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llrj JOITIiNAL II. A. S. C]'YLON" | \roi. VII., Pt. tt. l{o. 24.-188 l. Jl Hu'NIvAr[ nIIAGE. !

17
These renrarks apply to the practice of l{apurdlas. The
A }'IUNIYAX{ I.MAGE; priests undergo a training-which, if they have a goocl memory,
is of not long duration-namely, the committing to memory of
Ilv L. Nur,l, Esg. certain charms, invocations, and songs to be accompanied on
the torn-tom, drum, and by violent dances. One must live in
(Reacl, nffitn,I881.) the neighbourhood of these devil-worshippers to appreciafe the
,I-roxc resiclcnce amongst the native SiBhalese and carelirl form of nuisance known as a ( devil-ceremony.' The tom-bom
observation of t,heir snl,ersiitious practices and expressions of is beaten violently to accompany the discordant song, and the
superstitious ideas leacl to the conclusion that, amougst the noises are very violent during the intervals of dancing. The
lolver castes, who have also hitherto been the most ignoraut, farnily having the ceremony keep it up from suuset till past
Butldhisrn has not existecl as a religion. The tom-tom beaters, dawn the uext morning. If any remonstrance is used with
lhe toddy-drawers, the jaggery-makers, have only lately at- respect to such practices, they will excuse themselves on the
tenpted to buiid Buddhist temples of their own. The Amara- grouud thai it is their (( religion" or ((faith." But the Yaha-
pura sect of lluddhists is a modern innportation to satisfy the durds arc in no way respected for being priests, and their
social anrbition of the f,Lahabqdtll people, candidates of whose remuneration is very little.
community for priestly ordination would have been refused by Besides tlre performance of these devil-dances the Yaha,clurds
the previously existing Siamese sect. The latter, though practise Hilntyctm charms,o by which harm*such as disease-
heterodox in this exclusiveness, had confined the righi of is inflicted on one's fellow-creatures" To counteracL flilniyam
ordination to pupils drawn from the Goyiqama caste. charms counter-charmst are muttered. over a cup of oil or
The liberal and orthodox principle of the Amarapura sect a thread, and. three limes are cut with an arecanut-cutter
extended in time from the Malrabatldd and Kartirud to lower whilst charms are muttered.f The failure of such counter-
castes. As an instance, the jaggery people (Valrumpura) near clrarms strengthens the belief in the potency of the lTtlnigam.
Galle have built a temple, aud their pupil-priests in yellow Irr most of these lli,niyam charms a small image, made of wax
rolies and 'with begging-bowls in their hands ale now seen or wtrod or drawn on a leaf, is necessary. Nails made of five
c'btaining the food of mendicants from the hands of their own metals$ (usually gold, silver, copper, tin, and lead) are dr.iven
friends. Thc profound meditative air of the yollng menclicants,
and the evident pride with which their friends give alms and *
" KoQiuina fozsc$Bco] or'I#rnigam [p6c0O] is the narne given to
honor the new priesthood are very slriking. This is quite a evils of 'whatever' l<intl inflicted by the agency of charms......There are saicl
reform, and Buddhism,, perhaps fbr the first time, is subverting to be 84,000 lflirniyarn charuts] of evcrv degree of malignity, most of which
what other missions have not hithelto observed as a likely fieki . lnore or less contributc to bring to an untimely death the person afi'ected
by this infiuence, thoug]r that event may be tleferred for many years.
of conversion. Before this refbrm the priests of the very low
(C. A. S. Jour. 1865*6, p. 68.):floz. Sec.
castes havebeen the Yakadurds, commonly called Kattddirlds,
I Hilniyam hepi,ma lgld,cdQ mr8@1.
lrclonging to the tom-tom beater ancl Oliya castes. Kapurd.lts {X C. A. S. Jour.1865*6, pp" 70-t.
lrelou.g to all casbes, atd Pattttr.ls also belong to all castes. $ Pas iri fod ogC].
118 rouRNAr, R. a. s" coyr,oN. [Yol"VIL,Pi.IL No.24.-1881.1 HU,NIYAM IMAGE" i19
into the image at important parts of the body, such as the It may be notedthat the natives of the MCildives, though
head or heart. These images, afler the process of charming they have been converted to the Muhammadan faith, still
are buried under a stile so that the intended victim may pass continue to practise the same class of incantations as the lower
over it* and be thus affected. This " passing over" of the buried classes of the Sighalese. This l{rLniyam image may therefore
image is generally indispensable. After the charms have possibly have been made by a native of the Mtildives, many of
taken effect, the image is otherwise secretecl,* whom live near the neighbourhood where the image was
?he image tr now send was found in the trunk of a Ruhattanct discovered, though this is unlikely. This is one of the many
tree.f An oblong hole corresponding in shape to the tin box points of resemblance between the low-country Sighalese and
holding the image hacl been neatly cut into the truuh of the 1\[rildivians.x
tree in a direction S.S.W., and about two feet high from the
ground. The box containing the image had been inserted
inside this hole and a tin plate, covering the hole, neatly nailed NOTE.
over with copper nails.f It is of course absurd to suppose
I The M6,ldive Islanilers-particularly those living on the Southern-
that this contrivance could have had any effect, but should the most Atols, Fluvadf (Suv6diva) ancl A{{ri, which have been least
intended victim have met with an accident or stroke of disease, affected by foreign influence-retain to this day the character of
there would have been another instance of the potency of the being (tgroat necromancers,"t as old Duarte Barbosa (A. D. l50l-17)
IIti,niyam. clescribeil them three and a half centuries ago, and as the captive
In the Society's Journal for 1865-66 will be found an Frenchman Pyrartl founcl them a century later (A. D. 1602-?).t
exhaustive treatise on '( Sighalese Demonology'o by Dandris The clifrculiy all the world over of eradicating long-establisherl
De Silva, Mudaliydr. This short introductory sketch is only customs and cleeply-rooted beliefs-more especially when these enter
intended to introduce the fltiniyam image now sent, which is into the exigencies of every-ilay life-is an acceptecl fact, confirmed
interesting as a specimen of one which had been actually by the experience of ages.
uttered rvith malicious intent. lVhen discovered it had
evidently been long imbedded in the tree, and unless the * At Mr. Nell's recluest a brief note is aclded with the intention
of
particular Yahadurd who performed the devil-ceremony in partially illustrating the similarity between the superstitious practices of
this instance will volunteer a confession, no further light will the Sighalese and M6ldil'ians. The subject may be more fully dealt .with

