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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
Vira-vikrama Devatar Bandara. See Däḍimunda. Vira-vikum Ratna Bandara. See Kambili Kadavara. Viradhaka. One of the Guardian Gods.
Virapaksa. One of the Guardian Gods.
Visala. A Dan-udiya-kathava relates that Dan Udiya received alms and ate them himself, for which he was at once turned into a rock. After 12 years Gautama Buddha in pity addressed him. At the third utterance the rock began to hear, uttered a cry, emitted a stench, and returned to human shape. The stench created a pestilence that attacked successively dogs, cattle, and men in Visâlâ (Vesâli).. Buddha stopped it and the 18 forms of sanni disease. This story is accordingly embodied in a ritual for Sanni Yaka. Another D-u.-kathava, of similar contents, refers to a vihârê (monastery) at Makkama (Mecca). In V.-sântiya, a ballad upon an exorcistic rite, it is said that a beggar of Visâlâ asked for alms, promising to give away in charity whatever he received; but he only gave away the half, and was therefore reborn as a Preta (ghost) called Dan Udiya or Hamsapâla Udiya, who had no arms, legs, eyes, nose, or ears. Buddha addressed him; he rose up, and thunder was heard. Plague then attacked men and animals, with drought, famine, bloodshed, and incursions of evil spirits. Buddha was summoned; rain fell, and he restored the country to its former state, and preached pirit. Cf. the story of the Budu-guna-alankâraya and Ratana-sûtra-santiya. A bali rite is then prescribed for Yakas of various lands. The Mahavisal-yadinna ascribes the plague at Visâlâ to the demons Vatuka, Kambili, Siya-vatuka, Amu-sohona, Siri, Kadavara, Gopalu, Golu, Bihiri, Kana, Kora, Pilli, Bhairava, Madana, Ratikan, Maha-sohona, Teda Pattini Yakşayô, Sûniyan, Pulutu, Uda-mangra, Talâtu, Bhumâtu, Teda Devel, etc., assembling from all countries. The plague of Visâlâ is also connected with Hûniyan Yaka (q. v.) and Vaduru Kâli (see Kâli). See likewise Set-sântiya, and Vina.
Viskam. See Vivakarma.
Visnu (Upulvan, Pulvan, Ven). The Hindu deity, consort of Lakemi, Sitâ, and Siriyâ, and one of the Guardian Gods (q. v.); said in Pala-väla-danê to dwell with Sîtâ (q. v.) in Vaikuntha on the Himalaya. The Upulvan-asnê relates that he fought with the Devas against the Asuras and slew their chief Mahâ-bali. The Satara-devâla-devi-puvata narrates that he came to Ceylon and overcame the Demala Yakas. He dived in boar's form into the waters, to seek the earth; in tortoise's form he supported Mount Meru on his back when the winds blew upon it and the Naga king twined round it; he overcame Bhasmâsura by guile, and alone of the gods supported Buddha in his struggle against Mâra. The Vali-yakkavi states that Buddha gave him charge of Ceylon; the Buda-bala-däpanê, that Buddha appointed him to guard his religion for 5000 years. He is incarnated in Râma. He took part in the healing of Maha-sammata (see Abina-sântiya). With Säkra and isvara he invented the word svasti (see Alphabet). He took part in the rite of the arrow to heal Malsarâ (see Arrow). In woman's form he begot and gave birth to Ayyanâr, q. v. He is present in the betel-leaf, and one shoot of the primitive betel was his (see Betel. He overcame Bhasmâsura by assuming the form of a lovely woman (see Bhasmasura, Kalu Kumara); brought a charmed thread to heal the divi-dos of Vijaya (see DiviDos); created a golden cock for the war against the Asuras (see Fowl); and plunged into the sea and straightened Meru when it had become crooked through Isvara's blow, and himself conceived and bore Haniyan Yaka, g. v. With his sanctuary at Bintenna Kalu Kumara (q. v.) is associated. He is father of Kama, (q. v.); aided Kambili Kadavara (q. v.), who carried and broke his
