No. 11. —1858-9.]' SINHALESE MYTHOLOGY. 



II 



In the creed of the Buddhist some of the Hindu deities 

 are, however, not regarded as the others are — ' mere creatures 

 of fancy,' ' the metaphors of poetry,' and ' the personifications 

 of nature.' Some are recognized in Buddhism as really exist- 

 ing beings, and to them the Buddhist makes offerings.* Of 

 these we shall treat in due order. 



The object of this Essay is a brief inquiry into the Sin- 

 halese Mythology, as it may be gathered from our poets j 

 and in that investigation it will be our endeavour slightly 

 to compare the systems known to the East and West. 



There are two sources from whence the Sinhalese have 

 obtained their Mythology : — 1st, Their Religion or their bana, 

 the Buddhist scriptures ; and 2nd, Tradition, or that which is 

 found in the works of Hindu writers. 



Under the first head may be mentioned, not only the 

 fabulous cUviyo recognized in Buddhism, and to whom homage 

 is paid by the votaries of Gautama ; but also the fabulous 

 system of the universe, and its gods and ndgas : and under 

 the second head are comprehended the metaphors and 

 ilegories of poets, the personification of abstract notions, 

 r symbolic representations of the powers or attributes of 

 nature, the planetary system, and its influence on man. 



Innumerable are the worlds of the Universe. Each system 

 or Sakwala, scattered throughout the infinity of space, has 

 its own sun, moon, and stars. The earth with its visible sun 

 and moon, and its heavens and hells, constitute the Magul- 

 sakwala, which is surrounded by a rock called the Sakwala- 

 gala. The earth has in its centre the Mahamera, around 

 which are oceans, mountains, continents, lakes, islands, &c. 

 The earth is 240,000 yojuns, or 3,840,000 miles, in solidity. 



* But some of them are not objects worthy of adoration. The 

 " Puj&valiya" compares the folly of those who ' listen to the teachings 

 of Siva or Vishnu,' to the Brahman in the legend [see Hardy on 

 Buddhism, p. 472.] who was deceived by the Jackal. "They will be 

 deceived likewise, and the object at which they aim will not be attained." 