be thrown upon the subject.


hereafter.-1{. C. P. B.; Hon. ,Sec.
f .. As gentes dellas nao tem almas, e sao homens fracos, mas muito
engenhosos, e sobre tuilo grandes encantadores.'n-Naticias d,as Nagoes
* Pannauunauti Ultr amar inas, Tomo. II., b. 3 52, Lisboa, I 8 I 2.
ferr]eoOeoOc]. C" A. S. Jour. t865-6' p. 71. ,.

t Alstonia scholaris, R, Br. I ,( Les Mathematiques y sont enseign6es, et i1s en font aussi grand cstat,
notamment de I'Astrologie, h laquelle plusieurs persones estudient, d'autant
{ The annexed plate gives an exact size photograph ofthe image by the
side of its tin " coffi.n." Nails pierce the Lead, heartn right side, chest, and qu'h tout propos on consulte les Astrologes : iI n'y en a pas yn qui voulust
feet, antl thleads are wound rountl the body from l,he neck dorvnwtu'd.-- rietr entreprende sans leur eu auoir demand6 aduis."- Vogage rle F. pyrard,
Hon, Sec. p. 135, Paris, 1679."
120 JOIIRNT\L R. A. S. cEYLoN. [Vo1.VII', Pt. 11. htr.:1'1.*1381.j Illi'Nl{:\[i i]IA(;8. lSt
tal

