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ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SINHALESE FOLKLORE
propitiate him they established the Mal-keli (q.v.). At Nāvgala he is known as Mini-maru Kumaru (see Mini-maru Yaka).
NA-mal Kumari. A female spirit, who assists in the weaving of the magic mat in the rite of the Samayan-pädura.
Nama-näti Devindu (The Nameless God). This god is invoked in a N.-n.-d.-kavi as shaking the earth, beating down the Vaduru Yakus (demons of smallpox, etc.), restoring sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and power to walk to cripples, chastising thieves, dispelling by his name fear of serpents. He is asked why he did not aid Buddha against Mára. Apparently he is the same as Nama-näti Upasaka Deva, on whom see Sandun Kumara.. He is also invoked in Gange-bandara-kavi.
Namo Tassa. The formula of adoration to Buddha, namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammasambuddhassa, is prefixed to Buddhist scriptures. The poem Tun-saranê relates that Såtâgira Yak-senevi uttered the word namo, Rahu tassa, each of the four guardian gods a syllable of bhagavato, Säkra the word arahato, and Maha-brahma samma-sambuddhassa, and they all made obeisance to the Three Refuges of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), to which Mihi-kata algo testified. It is invoked in Budu-guna-santiya ; see Buddha.
Nanda. (1) Mother of Maha-sammata; (2) mother of Vira-bhadra. Nanda Kumari. Mother of Riri Yaka. Nanda Rşi. A sage, to whom Devel Devi gave torches. Nandiya. A spirit invoked in Gini-gal-vina-käpima. Napoti. A spirit who is present in the middle of the cocoa-nut tree (see Cocoa-nut). Narada. The heavenly musician and messenger of Hindu myth. See Valli Amma. Na-raju. A god invoked in Salu-salima. Narasimha. A king, on whom see Kuveni.
Narasimha. A god, invoked in Mali-keli-yädima as having a sword, necklace, and biroh-bark ear-jewels, and hunting on the peaks of the rocks.
Narayana. See Vişnu.
Nata Deva. One of the Guardian Gods. The Satara-devala-devi-puvata describes him as blue of body, and as a future Buddha (Maitri), now dwelling in the Tusita heaven; he once offered himself to a lioness. The N.-devi-puvata adds that he is the patron of Toțagamuva, removes spells, and rides on a hamsa. A Satara-varan-mal-yahan further describes him as dwelling in Kälaniya and holding in his right hand a gem-bangle, besides which he has a bow and vase of gold; he burns up the Bhůta Yakas; he is also called Ratna-tilaka. As Vibhîyana was also worshipped at Kälaniya, he seems to have been identified with Nâta, and finally ousted by him. See Betel, Cobra, Curtain, Drons, Pitiya Devi, Seven Devas, Tota Kadavana. He is invoked in Hat-adiya-prarambhaya, Kadaturava-härima, Mal-yahankavi, Nava-graha-santiya, Parale-kavi, Ran-dunu-alattiya, Satara-varan-mal-yahan; his bangle in Halamba-santiya. The Padeniya-sinduva states that his image stood in the monastery of Padeniya.
Nata-surapoti Devi. Mother of Maha-sammata. Nava-gamuva Teda Pattini. See Pattini. Nava Graha. See Planets.
Nava-guna-bantiya. A ritual, and poem describing it, for exorcising evil by Buddha's nine qualities. A figure is made with Säni-saka on top, bolding a book and a sword, and having 3 eyes, 4 hands, a conch, a cobra around his neck; he wears & charmed thread, and is coloured blue, and is riding on a dolphin (makara). At his neck are two ascetics with
