Image title: Umbrella Shaft

Umbrella Shaft—Shaft fixed on the summit of the stupa for fixing umbrellas. An Umbrella shaft can be denoted in Sanskrit as Chatrastambha/Chattra-stambha (छत्रस्तम्भ, chatra-stambha) or Chattrastambha/Chhattra-stambha (छत्त्रस्तम्भ, chattra-stambha).

Sinhala text (not proofread):

ජත්‍ර දණ්ඩ—පත්‍රය රැඳවීම සඳහා චෛත්‍යය ගර්භය මුදුනේ සවිකරන ලද්දකි.

Transcription:

jatra daṇḍa—patraya rændavīma sandahā chaĩtyaya garbhaya mudunē savikarana laddaki.

Transcription:

jatra danda—patraya randavima sandaha chaityaya garbhaya mudune savikarana laddaki.

Tamil text (not proofread):

சத்ர ஸ்தம்பம்—ஆலவட்டத்தை தங்க வைப்பதற்கு கர்ப உச்சியில் பொறுத்தப்பட்டது.

Transcription:

catra stampam—ālavaṭṭattai taṅka vaippataṟku karpa ucciyil poṟuttappaṭṭatu.

Transcription:

 sathra sthambam—alavattathai thanga vaippatharku karpa uchiyil poruthappattathu.

Gallery information:

These photos were taken at the Sandagiri Stupa which forms part of an ancient Buddhist Monastic complex in Tissamaharama (Southern Sri Lanka). It is believed that the Sandagiri Stupa was built in the 3rd century BCE by king Mahanaga. The archaeological site includes various other structures such as the Uposatha-Ghara, Bodhi-Ghara, and Jantha-Ghara. The Stupa also finds mention in the Mahamvasa chronicles.