It neeclnot, therefore, be a matter of surprise to filtl the rigorous rlf -{r,r--rv o }.{,tN'r'il,qs. *
rnonotheistic faith of Isl6m existing to this day side by sicle on the No. l.
I\{6lclive group with (rthe relics of idr-rlatrous suPerstition"'-Day' Ciar.llr, isiiri va,ri firr:a' hur/rhan haiv*liaru airahu de mibunge rirfa
more, to see the sacreil Kur6n itself prostituteil to the unholy objects
ic-urahai Luclrlu,ru futntt{i tznuri gilii batlil,d eletgodd abu gahani.
of d.evil worship.
' 'fru,nslo,tion.
The pilgrimage to Mekka and " the silly and ricliculous" ceremonies
whtch have ever formetl a necessary part of it, were but originaL " To courpletely estrringe a rlcsilal.rlc v/oman. (from her hrisband);
threads of Arab idolatry, which expediency prompted the Prophet to nralic a teak nnil (r.nci) lur image of both persons, (niutter) 'hacldu.ru
interweave with his fabric of a purer religion.* ,ttru'r'u.li nut,ri, gi,/ti. l;ad!!i elcc/arl2,'f ancl driVe in the uaiI."
Nearly al1 orthoclox Muhammadans have an implicit belief in rvhat
(1lossur'ry.
is termed " Divine magic" (Ar'Eahmdni'), " tine sublime science'o
Ab nltu, ttbu,' n:rrii.' {-f. itl al.ay 1'triku. "
employecl ohly for gooil purposes, but steruly tlenounce the practice
fsllirz, (rvrmar,.,''rvife': S. r{ [slrZ.]
of enchantmerLt (As-Sahr) anil of " Satanic" (Shaitd'nt") and' '( Natural
I{urahui, iit._'la.vilrg rn:tile,':. hu,rulti (i|616) I p. Ira1i. o{ Aurag: S" a:dgr
magic" (As-Simi.yd') in general. All forms alike are supposeil to l/,,tt ultil.
derive greater efficacy from interlarding the usrral mysterious words, KrrrlAan-See ttr.t' t t' hu r dlian.

numbers, diagrams, &c., of charms, rvith names of the Deiiy anil Gtula, li+.. , lreul tjr' : n cit irnploi xihl"v : S. qco ltttt t,lnl { qn, nega til.e, sr E
rliscasc )
passages from tho Kur6,n't
{ituhani,' s ili lrc' : -(. rl:r.:r.aler Lx thunnurif .
The two following philires or love charms$ come under the Sanskrit
'fu.ra.' (ltrrrilltiur) 'to r'[isirrite': FJ. ,:lCtaj zor,J.dt'a] lttcar.t liara,nQaf.
category of Stambhana ot of Vibhisharya-those intended to procure l)e, I tui;,' 'l;olh:' S, grq? lirlrj.
illicit sexual intercourse antl effect discord.$ The appropriate tl'emons *.'i'ilLting'g gen". 1..I. o{ rnilui; S. +3g cj'c+,cc}. fra?li"rzrlglJ, gen. pl. of
invoked by the Sighalese are Mad'ana Vahsaniyd, 'the She-Demons @ :fal frrt,i.tt,i hd]' rrra,u.'
of Lust.''( These demons, when worked upor by certain charms,
antl IIiq1t,' i.l,*g,<l : S. dre [r'ri;ra].
propitiated with certain offerings and ceremonials, are supposed to use .!'nlz, ? rxlr'. ,grr::rt1y': ,\. Old [z,r:ra] i bnl: iurri lturcry .1o rliyorer:' (]lel6).
their power of seitucing the affections of a man or a woman in such a .i!aii'trh.tit'rL, 'tetl;,' (."1'ectrtn* grnnrln,1,.). Lll'. JIincl. .sl,g,aaa.

