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JOUKNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



the god Pillaiydr * should be invoked and a ponkal t 

 performed in his honour. It is usual, at the same time, to 

 pay similar honours to any deity to whom the nearest 

 temple or grove is dedicated. t 



The operation which falls earliest in the work of cultiva- 

 tion is manuring. At the lucky hour the first basket of 

 manure is carried to the field, and a small portion of the field 

 selected at hap-hazard is manured and dug with a mamoty. 



* " The Son." This is the common designation in the Northern 

 Province of the god Kanesar, or Kanapati. He is also called by the 

 cultivators Periyapiran or Periyavan "the Great One". He is a son of 

 Siva and Durga ( Pdrvati). and is the god of wisdom and remover of 

 obstacles. 



" He is lord of the troops of the mischievous and malignant imps ? 

 who are supposed to cause obstacles and difficulties, and is therefore in- 

 voked at the commencement of all undertakings. His bloated, dwarfish, 

 and distorted appearance, which is like that of the ganas of Siva, over 

 whom he presides, indicates sensuality and love of good living, while his 

 elephant's head is said to typify a combination of wisdom, or rather of 

 cunning and sagacity." — Hinduism, by Proffessor Monier Williams, 

 p. 165 (Sinhalese Gana, Ganesa, Ganapati). 



"In the North-Central Province the villagers worship a god called 

 Puliar, who, according to them, heals their diseases and affords them 

 help in various ways. They say they trust Puliar to obtain help in 

 this world, and Buddha for happiness in the next world." Report 

 by Rev. J. Ireland Jones, quoted in Ceylon Observer. 

 " And on the middle porch god Ganesha — 

 With disk and hook — to bring wisdom and wealth, 

 Propitious sate, wreathing his sidelong trunk." 



— Light of Asia. 



f Rice is boiled in milk in a new earthen pot, or in a brass pot cleaned 

 for the occasion. Plantains, curds, and ghee are offered with the rice — 

 also jakfruit, mangoes, lemons, &c. Camphor is then burned, and 

 homage paid to the god. 



% "Indra" (Intiran) is lord of the clouds, rains, seasons, crops, &c, 

 and he is worshipped at the season of sowing and reaping ; but the 

 chief honours appear to be paid to Pillaiydr. Indra (Sanskrit) = "the 

 rainer", "the irrigator"; lndu = " drops of rain." 



Winslowhas %<,vu<smu<3 : £ : & sir lc [kalappaichchakkaram] : u A diagram 

 in astrology in the form of a plough to determine on the best day for 

 beginning the ploughing of the season." I have not, however, heard 

 of an instance in Jaffna of the adoption of this method of discovering 

 the lucky hour for ploughing. 



