________________
ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SINHALESE FOLKLORE
B. is invoked in Gana-devi-hälla, as seated on a consecrated flowerpot in the N. E. quarter. See also Maha-bamba.
Bambadat Raja, King of Dantapura, and father of Sirba Kumara Raja. Bamba-put. A god invoked in Valalu-vidiya. Ba mba-put Rul. A sage, on whom see Vas. Bamba Raja. Grandfather of Maha-ammata. Ba mba Raja. Father of Kuvêni. Bämini Pattini, See Pattini. Bandana Kadavara. A spirit, invoked in Anli-kadavara-tovil. Bandara Deva. A god, invoked in Gi-malu-yagaya.
Bandara Devi. A spirit invoked in Devatar-kavi as chief of Ceylon and connected with a pool haunted by buffaloes.
Bandaras. One Gange-banlara-kavi mentions eleven deities with the title of Bandara, viz. Gaigata Adipoti B.; Nama-näti B.; Satara Devel Baga B.; Alut B.; Irugal B.: Ämbäkkê Devatâr B., Santâne Kande B.; Kirtti B.; Usvälle Kande B.; Mora pe B.; Pallebädde B.: and Kalu B. Nine are invoked in Perahära-malaya.
Bangle (Halamba). Bangles of deities are often mentioned and invoked. The Naramini-h., or nine-gem bangle from heaven, where it was worn on the neck of a goddess, Pattini's Sürya-h. and lightning-bangle, Mal Pattini's bangle, the Nagara-h., Maigra-bamini's bangle, the bangles of Kadirapura, of Ayyanar, and of the Seven Kalis, the lo-mini-h. or bronze-gem-bangle of the Seven Rais, the bangles of the Nine Bhairavas, the four guardian gods, and Vişnu, etc., are invoked in Ran-halamba-kavi. The poem Halamba-santiya exorcises spells from men through the power of Pattini's bangles, (viz. the h. of Kadirapura, the Sûrya-h., AiyanAyaka (Ayyanár) Devi's h., Mangra-hâmi's h., that of the 7 Kalis, the Navamini-h, of the Devas' world, Mal Pattini's h., Hena-gini-h., the chief h. of Mädda-desa, the Bhairavas''h., the four guardian gods' h., Vişnu's h., Gini-ran-h., the Seven Pattinis' h., Nagara-h., Viskam-h., the h. of the Ruvan-Vähära, Nâta Deva's h., Vidurke ana-h., Någara-gini räs-h., Siddha Pattini's h., Sak Raja's Nagara-h., Devata Bancara's h., and Düdimunda's h.). [Halamba-santiya.] See also Kali, Pattini, Sandun Kumara, Vali Yaka, Visnu.
Betel (Dalu-mura). Dalu-mura -is a name for betel (abaya-patra) meaning "spray. watch." These leaves, according to one Dalu-mura-upata, were needed for the marriage of Maha-sammata and Mänikpala, where the gods all gathered together. Vatabaka went to seek them in the Naga-bhavana, but in vain, and they were found in Säkra's park, whence he brought them. Some were taken from the wedding and planted elsewhere; those planted by the Naga king in his world were called Nâga-valf, those planted in the world of Gurulus were called Kiruļu-valli, those in the Asura-world were styled Mayûra-patra, and those in the Garudas' world Pandu-patra. Betel-leaves were used by Oddisa to cure Mänikpala. Another Dalu-mura-upata states that in the time of Kakusanda Buddha it was called abayapatra ; under Konågama Buddha, pandu-pul-patra ; under Kassara, Kirilu-p. In the Bodhi. sattva's birth as a bare, when he offered himself to Säkra, the latter painted his likeness on the moon, and threw away his brush, which fell into the world of the Nagas. The Naga Mucalinda swallowed it, but it burned his throat; and in 7 days he died. It was therefore, called giri-da-dalu," throat-burning leaf." It sprouted up from his pyre, and as the Nâgas watched it, it was called dalu-mura, " loaf-watch.” The branches of betel grew out of