manner ttrat the person so influenceil is saicl to fintl the power perfectly
irresistible. There are hunclrecls of ways in which it is pretendeil No. ?.
this can be clone."ll [i;rrla isl,iliye' iiame ]ta,r'hi nr:rle' .flli lrivanis iradigen au va.lic'
linrrulrrigen mi naln cffurbu Al .Ka,dr Sirtt lie ane' fur'hum:rti
* See Sale's l(oran, Preliminary Discourse, p. 94 (" Chandos Classics" 'ftajaliottt lie nri malu rfria, kru'alrlr
v6hnka olun lie Al Rnhriti;d vtri
Edition), London. ,5t1ru2 husn.il(lcn lic' r'r'r' 16rl-r' fas tau betle rrlias borle' katilircigc leiu
f Lane's t6Arabian Nights," Yol. I., pp. 58-9,.London, 1877.
I The transcript in Roman characters of the M6ldive (A{{d Atol) charme'
and the rotrgh glossary, giveu below, will further enable Sighalese soholars
* ',5c)'{.gry" is rvith 1,}rc },lir,lditians
farjita*S. er.6,J$en lpar.tQitaJ,*.tlte
to trace the philological connection between the two languages. Addf Le runed (scienr:e.)'
orthography differs considerably from the M6l6 (Sultan's Island) standa.rd" J'
'lirc nirlnlrrz ol incantation lroper; unintelligible. All elsc is ('a sor:t of
$ Dandris De Silva Guqrarat'na, Muclaliy6,r, in Jour. C. A' S., 1865-6, '. ,rubric," i,;itir $i4hnlese cltnt:rr:s1'trli/e l'1.A.$. Journ.r 1865-6, p. 57), i1 1'hich
a.. .
pp. 53-4. ll Iden, p,31,
tle ol.ject is slatert, iiud rlircctions giveu for rhe j{zuam*, or " wincling up."

f'
1'):) rorlnNlr n. A. s. cJEyr,eN, [Vcil. VII., Pf. IT"
No.24.*l88l.l NU,NIYAM IMAO&. I<,D

C ktstary.
}<aliko' tlumarhi bivvai hikkai tin tiuvas vimii nagaigen gos miidu
,42, 'ne!v': S. gDrrt faful].
nlani kakir teuu eJi nama balai fr.intvani fillu fenu eli nama audei. .:lurlei,'(wili) corne.' At [1516 ,come.' Cf.
ride is iurpr, S. e]E idui],
lar,, 'otber': S. e6zrJ [azil]. ]
'frctnslation.
Alurzi, '.enLer': perhaps contractcd fiom atolani,: S. grapgfoD.oOl
'd lYrite (the narne of ) a desirable rvoman ; pluck an unopened
-
lvtu,luenaadf .

brid of the screlv-pine flower ; sharpen a new knife ; on one sicle of o1e llnj : eh.e'-*jfur/tu: S. &ao sl6.,r? leha pitd);
-E_1furh1tt'-(9n)
th.is flowcrr writeAl Ka,dr Sttra,..* on theother sicle write Vajalzcttu;f .furhzr,rnati. Cf. S O.q8O lmatupilu).
Eli, pret. of alry (\ . to enter.'
rnal<ean image out of this flower ; write particulars of tbe holoscope ;
Ofum.? 'lhe ltbrase arihnho attrri olun (translated, .particnlars of the
write zll Ealuntin Sttra\ from beginning to end ; tie (the image) in horosc.pe,') apparently rneans the day andhour of bi'th, and the a*spicious
five phces with iefrhand-(twisted) coir ;$ cut the throat of a blocd* or ina*spieinus position of the moon and planets, as affeoting the victim,
sucker (lizard) ; ll smear its biood (on the irnage) ; place it on a loft ; deducibleflom (hcr) horoscope. Oompare the Sinhalese use (0. A. S. Journ.
dry (it) frrr three days; (then) lake it and enter the sea-if (yout go 1865-6, pp. 7l-2).
in knee-deep (she) rvill send a message; if (you) go iu to tlie rvaist (she) Kak{t, 'linee': S a;4g lhahula] , Jug'; hahi fenu, . kne e-cleep water.'
will come." I(atltigen, ples. part of harlary,, to pluck,' , break': S. :oOcco6
fltaQdga.aa]"
Ihtikieige (? katilatgen,), pres. part..cutting rhe throat,'
Kurhi,-: httrhikeq_o, Pundanus odoratissitnusr lr,, { sclew.pine': [J. OrO
* "Verily'we sent dolvn the Korri.n in the night of Al l{adr. Ancl .wliat orlnBcor lu e luhe y ig ttl.
slrall make thee unclerstancl horv excellent the night of Al lhtlr is? The I{ulilr.o, 'hav. smeared,'C{l S. o:lgr [gdlci].
nigbt of z4l Kaclr is better than a thou-qancl months. 'lherein do the Angels Gos, .}rav, gorie,'p. part, of dri4, !to go': $ oo;d |go,i].
rlescencl, and the spirit Gabriel aiso, by the permission of their frord, .with '!un,, pl. of tutmr , placer' S. r::l<fl ilpna].
his decrees concerning every matter. It is peace nnbil the rising of the 'fin,'three': S. alerJ [taz].
11161'1."*-Qal g's l{ 91fl1, Chap. xcvii, p. 4d 1. I)umurhi,((on) a loft': S. g@ ldurnal.
l'lhe lt-njahata is alrvays recitecl by Xlusliins before commencing prayers. Duuas, 'tlays't S. qOd fd,aaasf .

