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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
Ritta. The ritta are the 6 unlucky days of the lunar month, viz. the 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 24th, and 29th. The R-pittiya represents these as a female demon, named Yamadîti, the daughter of Takşa Raja and Gini-kan Devi. Her body is covered with black down; her head is red, her ears deaf, her body copper-coloured and leprous, her hair like fire ; she has no eyes (though elsewhere the poem speaks of them). She has an everlastingly whimpering child named Pâraya, with long eyes and egg-like cheeks. Instead of clothes she wears leaves. She reads in a book of golden leaves, eats bad cakes, and sits on a white rat-snake. A full description of her malign activities on the various days is given. She dwells in the magic mat (see Aa Magula).
Rivi. See Itu. Rodiyas. For a legend of this tribe, see Ratna-valli.
Rose-water. A Pini-diya-alattiya describes a ritual of exorcism with sprinkling of rosewater, which is said to have been first used in healing the enchantment of Mänikpala. The four Guardian Gods, Vişnu, Saman, Kadirâ pura Deva, and the gods of the 10,000 worlds assembled for this purpose. After fetching 7 golden bows from the Milk Ocean and giving them to Vişnu, the Guardian Gods summoned Odcisa to perform the exorcism. See also Visnu.
Rşis. Legendary sages, said to have taken part in the coronation and healing of Maha-sammata (see Abina-śântiya, Maha-sammata, Suba-siri-mangalê, Vidi); performed rites to heal Mal-sarà (see Arrow); their lô-mini-halamba (bronze-gem bangle) invoked in Ranhalamba-kavi: they are present in the betel-leaf (seo Betel); performed rites to heal the
Bodhi-sattva (9.v.); nine Rşis fetched cocoa-nuts to heal Panduvas (see Cocoa-nut); performed rites to heal Kakusanda (see Divi Dos); healed the Sun and Moon when poisoned by Rahu (see Iru); allowed the Kalavaras to come to Ceylon (sce Kadavara): failed to heal Mänikpala, and seven of them brought Oddisa to heal Maha-sammata (q.v.); in another version nine healed him. They were sent to restore Vajrapati Gopalu Yakini (see Oddisa); made Emâ's 7 sors into Sellan Kacavara (q. v.); took part in healing Sudarisana (q. v.); protected Tanipola Ríri Yaka and Riri Yaka (q. v.): connected with the legend of the torch-rite (see Torch); invoked in Valalu-vidiya (see Valalu); aided Säkra to heal Mänikpala (see Vas), performed rites to heal Vijaya (see Ata Magula); brought limes for exorcism (see Vina); got a fire-arrow when Vişņu (q. v.) churned the ocean. They are invoked in Samayanpadura, Sat-adiya-kari.
Rukattana. The tree Alstonia scholaris, the flowers of which are used in offerings. Its legend is as follows: While the god Säkra was in his park Nandana, his queen Miyulundana committed adultery with the god Viskam. Säkra, learning of this from the god Valáhaka, questioned her. She swore by his throne that she was incent, and was stricken with the divi-dcs or disease that punishes ferjury, of which she died. Her body was burned in the Tark Nanc'ana; but her right hand was not consumed, and from its palm arose the trunk of a rukattana, from its fingers the branches, and from its nails the leaves. (R.-upata.) See also Vidi.
Ruk-mal Kadavara. Invoked in Tedâlankaraya as loving the scent of ruk-mal flowers.
Rapa Rakusu. A demon invoked in the Rakusu-bali (see Rakusu) as having 4 faces and 8 hands, and bearing 9 cobra hoods, with a cobra under each arm and 6 cobras clinging round his helly.
Rutl-kami, Ruti-mađana. Consort of Ratikan.
