Indian Antiquary Vol 11

SR No.: 032503
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 396
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 353

NOVEMBER, 1882.]
MISCELLANEA.
325
(loyal), "Jayatilaka" (frontal mark of victory). Wikramaratna" (mighty gem), &c.
The unauthorized assumption of these titles has created great inconvenience and confusion, and it is high time for Government to think of a remedy.
SENEX. Welitota, 21st June, 1882.
lowing are a few of the family names in the low country :-Kapuge (Kapuwa's house). Lin. damulage (house near the well), Kandaudage. (house on the top of hill), Wahala-tantirige (house of the musician of the palace), Kotugodage (house of Kotugada), Kalinga (of the Kalinga country), Kannangarage (house of the black town), Udumullage (house of Udumulla), Elpiti. badalge (house of the silversmith of Elpitiya), and so forth.
3rd. European surnames, used by the Sinhalese. D'Abrews, Fernando, Mendis, Silva, Zoysa, Pereira, Livera, D'Olivera, Dias, Fernando, Tahrew, Dabre), etc.
4th. Patabendinam or titular names. In ancient times these names were conferred by the Sinhalese kings on their subjects for distinguished services, merit, learning, gallantry or exploita in war, loyalty, etc., and were equivalent to titles of nobility in a European country. When a man was presented to the sovereign to be invested with one of these titles, it was inscribed on a piece of beaten gold or embroidered silk, and tied by the royal hands on the forehead of the recipient. Hence the derivation of the term Patabendi from pata (a piece of thin metal plate, or silk) and bendi (tied). The following are a few of the titles thus conferred by the kings :-" Wijasekara Mudi. yanse,"" Jayatilaka Mudiyanse," " Panditaratna Mudiyanse," eto, etc. An interesting account of the ceremonies observed in conferring these titles will be found in Knox's History of Ceylon. No one had a right to use these titular names except the descendants of the titled persons.
The Portuguese, the Dutch, and even the Eng. lish, following the custom of the Kandyan kings, conferred these titular names on native public servants on their appointment to important offices under Government or when ranks were conferred on them.
Of late, and especially since the abolition of compulsory labour, the practice of conferring these names has become obsolete, and in the present day people assume these names not only when they are appointed to high offices but also when persons are appointed to petty offices, such as Archchi, Kangani, Vidane, &c., also when persons are admitted to practice as notaries public, and sometimes without any excuse whatever. Many of these names are mere high-sounding Sanskrit names and have little or no meaning. For instance" Wijayasekara" (victorious crest), * Amarasinha" (immortal lion), “Wijayasinha (victorious lion)," Gunaratna" (victorious gem), * Gunawardana" (virtue increasing)," Rajapaksa"
From Ceylon Observer. * Caloutta, Office of Christian Intelligencer. 24 pp.
TWICE-TOLD TALES REGARDING THE
AKHUND OF SWÅT. An extraordinary little tract entitled, “The Akhúnd of Swit, a Muhammadan Saint, and Dilawar Khelia, the Converted Afghan Brigand," 1876," by the Rev. T. P. Hughes, contains a good deal of information about the late Akhånd, 'Abd-ul-Ghafür, which may be fairly taken a correct.
At page 5 Mr. Hughes says that the Akhand's followers are disposed to attribute miracles to him, and that two at least of these miracles are likely to be transmitted to posterity. The first miracle is related as follows:
"A few years ago, in consequence of the increased number of worshippers, instructions were given to a carpenter to enlarge the Akhand's mosque. A large beam was procured for the roof, but when brought into the mosque and measured, it was too short by nearly a yard. The Akhand gave instructions for it to be left on the ground for the night. When the carpenter measured the beam in the morning he found it two yards longer than was required. The beam had elongated itself some three yards during the night under the influence of the miracle-working Akhand. We have never yet met with any one who was present on the occasion, but the scepti. cal reader may, if he wishes, visit Saida (the Akhand's residence) and behold the very beam projecting a yard at each end."
Now I have noticed in reading and hearing the miracles and marvellous tales regarding saints, heroes, and religious leaders in the Panjab, that something like the same stories are told of all of them--that there is in fact a family likeness in the legends of the various Panjabi saints. For instance, Sakht Sarwar, the Musalman saint of Derå Ghåzi Khân, and Bålmig almiki) and LAI Beg, the saints (or objects of worship) of the sweepers, are all said to have restored to life a horae that was killed and eaten in pretty much the same way. Sakhi Sarwar and an obscure saint in the R&wal Pindi District, called Barri Sultan, both drew milk from bulls when their cows were exbausted, and lately in reading R. B. Shaw's I found the tract in a Dak Bungalow at Tret in the Ráwal Pindi District.