Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 297

ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SINHALESE FOLKLORE
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discovering who she was begged for pardon. Pattini gave her the right to wear various kinds of dancer's ornaments, and to have the Aükeli rite celebrated in her honour. She also put her fan into Bhadra-kâli's right hand, and gave her charge of Ceylon, as "Second Pattini". Bhadra-kali came with Ayyanár in a stone boat to Mannârama, and went to Peramiyaikulama. She visits Amunukola, and has a sanctuary at Gona-Väva. She removes smallpox by the power of the Fire Bangle (gini-halamba) ; she wears on her right arm the tinkling Smallpox Bangle (vaduru-halamba); she dispels the Bhûtas and Pilli Yakas. Her body shines with rose-water, and she bears a diamond-studded fan. She is accompanied by the Eight Kális and Eight Bhairavas. The K.-devi-upata relates that when Pattini was searching for Palanga, the girl who was shewing her the way began to weep on seeing Bhadra-kali, and Pattini turned the latter (?) into stone at Veli-ambalam. Pattini gave her charge of the world of men. When for 8 days the wind blew on Meru and broke the hood of the Nâga-king, who was encircling it, the hood fell into the Milk Sea, and from it was born Bhadra-kali. From the blood scattered from the hood arose the Eight Kali Goddesses, from the crushed bones the Eight Bhairavas. These with their retinue occupied the eighteen lands, and landed in Ceylon; they speak the 18 languages and Tamil The Patra-kali-kavi describes Bhadra-kali as speaking the 18 tongues, dancing. wearing a shawl over her shoulders, and having in her right hand a sunshade and on her arm a bangle. She came from Malava-desa to Nuvara-kaláva in Ceylon; she restored the Kala-nuvara district and Ali-madam; she dwelt at Palayakulame and Amunukole; she avenged Pålai ga's death by burning the Pandiyan's city. She held down Govinda's head and struck him. She watched at the foot of the Bo-tree when Buddha after receiving the golden dish of Sujata attained illumination. The Seven Kali Goddesses were born of the blood that fell from the Nâga-king's broken hood when the wind-god shook Maba-meru. Vaduru Mâ-devi, holding her golden wand, is invoked. The Kâli-nälavila, after describing Káli as wearing a nine-angled bangle, a golden robe, etc., and having authority from Pattini, states that Bhadra-kali was born in Kuharapura on the tips of the leaves of a nūga tree. She wears a blue robe and blue scarf, and the naga-bangle on her shoulders. She guards the stem of the Bo-tree and holds its leaves. She is attended by 5 devatas. She showed her power at Kalâgama. Of her seven births, the first was in a cobra's hood, the second at Baranäs, the third in a purple water-lily. Pattini allowed her to have a kölmura or hymnal for her cult (and it should be noted that several images of the Kali Goddesses were found in the temple of Munessaram). The Kali Goddesses are said to have come to Ceylon with princes of the Ariya-vamsa in the days of Bhuvaneka-bahu ; vide Vanni-purata. They attended Vişnu, q. v. The Vaduru-santiya prescribes a ritual to heal smallpox by invoking Kali, to whom Pattini is said to have given charge of the world of men. The rite begins on a Monday morning. The exorcist, after purification, decks himself with jewels and dresses himself as a woman, with false breasts, and sprinkles water over the patient. The ritual Káli-yakini-kavi describes the propitiation of Kali in order to save a person from the effects of a mad dog's bite. It states that she was born in Nagadipa as the daughter of the Nâga king Turiki and queen Enâ. She became a demon, and causes dogs to become mad and bite. She is said to hold & sword in each hand, and flames come from her eyes. Betel is offered to Bhadra-kali in Mal-keli-upata. The gem and pearl bangle of the Seven Kâli goddesses is invoked in Ran-halamba-kavi and Halamba-santiya. Kali Amma is invoked in Hora-sântiya and Sat-adiva-kavi. See also Airou, Muttu-mari.