186 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XII. 



Clough gives ardha-yama as half at yama,or two hours. The 



day is divided into six watches, each containing ten hours. 



The first watch consists of the first ten hours of the day, and 



is called davdla pera-yama. The second watch of the second 



ten hours, and is called davdla madyama. The third watch of 



the last ten hours, and is called paschima or aluyama. And 



so the three watches of the night are designated pera-yama 



rdtiriya, madyama rdtiriya, and paschima rdtiriya. 



4 yamas, each consisting 



of 15 hours _ 1 dina, or day 



2 dinas = 1 ahoratiriya, one day and one night ; 



ahan "day" and rdtri "night" 



Clough defines atawaka as a lunar day, 24 hours, or 60 



Sinhalese peyas. 22 A day or night is also called tis-peya, or 



thirty peyasP Adyatana, according to Clough, is the period 



of a current day from midnight to midnight, but sometimes 



reckoned from sunset to sunset. 



7|r ahoratiriya = 1 sumana 24 



2 sumanas or 15 ahora- 

 tiriya = 1 paksha 



The first half of the fortnight is called sukla paksha or 

 " light fortnight," and the second half kdla paksha or " dark 

 fortnight." Clough gives ava as the fortnight of the waning 

 moon, ava-masa the dark fortnight, avara-pakshaya the 

 moon's wane, ardha-masa half a lunar month, fortnight. 



2 pakshas = 1 masa, or month 25 



2 masas = 1 irutu, or season 26 



3 irutus = 1 ayana, half a year, i.e., the sun's 



passage north or south 

 2 ay anas == 1 warusha, or year 27 



A kalpa is said to be the measure of duration of the world 



previous to its renewal, the process of destruction and 



renewal being destined to go on for ever ! The length of a 



kalpa is 432 millions of years ! At the close, the world is to 



be destroyed three times in succession — by rain, by wind, 



and finally by fire. Phoenix-like, however, it is to rise fresh 



and young again from its ashes.* 



* Steele's Kusa Jatahaya, p. 215, in notes. 



