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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
Bala Divas Devi. Invoked with his elder sister in Alut-devi-kavi.
Bala Giri. A goddess, invoked in Amaru-sântiya, Giri-liyo-dolaha-pidavila, and Dolosgiri-dev-liyagê puvata, in the last as passing by with coquettish graces and bewitching the young. See Giri.
Bali. The name given to 35 kinds of rites for protection against malignant influences of the 9 planets, ascribed to Bhâtiya Rşi. (Ratnalan karaya.] The ritual of exorcism by means of an image of the spirit exorcised or propitiated; see Maha-bali. Bali images are used in the ritual of the Yâga-alai karaya, Rakusu-bali, Dala-kadavara-dola, Rati-kala-murttu-bali, Mihidu-bali, Indra-gurulu-bali, Viskam-bali, Mäți-bali-yagaya, Malan-gara-kavi. The rite bali-vidiya, as described in the poem of the same name, consists of three forms of offerings, each with an image, to exorcise a god, devil, or planetary influence causing sickness. The first is to Una Garâ, the second to Våta Girahani Yakini, and the third is the Sarva-vipaka. bali (q. v.). A bali-rite to heal sickness by invoking Buddha and his merits is described in A-bali-yagaya. Sickness due to the Planets, or evil presaged by the dropping of the dung of cobras, lizards, or crows or by the appearance of black ants' nests, may be exorcised by the ritual of Mäti-bali-yagaya. The house is cleansed, and upon a frame 13 spans 10 fingerwidths in length and 6 spans 5 finger-widths in breadth a bali-image of clay is set up, representing in relief the nine Planets, Iru, Sikuru, and Guru being on top, Budu, Sandu, and Senasuru on the right, and Kuja, Rahu, and Ketu on the left. The celebrant offers flowers and betel, and dances. The rite of Bali-piliveta is prescribed to counteract the evil influences of the planets and stars. It ordains that a rice-offering be prepared and the patient be placed so as to face the north. A house is then to be built, covered with wattles and clay, and offerings are made, the patient holding one end of a cord and the exorcist the other, etc. Bali rituals are described in Asura-bandhanê, B.-särasuma, Dalakadavara-dola, D.-k.-kavi, D.-k.-yakşa-giri-b., D.-kumara-puvata, Deva-gri-b., Gard-yak-páliya, Kadaturdva-härima, Mal-b.-upata, Nava-graha-mal-b., N.-9.-ântiya, Nava-guna-santiya, Rakusu-b., R.-5.-sangaráva, Ratikan-baliya-kavi, R.-kumari-b.-k., Riri-yak-k., Suba-sirimangale, Sudarisana-b., To!a-kumara-b., Vata-panti-b. See also Maha-bali.
Bäli Bisava. The “Bitch Queen" (perhaps Kuvêni, q. v.), invoked in Vädi-sântiya.
Bamba (Bamba hu, Brahma, Ketu.) He is said to have taken part in the healing of Maha-sammata (seo Abina-santiya), and in the invention of the alphabet (see Alphabet). He is present in the Takari tooth of the cobra (see Cobra). He is invoked in Sal-arliya-kavi. With Säkra he invented the kaksaya charm (see Kaksaya). Invoked in Abina-mangalê, Pirittuva; addressed in Tis-paye kima as regent of the 8th and 23rd payas, and having 8 eyes and 4 faces, sitting on a hamsa with an umbrella in his hand, and having given his head to Rahu; connected with the legend of the vidi used to heal Maha-sammata (see Vidi) He is sometimes identified with Ketu, the spirit of the descending node of the planets, and one of the Nava Graha. As such, he was born in Mala vadesa; his father was Maha-bamba, his mother Kesara Devi. He is lord of Pâtála, and is of the colour of smoke. [Nava-graha-santiya.] He and Rahu periodically devour the Sun and Moon. [Iru-handagamana-kavi.] He has 4 hands and 3 eyes, a conch, a golden kettle, and a sword, and rides on a teal. (Hora-suntiya.] His symbols are & rosary and a book, his vehicle a jackal, his tree the plantain, his offering white rice, his region the nadir ; and he has 3 faces, 9 eyes, a palm-leaf umbrella, and a white sunshade, according to Nara-graha-sivu-antiya and N.-9.-mal-baliya. The Mal-bali-upala prescribes yellow rice.
