No. 23. — 1881.] KANDYAN CEREMONIES. 



39 



return for the night to the place prepared for them. At day- 

 break next morning they re-assemble, and begin the Pirit. 

 This is done by two of their number seating themselves at the 

 table, and reciting the opening service of the Pirit-book ; the 

 other priests in the meantime holding their fans in front of 

 them, and the string above described over their'knees. When 

 the invocation and one Sutra* have been read, the two seat 

 themselves by the others, and all joining in chorus recite 

 three particular Sutras : the Mangala (of festivals), the Ratana 

 (of the means of warding off disease), and the Karaniya- 

 metta (of the methods whereby dangers may be avoided and 

 prosperity obtained by gods and men). When these are ended 

 two other priests come forward, seat themselves at the table, 

 and go on with the next Sutras, while the others all re- 

 tire. Every two hours the readers are relieved ; and three 

 times a day all re-assemble, and repeat in chorus the three 

 Sutras before mentioned. There is no break in the continuity, 

 as this would mar the whole effect; and the reading continues 

 for seven days. On the sixth night the last seven Sutras in 

 the book are read over and over again, either by twos or fours ; 

 if the latter, two more chairs are brought in and placed at the 

 table opposite the first two. On the morning of the seventh day 

 after the early meal, one of the priests reads the vihara Asne, 

 the list of the names of the ancient temples in Ceylon and 

 elsewhere; and then the assembled priests, with the exception 

 of those who are reading the Pirit — for the reading still goes 

 on — compose the D6wala Patraya. This is a letter written 

 on an ola, and addressed to the presiding deity of a neighbour- 

 ing temple. It sets out the name of the dewal6, and invokes the 

 deity to attend the Pirit with the other gods. This is taken 

 in procession to the temple — or, if there is no dewale* in the 



* The Sutras are a collection of the counsels of Buddha and form a 

 portion of the three Piiakas. 



