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



21 



guardian Devas or Hatara-varam-deviyo^ are appointed to 

 superintend the four quarters of that mountain. The Rev. 

 S. Hardy has the following observations on this head : 



" The four guaidian dewas, Dhritardshtra, Virudha, Virti- 

 pdksha, and Waisrawana have palaces on the summit of 

 Yugandhara rocks. The palace of Dhritardshtra is on the 

 east. His attendants are the Gandharwas, a kela laksha in 

 number, who have white garments, adorned with white orna- 

 ments, hold a sword and shield of crystal, and are mounted 

 on white horses. The Deva is arrayed and mounted in a 

 similar manner, and shining like a kela laksha of silver lamps, 

 keeps guard over the possessions of Sakra in the eastern 

 division of the Sakwala. The palace of Vinidha is on the 

 south. His attendants are the Kumbhandhas, a kela laksha in 

 number, who have blue garments, hold a sword and shield 

 of sapphire, and are mounted on blue horses. The Deva is 

 arrayed and mounted in a similar manner, and shining like 

 a kela laksha of lamps composed of gems, keeps guard over 

 the southern division of the Sakwala. The palace of Viru- 

 pdksha is on the west ; his attendants are the Nagas, a kela 

 laksha in number, who have red garments, hold a sword and 

 shield of coral, and aie mounted on red horses. The Deva 

 is arrayed and mounted in a similar manner, and ohining like 

 a kela laksha. of torches, keeps guard over the western division 

 of the Sakwala. The palace of Waisrawana is on the north : 

 his attendants are the Yakku, a kela laksha in number, who 

 have garments adorned with gold, and are mounted on horses 

 shining like gold. The Deva is arrayed and mounted in a 

 similar manner, and shining like akela laksha of golden lamps, 

 keeps guard over the northern division of the Sakwala." 



The Lokapdlas, who are sometimes confounded with the 

 guardians of the cardinal points, may be here mentioned. 

 They are represented as divinities appointed by Brahma to 

 act as rulers over different created things. They are amongst 

 others the following : — Indra, sovereign guardian of the 

 earth, and the regions below and above the earth ; Soma of 



