312 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. VIII. 



successive nights. A threshing-floor (kalam) is prepared — 

 levelling and smoothing a portion of the field in a circular 



The bouDdary line of this circle is strewn with pieces of 

 bark or leaves of margosa* and bits of the pirandai 

 creeperf. This is in order to form a "guard-cord " 

 (kdvatkodi)X against the kulis. An extempore image of 

 Ganesaismade of cow-dung, as usual, by one of the servants, 

 hence called the PiUaiyarpolan, and decorated with aruku 

 grass. Pusai is then performed to it — i. e., camphor and 

 benzoin incense are burned before it 5 and offerings made of 



* There is a saying Quinsy QsuutSldovQun-Qsv (peychchu veppilai 

 pole) " as margosa leaves before a demon." (Percival, 4,955.) The 

 Kandyans use margosa with the same object. (See C. A. S. Journal, 

 1880, p. 49.) In the low-country the ricks are frequently encircled 

 with young cocoanut leaves or jungle creepers (C. A. S. Journal, 1883, 

 p. 48), no doubt as a "guard-cord." 



f There must be some peculiar potency also in the pirandai 

 creeper. See Mr. Fowler's account of the Panikkan's use of it as a 

 sort of charm. (Ibid, pp. 15 — 16.) It is the hiressa of the Sinhalese 

 {Ibid, 1880, p. 49 ; 1883, p. 49.) Moormen have the same opinion of its 

 efficacy as a charm. " A species of sun-flower (helicophilum)'" — Clough. 

 Pirandai is not given by Winslow. 



+ I did not find that in the Jaffna Peninsula circles were drawn on 

 the threshing-floor of ashes, as among the Sinhalese, but I dare say there 

 is such a practice among the Tamils also. I see Winslow gives as a 

 meaning of &[T6U6vQ<£FUJlu, (kdvalscyya) "to make (with a straw-rope) 

 diagrams on the ground, &c, to defend the grain from demons." With 

 respect to the number of circles drawn, the Kandyans whom I have 

 questioned on the point said that there should be three concentric 

 circles. This agrees with what Mr. Bell found in the low-country. In 

 Kegalla the number is seven. In addition to Knox, Davy, and Brodie, 

 Sirr also gives a short description of Sinhalese threshing-floor ceremonies, 

 and he, too, states that three circles are described, one within the other, 

 at the mystic rite when the paddy is trodden out. (Ceylon and the 

 Cingalese, Vol. I., p. 151.) 



Among the Sinhalese the substitute for the image of Pillaiyar seems 

 to be the muttd (see C. A. S. Journal, 1883, p. 49), " the great grand- 

 father," which may be either a round stone (ibid, 1880, p. 49) or an 

 unhusked cocoanut (arakpol). Mutta in Mr. Bell's Paper should be 

 muttd. 



