GUIDE TO THE COLOMBO MUSEUM. 187 



The following are shown in the middle section of the east side of 

 Case 47 : — 



Leopard claws, made into a pendant, usually worn around the 

 neck as a protection against evil spirits. (See Plate XXXVIII.) 



Wild-boar tusk. — The wild boar is supposed to be an abode of 

 evil spirits. The tusk is worn as a charm against evil spirits. 



Rings made in the shape of snakes are worn as a protection from 

 the evil eye. 



Dedications. — Various forms of votive offerings are made at the 

 temples of gods (devala). The offerings of food, clothes, banners, 

 lights, and lamps are quite common. Gold and silver chains and 

 ornaments are offered on special occasions. There is also a class of 

 offerings made to redeem vows , either when starting on agricultural 

 or industrial pursuits or for curing diseases : ploughs , knives , hoes , 

 and grain stacks made of silver are promised and offered if success 

 results. Models in silver of houses , carpenters' tools, boats, are also 

 met with. Images, and models of eyes, ears, nose, arms, legs, feet, 

 fingers, toes, &c., made of silver are offered in redeeming vows, which 

 are usually made when a person suffers from any illness of body or 

 any part of the body. 



There are also offerings made of ornaments appertaining to the 

 different devas in special thank-offerings, such as armlets, bracelets, 

 swords, tridents, anklets, &c. Each deva has his own set of 

 ornaments. 



Pattini worship is found both in the Kandyan districts and the 

 Low-country of Ceylon, and also in the Tamil districts. The 

 ornaments devoted to the goddess are the anklet, the mango fruit, 

 and the silk shawl. 



Vishnu is believed to be the special guardian deva of Ceylon, and 

 many offerings and vows are made to this deva ; the temples arid 

 images dedicated to Vishnu are held in esteem. The principal 

 temple for Vishnu worship was at Devundara (Dondra Head). The 

 ornaments of Vishnu deva consist of vari-coloured garments and 

 the five weapons pancayudha : the chank, the wheel, the sword, the 

 dagger, and the chatra. 



Wcanda. — The temple of Skanda Deva is situated in Kataragama, 

 which is a place of pilgrimage. He is described as possessing six 

 heads and twelve arms, and his ornaments and weapons are as 

 follows : (1) golden sword, (2) golden bow, (3) arrow, (4) short 

 axe, (5) shield, (6) hook, (7) wheel, (8) lance, (9) trident, (10) serpent, 

 (11) banner, with the figure of a cock, (12) pearl umbrella. 



Sumana. — The deva of Samanala (Adam's Peak) is believed to be 

 the special guardian of Sabaragamuwa. His ornaments consist of 

 a white elephant and a golden bow and arrow. 



In the left hand part of Case 47 (east side) the following votive 

 offerings are shown : — 



Clay votive tablets, model of bo tree, silver images, coils of silver 

 wire representing the height of the persons on whose behalf they were 

 offered, and an outrigger canoe. 



Lamps. 



A fine collection of hanging lamps is seen suspended from the 

 ceiling of Room E, and several standard lamps are found on the 



top of Case 47. 



