Indian Antiquary Vol 03

SR No.: 032495
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 420
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1874.
(2.) Jingalls with Kodituakku Lekam : commences, called Randoli Bema, which lasts
(3.) The people of the Four Korles diskvoni, five days more. carrying jingalls, muskets, and flags, with the It commences with bringing from the dewalas Disawe and petty chiefs of that dis voni.
the Randolis or palanquins, four in number, (4.) The people of the Seven Korles, (5.) those each dedicated to a particular goddess, and each of U'wa, (6.) of Matale, (7.) of Saffragam, (8.) of furnished with a golden pitcher and sword simiWalaponê, (9.) of Udapalata, ali appointed and larly dedicated. attended like the people of Four Korles.
These palanquins form a part of the evening pro(10.) The bamboos or images representing cession, and are then carried by the people after devils, covered with cloths.
the bows and arrows; but in the procession at (11.) The elephant of the Maligawa bear- night they take the lead; the women belonging to ing the shrine, followed by other elephants the dêwAlas, who attended the first part of the and the people of the Maligawa, who precede ceremony, attend this also, to which every other the Duwene Nileme and Nanayakkare Lekam honour is dne and is paid. with umbrellas, talipats, flags, fans, shields, | In the king's time the daughters and young tom-toms, drums, flutes, &c., accompanied by | wives of the chiefs, dressed in royal apparel given dancers.
them by His Majesty, alternately accompanied (12.) The elephant of the Nata dew&la bear. the Randoli of each goddess. ing the bow and arrow of the god, attended by the From the commencement of this ceremony, the 'women of the temple, and followed by the Bas- castes of washers and potters, including both nayke Nilame, with the same pomp of attendants sexes, attend, the men of the former carrying as the former.
painted sticks under their arms, and of the latter (13.) The elephants, bow and arrows, and people earthen vessels adorned with cocoanut flowers. of the Maha Vishnu dewala, (14.) of the Katara- The Olia people of the five principal diskronis gam dêwâls, (15.) of the Pattini dêwala.
carry five large bamboos in attendance during the (16.) The people of the Maha Lekam department, whole of this ceremony. carrying muskets and flags, and preceding their Thus the ceremony of Perahera is continued chiefs.
up to the day of the full moon of the Ehsala. On (17.) The people of the Attepattu department, the night of the full moon, and on this alone, the similarly equipped, followed by the Attepattu shrine is carried in the procession. Lekam and the Ratemahâtmiyas of Udanuare, As soon as the procession is over, the shrine is Yatinuyare, Tumponi, Harispatta, Dumbare, and deposited in the temple Asgri Wihara, and Hewahette.
the Randolis and bows and arrows are brought (18.) The people of Weddikkare department, back to their respective dêwálas. Soon after, followed by their Lekam.
boiled rice, curries, cakes, &c. are offered in the (19.) The people of Wadanatuaku department dêwalas to the images of the gods. The offerings with their Lekam.
being made, procession recommences and pro (20.) The people of the Padikare department ceeds to the river at Getambé or Gonaruwa, and their Lekams.
bearing the bow and arrows and Randolis. The ceremonies just described are performed At the river a decorated boat is found in readiduring five days, commencing on the sixth of ness, in which the four Kapurâlâs of the Perahera, and they are performed in the four dêwâlas, attended by four other men belonging principal streets in the evening, and at the seventh to the same establishment, go some distance up hour of the night; but in the nocturnal procession the river, carrying with them the swords and the shrine is not introduced.
water-pitchers of the goddesses, and at the break Indeed, till the reign of king Kirteari the of day the Kapurålås suddenly strike the shrine never appeared. On the occasion of the water with the swords, the other men at the presence of some Siamese priests this king ordered same moment of time, discharging the water that the shrine to form a part of the evening Perahera, had been taken up last year, fill the pitchers assigning as a reason that with this innovation afresh in the exact place where the swords had the ceremony would be in honour of Buddha as well been applied. as of the gods.
This being done, they land, and having placed In the course of the five days mentioneu, prece- the water-pitchers and swords in the Randolis dency is to be taken by turns by the different they return with the procession to the city. The parties who attend the procession.
morning of their return is the sixteenth day after The five days having expired, another ceremony, the commencement of the Perahera. The two an important and essential part of the Perahera, Adigars and the chiefs who may not have accom