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JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. Ill, 



sacrifices ; Varuna, of the waters ; Vdyu, of the unembodied 



element ; Vaisrawana, of demons and rakshas ; Parjanya, 



of oceans, clouds, rivers ; Nandi, of quadrupeds ; Superna, of 



birds of prey ; Garunda, of the winged race, &c, &c. Each 



city, grove, and house has a presiding deity ; and thus in the 



" Selalihini Sandesa," the poet reminds us of the " household 



god," by adoring whom the Sarika w r as to proceed on his 

 errand :— 



The city too (Kelaniya), into which the poet sent his message, 

 is said to be the seat of Vibhishana. It is in accordance with 

 this notion, that the Sinhalese are very reluctant to pull 

 down an old house ; or even 



an ancient tree, whose branches wear 



The marks of village reverence and care : — 



Megha Duta. 



and which is generally supposed to be the abode of devos 

 This notion of household-gods, is entirely derived from the 

 Hindus, according to whom " every city," says Prof. Wilson, 

 " has its own $H, its own fortune or prosperity, which in 

 former times seems to have been represented by an image 

 with a temple of its own. The practice amongst tbe ancients 

 of considering a city under the protection of some well- 

 known divinity is more familiar to us, but an analogous 

 superstition with that of the Hindus also prevailed amongst 

 the polytheists of Europe." 



Thus in " The Seven against Thebes ;" the Theban women 

 geek their shrines of the gods, who are the guardians of the 

 city. The poet in the " Mdlati and Madava " says ; 



Till they come, 



Obedient to the holy dame's injunctions, 



The matrons of her father's household send, 



The maiden to the temple of the deity 



That guards our walls, to pray that naught molest, 



No evil interrupt the happy rite. — 



Hindu Play*, II. pp. 64-5. 



