DEMON WORSHIP. 



5 



in the days of Maha Nama Terunnanse, who was engaged in the 

 composition of that historical work, between the years 459 and 

 477 a. d,, that is nearly 1400 years ago. 



Grahaism may, with equal reason, be supposed to have been a 

 system of still more ancient origin; the sun, moon, and stars being 

 the first objects of wonder, which are calculated to rouse, in an 

 ignorant mind, feelings of superstitious adoration. But, as it at pre- 

 sent exists, it appears to be almost wholly an emanation from 

 Brahminism. While Capuism, on the other hand, is a mixture of 

 Hindooism and of a more refined species of Demonism, the first 

 derived from the continent, the latter of indigenous growth, and 

 both mixed together into a heterogeneous system, originating proba- 

 bly at a period later than the two former. 



Although Buddha is said to have visited Ceylon three several 

 times before its conquest by Wijeyo, his religion was not established 

 in it till the reign of Dewanan Piatisse, who ascended the throne- 

 307 e. c, nearly 236 years after Buddha's death. But, from the 

 first day of its introduction into the Island, its success seems to- 

 have been very rapid; and indeed from the despotic nature of the 

 government, and the religious enthusiasm of the king, assisted as 

 it was by the proselytizing spirit of Dharma Soka of India (the 

 grandson of him who has been called Sandrncbtta by the Greek 

 writers) its success could not but have been certain, immediate, and 

 complete. But demonism was not displaced by it. It only took 

 a subordinate rank. Buddhism acknowledges the existence of 

 demons, and connives at, if it does not openly countenance, the 

 practice of demon-worship, or at least of a great deal which belongs 

 to it. Buddhism does not hold out worldly advantages or imme- 

 diate rewards in this life to its votaries, so much as demonism does. 

 Its task is the graver one, of pointing out a way (though an erro- 

 neous one) of obtaining salvation for the soul; an object which is 

 to be attained, only after passing through many transmigrations of 

 the soul, through countless millions of years — a consummation, 

 therefore which, however devoutly wished for by a Buddhist, is 

 still one to be attained only in another state of existence, at some. 