Itforms partof ,4/ Bahr ("CatLle") Silra..*,. Idirect myfacc unto hirn Nantar' if 'r S. orO fzazr].
rvho hatii createcl the heavens and the earth; I am orthodox, and not one Nagrtigen, ples. part. of' rtagaql . to tal<e.' Cf. S. qdo.:6 laraEana],
of the icl.olaters ...... Say, Yerily my prayers, and my worsliip, antl my lif'e, Nuuarfts,'unopened.' Cf. S. eJeO fnaatrnf,lrJrg lueuurn] ,uew.,
and my clcath, are declicatecl unto Goc1, the Lord of all creatules; Ile hath J/ari, 'bucl': S. ed [paitz1.
no companion. This have I been comruanded : I am tlre frrst X{oslem."- -t4ts,'Jfr.ue': S. eed [pas].
Sale's Kor6n, Cbap. r'i, pp. 96, 104. Furhumati. See above elfurltu,
] The Srira entitled '('Ihe Mcrciful," containing 78 verses. ft someivhat pylr;, rra.r'el,' , waist';ftulufeza,.waist-deepwater,'Cf, Ogo laalagaf,
resembles Psahn cvii, but is vitiated by inclucling acloraiion fbr blessings
,
t waisL.'
S,

of a sensuous para,dise assured to 'the flithful.'-,, lYhich, therefi,r.e, of Femr,, water: S oral fpgn].
your Lord's benefits will ye ungrateftlly eleny ?" See Sale's I(or6n, o -Fonuuani, '(will) send.'Of. S. SOenor leoanaoril.
.mes,qa$e,' (messenger.' Cf, P61.i, balq.ttho; but also
OLap" lv, pp. 394-6. _"B-alaza S. Ore",
lbg la y dl,'
hileling'.'
$ Yri, atii or utitu, n)nu,is coir twistecl by the left hand upon the right:
Eauuui, p, part. 'hav, placed'r S. O:O:Sc lbtiutilal,
as opposed to right-hancl-twisted coir caiJed hanrii ot: hantitzt, r6nu,.
fietl,e, p part, hav. tied': S. fu1e, llryndaf.
(
ll A blood-sucker or a chameleon plays a part in the Sighalese_/ay'rnr'ganr
cbarm callecl Ld htimaband,hanaga [ogi alsO O.Serco]. , E!'1, t.(ruhas,bode.),
,blood-sucker' (lizald, caloles): S" o,OrcreorQ
[]o- .
fforduf charueleon.'

