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ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SINHALESE FOLKLORE
corpse on the pyre; but the prince came disguised as a demon, frightened away the watchers, threw the head upon the pyre, and escaped. A watch was again set to see who should come to sprinkle milk upon the ashes. The prince, disguised as a cow-keeper, came with two large jars of milk by the cemetery. When the guards seized him, he declared that he was the king's herdsman, laid down the jars upon the ashes, and in simulated rage broke them; then he assaulted the guards, went off towards the palace, as though to inform the king, and thus escaped. Some other attempts, equally futile, were made to secure him; but the end of the poem is wanting.
Matall. A deity. At his bidding Siva fetched a pusul to heal the Bodhi-sattva; see Bodhi-sattva.
Mati. Sister of Mâra.
Mätipala. See Betel.
Mavatte Devi. A god, mentioned in Dolaha-devi-kavi as coming from Mâvattê with an army, and reverencing the bo-tree; he is of fiery aspect, and wears a crown.
Ma-vi. See Rice.
Maya. (1) Mother of Mangra Devi; (2) mother of Maralu Yaka.
Mayavati. (1) Wife of Kiradira; (2) mother of Susîmâ; see Simha-ba. Mayilakkandi. A female demon; see Riri Yaka.
Mayilavalana. An uncle of Kuvêni; see Vijaya.
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Mayara-patra. See Betel.
Medhankara. See Buddha.
Mehesuru. See Siva.
Meleyi Yakas. 9 of these are invoked in Kadavara-vidiya.
Mera. A goddess who danced before the company of Säkra (see Maha-sammala). Mercury. See Budahu.
Mi-devi. See Mihi-kata."
Migaha-pitiye Devi. A god, mentioned in Dolaha-devi-kavi as wearing a golden belt, etc., stopping herds in the woods, and cutting down large trees.
Mihidu. A god, represented in the M.-bali rite by an image of a golden god with a golden water-pot in his right hand and a golden cobra on his shoulder. Cf. Mihindu.
Mihi-kat (M. Devindu). The earth-god, invoked as Mihi-devi in Nayi-natavana-kavi, Set-kavi. He patronised Abhûta Devi; created a stone ship to bring Devel Devi to Ceylon. Invoked in Ran-dunu-upata, R.-d.-alattiya. See Torch, Tovil.
Mihi-kata (Bhami-kanta, Mi-devi, Mihi-liya). The earth-goddess; invoked in Tis-payê kima as regent of the 13th paya, who came with her golden pitcher to help Buddha against Mâra, and in Tira-hata-mangalê as having spread a blue cloth round Buddha on the Vajrasana; testified to Buddha; mother of Kuja; protected Sandun Kumâra; nurtured Valli Amma; see also Cocoa-nut, Curtain, Hat Adiya, Namo Tassa, Pattini, Turmeric. Invoked in Amara-sântiya, Horâ-s., Iri-pänun-kavi, Kala-geḍi-nätum, Salusalima, Tovil-vidiya.
Mihindu. Apparently the earth-god, invoked in Abhimana-dola. Cf. Mihidu.
Mihipoti. One of the mothers of the Devol Deviyô.
Minihis-kandi. A female demon; see Riri Yaka.
A demon Mini-maru Yaka (M.-m. Bandara. M.-m. Devatar, M.-m. Kumara) worshipped by Väddas; said to have been a companion of Kambili Devatâ and Nâ-mal Kumara; identified with the latter in the Ná-mal-kumâra-vistarê. The M.-bandara
