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ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SINHALESE FOLKLORE
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be born as Må-devi, daughter of Citrapati, a dancing woman in the service of the king of Soli. She likewise became a dancer, and fascinated Palanga, the husband of Pattini. See Pattini.
Madi Raja. A god, invoked in Kovila-pêvima and Salu-salima ; see Pattini. Maduru Devi. Mother of Sikura. Madu-sura Raja. A god invoked in Pattini-yaga-kavi. Magula. See Ata Magula.
Maha-bali. An Asura prince (see Asuras). Vişņu (as in the Dwarf Incarnation of Hindu myth) asked him for as much land as he could cover in three steps, and then, the boon being promised, strode over the three worlds, and overthrew the Asura. He is exor cised in the Asura-giri-bali rite by means of an image on a throne, with a Garuda behind it; it should have nine tufts of ragged hair on the head, black foet, a golden belly, a white stomach, blue hands, and a cobra's.hood on the breast; the exorcist holds & sword and an at-bali, q. v. (Asura-vidiya; U pulvan-asnê; Visnu-vidiya-kavi.]
Maha-bamba, Father of Bamba and Rahu. He caused rice to be brought from the Tugita heaven for exorcism (800 Rice), and instituted the present age; figures in the legend of the Deluge (see Maha-sammata, Namo Tas80, Vinu); brought the leopard's head to heal Panduvas (see Leopard's Head); places the lily in rites at the foot of the patient (see Lily); figures in the legend of Oddisa, q. v. ; is present in the betel-leaf, and is worshipped with betel, etc., in Dalu-mura-yahan-kavi (see Betel); is invoked in Gini-jal-vina-käpîma, Amarasântiya. An image of Sahampati stood in the monastery of Padeniya. (P.-sinduva.]
Maha-bhagavati. A goddess, who protects the skin of the drum (see Drums.) Maha-devi. See Siva. Maha Kalu Devatar. See Kalu Kumara, Kalu Yaka. Maha Kalu Kiri Landun. Mother of Kalu Kumara.
Maha-kela (Naga-raja). The king of the Cobras. He dwells in the rice-pestle used in the rite of Ata Magula, q.v. From his nostril was born Haniyan Yaka, q. v. He gave limes to Vêdana Rşi (see Mal-aara Raja). From flame emitted by him arose Oddisa, q. v.: see algo Visnu. He is present in the middle of the cocoa-nut troo (see Cocoa-nut). He was nephew or son-in-law of Muoalinda, and his daughter wedded the Sun (see Limes). He took part in the exorcism of Sudarsana, 9. v. Described in Loka-vistara-taranga-málê.
Maha Kiri Amma.See Kiri Amma. Maha-kosamba. A spirit, invoked in Vädi-yak-yadinna. Maha-maya. A queen, see Cloth. Mahana Bandara. A demon, on whose legend see Perahära. Maha-nayide. A demon, on whom see Pitiya Devi. Maha-padma. A Någa, from whose body was made the first drum (800 Drums).
Maha-puruşa-lakunu-vina-käpima. A rite, and the poem descriptive of it, for the exorcism of sickness, by invoking the 32 bodily signs of Buddha and his deeds of meroy. and cutting limes.
Maha-Riri Vägt. A spirit, invoked in Vädi-yak-yadinna. . Maha-sammata. The first of the 728,796 kings of the world who have reigned since the Sun and Moon were created. [M.-8.-sivupada.] He was grandson of Bamba Raja and son of Sara Bamba or Brahma-datta and Nanda; he married Sura-nandana Devi. And Säkra girded on his sword. [M.-8.-mula-patuna, M.-8.-taranga.] He was a Bodhi-sattva and a righteous king. [8.-mangalaya.] In a former birth he was Khadirangâra (see
