2.92 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



I have already referred to the distinguished position which 

 Vishnu holds in the national religion of the Sinhalese ; and 

 I may, before concluding, observe, that our poets abound in 

 allusions to this deity, and one of them especially regards 

 him as the only deva ' who was not dejected when Mara 

 waged his fight against Buddha, as he sat on his waj rdsana 

 or diamond seat.' 



