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ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SINHALESE FOLKLORE
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Rakusu (Rakṣaṣas). There is a ritual of exorcism, styled Rakusu-bali. It begins with rites to avert the evils foreboded by the falling of crows' dung upon a man under certain astrological conditions. A bali is offered to the Nine Planets; images of a crow and pheasant-cuckoo are put on a board as vehicles for Sarva Kûta Rakusu, q. v; the board is placed to the N. E. of the patient, charms are uttered, and Kapila Kûta Rakusu, Senasuru, and Rûpa Rakusu are invoked. Te avert fevers and other diseases Kumbhanda and Jvara Rakusu are invoked, q. v. [R.-b.-kavi.] A ritual for healing sickness is given in the Rakusu-bali-sangarâva. An image of Visnu is made, with a cobra's hood on each shoulder and ankle, 3 eyes, a Rakusu's face, another on the belly, 6 hands, a lotus on each knee; then an image of Maha-sohona, with huge body, a bear's face, curly matted hair, in the left hand a javelin, in the right an elephant, from a wound in which he catches and drinks the blood; an image of Divi Rakusu, with 5 cobras' hoods, 3 eyes, a Rakusu's face, the same on each shoulder and on the belly, a cobra's hood at the arm-pit and on each knee and ankle; an image of Graha Bhairava, with a sword in the hand, a huge mouth, and an uplifted mace, riding a golden stag, with 12 faces near him; an image of Oddisa, with 4 cobras round the body up to the neck, holding a sword and riding on a man, with a gold-coloured cloth over it; an image of the Sun, with 3 eyes, a crown, and red hands, one of which holds a bird and the other a string of beads, riding on a peacock; an image of Kili-sa ka, with red eyes, three faces of Rakusus, 6 hands with an iron mace in each, and a red garland, on each side of him a figure of red, blue, and black colour with the face of a man, the breasts of a woman, and four hands holding iron axes and clubs (this is to heal the impurities of women); an image of Yakṣa Rakusu, with the head of a Rakusu, 3 cobras' hoods, and a cobra at each corner of the mouth, riding a buffalo, with Vața Kumâra on the right and Môlan-garâ on the left; an image of Caturvâhana Rakusu, with 4 faces, 7 heads, jewels, and a flowered cloth, riding an elephant, horse, chariot, or man; an image of Bhairava, with 7 cobras' hoods, 5 heads, cobras' hoods on the cheeks and shoulders, 3 faces and 5 hoods on the belly, and a face in the hand, riding a bull; an image of Nilaga Rakusu, with 5 faces, 7 cobras' hocds, 4 hands, 3 faces on each shoulder and 5 on each side, and his body entirely encircled by snakes, riding on a man (this to heal burns, swellings, chills, and dysentery); an image of Pusanga Rakusu, with Rakusu's face, 5 cobras' hoods, 4 hands, and 154 cobras' faces, riding a goat; an image of Ratta Rakusu, with a man's form, 6 horns, a garland in the left hand, a sotiya in the right, a white standard over his head; an image of Kâma Rakusu, with one hand and one foot, wearing 3 cloths and a crown; an image of Râja Rakusu, with five faces of a god, five crowns, four hands, in which are a sword, axe, and human skull, and five cobras' faces (this to heal the evil influences that arise from defilement by snakes, growth of toadstools or fungi, or oaths by the earth); an image of Goli Rakusu; with 5 faces, a crown, cobras round the body, 4 hands, of which those on the right hold a sword and lotus, 3 faces of Rakusus on the belly and 4 on the knees and feet, a bullock's face on the knees, a goddess with golden face at his navel, riding an elephant; an image of Polabâ Rakusu, with golden body, 9 faces, 9 more on the belly, 6 on the knees, and 2 on the shoulders, a blue cloth, sword, shield, bow, and arrows, riding a cobra; an image of Asurindu Rakusu, with white body and royal jewels, riding a horse; an image of Masgan Bhairava, with 3 eyes, a Rakusu's face, jewels, 4 hands, of which one on the right holds an axe, and white body, riding a goat; an image of Sarva Rakusu, either with golden face and a white belly with 8 faces of Rakusus, or with white face and 3 cobras' hoods on the telly, riding a black horse (this to avert the
