mask

1916.9.279 Name and identification of character A cobra demon, naga rakshaya(Sin.), or naga rassaya (Sin.). Context A demon character in stage two in a Kolam performance. Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography The headdress is composed of three tiers of cobras in the shape of a ritual porch designated a toran ge (Sin.). The first two tiers have broad and expanded cobra hoods. The third tier consists of seven beautifully ornamented smaller hoods. Mask carvers are also decorators of ritual porches and normally use the same patterns and motifs for the ornamentation of masks and porches. The spot on the forehead of the mask, for instance, is similar to the stylised presentation of the majestic power of a superhuman being by means of ash, called alu vibhuti (Sin.). Likewise, the geometric patterns, spot or bindu motifs, the petal and foliage designs are akin to the decorations called kola kätayam (Sin) made of tender coconut leaf, plantain stalks etc. These are painted and pasted on the triangular shaped apexes of the ritual porches called vidiya (Sin.). There is one small cobra on the bridge of the nose, while two others are coming out from the nostrils. The two ears are separately attached. These form the wings of the porch and consist of cobras. On each side three cobra-hoods rise upwards. Two more cobras issue from the corners of the mouth. The mouth is half-open and filled with canine-teeth. These, as well as the whiskers and the lapping tongue resemble those of an animal. The jaws are not movable. Goggle eyes. In the prescriptive verses this type of eyes are referred to as either gobalu äs (Sin.), or gada gedi (Sin.) which is a kind of fruit. 2000 07 27 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka Sri Lanka Ceylon 1916.09.0279 Sri Lanka Ceylon 1916.9.279 Name and and A cobra demon, naga rakshaya (Sin.), or naga rassaya (Sin.). Context A demon in stage two in a Kolam performance. Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) Iconography The heThe is composed of tiers of cobras in the ritual of ritual porch The a toran ge (Sin.). The first two tiers have a broad and cobra. The policy based on social protection Mask carvers are also experiences of ritual porches and Muse the Mand motifs for the ornamentation of masks and porches. The spot on the forehead of the mask, for The, is The to the stylised presentation of the majestic power of a superhuman The by The of ash, The alu vibhuti (Sin.). Likely, the geometric, spot or bindu motifs, the petal and foil Likare akin to the LikLikkola kätayam (Sin) made of tender coconut leaf, plantain stalks etc. These are These och pasted on the triangular These apThese of the ritual porches These vidiya (Sin.). There is one small cobra on the bridge of the nose, two There are from the nostrils. The two ears are separately. These form the wings of the porch and These of cobras. On each side cobra-rise upwards. Two more cobras issue from the corners of the mouth. The mouth is The open and The with canine-The. These, as well as the whiskers and the lapping These ble These of an animal. The jaws are not. Goggle eyes. In the ptive verses this type of eyes are used to as In gobalu äs (Sin.), or gada gedi (Sin.) In is a kind of fruit. 2000 07 27 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka Sri Lanka Ceylon 1916.09.0279