Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 45
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Previous | Next

Page 326
________________ 66 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY bury him under the rock, when a pillar of flame arose from the charm and heated the rock, whereon the Yakas fled. The exorcist in reciting this should dance over a pit of hot ashes, and the possessing demon is driven into the pit and compelled to disclose who he is and how the sufferer can be healed. Naga Oddisa. See Oddisa. Naga Pilli. See Pilli Yaka. Nagara-gini-räs-halamba. See Bangle, Nagara-halamba. See Bangle. Naga Raja. He is said to have taken part in the healing of Maha-sammata (see Abina śântiya), and is propitiated in Vidi-bändima. Naga Rakṣi. A female den.on; see Riri Yaka. Nagara Rṣi. A mythical sage; see Planets, Valalu. The Nagara Reis are connected with the legend of Vas-haranê; see Vas. Nagas. A race of semi-divine beings, with beautiful human faces and bodies of cobras, who dwell in the subterranean world called Pâtâla, and appear in many legends. They are invoked in Pirittuva, etc. Naga-valli. See Betel. Nalavile Deva. A god invoked in Pitiyê dalu-mura-kavi. Nalle Kiri Amma. See Kiri Amma. See Kiri Amma. Na-mal Biso. Na-mal Kadavara. Invoked in Tedâlankâraya as loving the scent of na-flowers. Na-mal Kumara. According to the N. -m -k.-upata, a king of Koliya-pura married the princess Pâliya, who dreamed that she swallowed a na (Mesua ferrea), flower, which, the astrologers said, portended the birth of a son who would do harm to his country. She was then seized w th a longing to smell and eat ná flowers. A boy was born, who was hence called Nâ-mal, or "Nâ-flower," and was as beautiful as an image of gold. One day, when in the royal park, he became a demon, and was joined by three other demons, Avatâra Devatar, Sapumal D., and Mini-maru D., and they began to kill men all over the Eighteen Lands. They landed in Ceylon, where they were taken under the protection of Kanda at Kataragama, of Pattini, of the god of Minnêri, of Devatâr Bandara, of Viramunda, and of the god of Ridigama. Nâ-mal was especially worshipped at Radâvela, where he is said to have caused many deaths, and from which he is entitled Radâvela Bandâra. The Na-malkumâra-vistarê identifies Nâ-mal with Mini-maru (q. v.), and says that he came from the Malvara land and took possession of Ceylon, that he would come down upon a flower-couch and inspire votaries. He had the protection of Saman. The gods of the Asuras' world made a kotalê (vessel shaped like a teapot), and Nâ-mal used it in the worship of Kataragama Deva to hold turmeric-water, and thus gained power over the Demala-gam-pattuva. He offered turmeric-water also to Visņu, Pattini, and the Seven Kings; he visits Ridigama and sacrifices to its god. The Mal-keli-upata states that Nâ-mal has his seat at Kalâväva, and sports at the tank there. He was born of the Yona race, and once bewitched a maiden of that race who was bathing in that tank, so that she pined away for him; afterwards he married her, and now they both sport at the tank. Once, when there was a famine, some Yonas set out with bullocks laden with brass vessels for sale, Nâ-mal riding among them on a white bullock. At Radâvela the inhabitants took a brass vessel and would not pay for it. So Nâ-mal began to kill them that same night, slaying 60 at a time. He twisted their necks and drank their blood, especially choosing the first-born among them. To

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380