s wife’s tombstone from 1691. It bears the Karava insignia: Pearl umbrella, Palm tree, caparisoned Elephant and Fish symbol Click image to enlarge.

Recent excavations in the south have also unearthed many types of pre-christian period coins with the Fish symbol.

The fish symbol is also found on mediaeval coins of Sri Lanka.

In addition, Kings such as Parakramabahu the Great, Nissankamalla and other Sri Lankan kings too have used the Fish symbol on their inscriptions.

The Fish symbol and the Ship symbol are recurrent symbols on Karava Heraldry

The tombstone of Patangatim Francisco Piris’ wife from St. Thomas Church, Jinthupitiya illustrated here, shows that the Karava heraldic symbols: Pearl umbrella, Palm tree, caparisoned Elephant and Fish symbol were used even on tombstones (JRASCB XXII 387)