ta:::,.Y.l|i
'124 JOLTnNAL Ir. A, s. c0Yl0li. [1rol. VIl,, Pt. IL" )io. 2-1.-1881.] fir'ti,i riANrrlu r'rlil'j vAl," li5
r'tr1i, r{,Lis': S. oO [nad].
rtfa.le, mulu, 'f1on'er': S. Og fm*la]. NOIlE ON TIIIl " IIl'IiA' IiA\i'trlllRI" trirlSTJl'"\L {,}}'
Mitt.lu,' sea': $. $q ln{trlal. Tll I{ }I il}1 A }d,ltrrl UA}{i{.
.Ba/ias, forms compotrutl. rvith &,:de (q. r'.): probably: S' d'Ad IrnAas],
t deuron.'
t string,' (corr1.' By A. T, Siirrns-rr*tr-ot's.
Rirttt,,'coir':S. d,a: lrinnlr
Littme. l,ie, (lrer'. writtcrt,'
p. pfl'rt. of -liylt3,*('ol'r'ect tLtrm Iiyti' liytfd'
lfafO;-S (6rltiytif;me(t'ili11''trit")pci'l.re1's:S'O[ntc],i*bc'siveaiiix' ( llr',.;r/ Orl,,l^, Utl, I 8: l.)
Lcin,'witlL blootl': S. og8r:J lleyinf ' THrs feast is annuail;, held iu Colombo at l,he Maraciina
Vttra, ? See above, o/zz.
Mosclue during Jatrtdd-ul-4l;ltir,the sixth rnonth of the l{uham-
Vulie,'l<nife.' Cf' l\Ialay ltisutt ttoli.
Vdh.aha, 'n'orcls '-orila ku-tlahhnp (hl6l6) 'to talk'' 0f' S. Ocasz latilzyul'
madar year, in nlernot'Jr of tire saint }{ir:ri Sirhib, whose miracles
See abovc, o/ttn. &re well kno\yn to the li{u}rammadalls, and vhou} they estecnl
7rl, ,left-hand': s.
oo lao-tna). AtMaliku ([linahai) rvritten utii or udht. as a great l$'cr,l[.x IJis sepulcirre is at Nrigrir, near Nrigalafanr.
VinLdi,lit.'lhere haling been (3 tlays).' Clfl use of S. oegr [uel'{]'
The festivalt commences oD tiie evelrirg the new rnoon
Flarntlaigen,prcs. palt.'sharpcriiug': S. el6c lhaltnfr 'lvLet-stone,' g:o:.6
beconres visible in the moxth af Jaru1d-ul-dlt/tir, and lasts till
lkig ar.z uf ,' p) acing ; ctr 6l.6 lg ag a1ta'1,' rubbir:rg,' tLscrl in stcacl'
Ilihkai,' lrar" clrieii,' p' palt' of l'ihary'to c1r1''' {)f ' PiJi stlthu' tire tenih of the lunat morrth. Five or six dairs previous to
Husztdilen, adr'. 'f'rom beginning to errcl' 0f'. S' t8do lhisuaf,(empiy''*l the new uroon they erect a fla,g-staff, ancl in the evening of the
new moon day the sacred banners are conyeJed in solemn
plocession, attendecl by a ceremonious c'lisplay of music, artificia]
trees, &c. After having peram)rulated the town in grcat pomp
ard state, the procession returns to tire place r,here the flag*
staff is erectecl. There the b\ithiltflh or opening chapter of tire
Ilurdn is recited in the na,me of the saint, alcl the sacred flag
is hoisted.
In other parts of the n{uhammadan worlil a,lso, as at N:igiir,
tliose Musalmli,ns who venerate this saint set up a flagsl.aff and
annually repeat the tr'dtltiltah in his name. On the night of the
lCth a greal, feast is held cn accorlilt of its being the day tirat
the saiut <leparted ihis life. TJre I osque is illurninated arrcl
all kincls of sports take place, rvhich attract crol'ds of people
* lJany words occt:rring in these ntanlrtts di{fer entirely from their
* t' Tlie favourite
eflrrivalen:s given by Chr:istopher " Vocabr,lary of the ' nl6ldivian
in l-ris of hear-en."
Langurge" (J.If. A. $., Vc,l. 1"I. o. s,, pp. 42-76), probably cornpilecl at t l-legarciirrc these annual festir-al.q ()II6lids) helcl in commenoration of
ll6i6. The dialect of l:luvadJ aud Addri Atols appronchcs Sighalese u,ore tlrr bii.th of S{r,rslirn gaint.q, eee Lanc's Arabian Nights. Yoi., I., Chap. iii.,
ciosely than that r-rf the rest of the group lrving to the Norlh' l{oNer 63r p. 216.*J1or. ,5'ee"

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