250 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XXI. 



is the diya dakina sihdnaya prepared with a large koraha of 

 water ; and all around eight smaller mat-pel at which rice is 

 offered. 



The ceremony of offering the pideni and the rice at the mal- 

 pel is performed by the principal smith wearing the yaksha or 

 jagalat ratu enduma, consisting of a pachcha-wadan tuppottiya, 

 a red utra sdtaka, a round red hat, and a kastdne sword. To 

 this some moderns have added a red jacket and trousers. In 

 ancient times a tall cone-shaped red cap surmounted by a 

 tassel was used.* 



Slokas are recited till the propitious hour has arrived, 

 when the principal smith puts on the maha enduma or mula 

 dyittan joduwa, permission being given by the King. This 

 consists now of the full dress of a Kandyan chief. The ancient 

 dress was apparently the Brdhmana enduma, and subsequently 

 the white tuppottiya, round hat, and uturu saluwa.-f The 

 privilege of wearing the jacket is said to have been granted 

 by King Narendra Sinha ; but this is very doubtful. There 

 are, however, several cases in which hats and jackets were 

 presented to the smiths ; and the royal dress itself was thus 

 given on the completion of Gangarama Vihare. The idea 

 would seem to be that the painter represents, and so wears the 

 dress of, the patron at whose expense the image has been made. 



The principal painter thus attired, sword in hand, enters the 

 image house, and, with a red cloth (wahantrdwa) wrapped 

 about his head, so that his face only appears, sets the eyes to 

 the image with a golden pencil, the paint being in a golden tray, 

 while his assistants hold a looking glass (kedapata) and a 

 light. Meanwhile the Mangaldshtaka is sung. 



By this time it is daylight. The principal comes out of the 

 Vihdra-ge, the red cloth over his head and face, and his eyes 

 fixed on the ground. He then looks intently into the water 

 (diya dakinawd) ; in the koraha when he looks up his eyes 

 first rest on a clay image of Viswakarma Divya Putraya (bali 

 dakinawd), and then on a white cow tied near by for this 

 purpose (harakd dakinawd). 



* A specimen of this is in the Kandy Museum. 



f In the remoter districts, this is still the dress. See supra, utra sdtaka 



