No. 29. — 1884.] BUDDHISTIC AL CEREMONIES. 231 



day, when the second portion, containing seven sutras, 

 comes into reading. 



On the morning of the seventh day a procession is 

 formed, and a written invitation is sent by a special 

 messenger, who accompanies the procession to one of the 

 temples of the gods [deviyo], inviting the gods and the 

 four guardian deities of Ceylon to attend. On the return 

 of the procession, the messenger reports that the gods are 

 in attendance, and one of god's priests utters a benediction. 

 After this the A'tdndtiya suttam is read by the priests, four 

 and four at a time, again and again till daybreak on the 

 eighth day. The Ratana suttam and the Karaniyametta 

 suttam are chaunted, the benediction is given, and the pirit 

 service is ended. The priests who took part in the service 

 receive presents, each a robe or twenty cubits of cloth, and 

 depart to their respective monasteries. 



The priest who was in was receives the eight requisites, 

 and is conducted in procession with the relic-casket and his 

 books back to his monastery with the same marks of 

 respects as were shown when he was brought down to the 

 village. 



2. — The " Jivaddnarii" or Pinkama by a man whose end is 

 approaching. 



This pinkama) called in Sinhalese goddne, takes place 

 when a man thinks himself soon about to die. The priest 

 of the village vihdre [temple] officiates, A few days' 

 notice is usually given, and on the appointed day the man's 

 sons and relations go in the evening to the vihdre with an 

 offering of flowers, oil, and necessaries for the evening 

 meal. After making their offering at the vihdre they go to 

 the priest's residence, and thence conduct the priest with his 

 bana book to the house, where a temporary preaching hall 

 is made ready. After the priest has finished his evening 

 meal, the sick man and his relations assemble to hear bana. 

 On these occasions the priest reads and explains some por- 

 tions of a Sinhalese book, such as the Ratandvaliya. This 

 lasts for about six English hours. If the priest's residence 

 is near he returns to it, if not he retires to rest at the house. 



