mask

Sri Lanka Ceylon 1916.9.278 Name and identification of character A cobra demon, naga rassaya (Sin.), also named atura yaka (Sin.). Context The mask is used in two contexts: in Kolam and in Tovil (vide Preface). Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography The head-dress is composed of one expanded cobra-hood sheltering four smaller cobra-hoods. The smaller hoods are painted in different colours, yellow, blue, red and green. The ear-discs are separately attached. They are decorated with the regular petal motifs. A cobra also borders each ear with the hoods rising upwards. An interesting feature of the mask is the shape of the mouth and eyes of the cobra in the centre. These are similar to those of a bat. The goggle eyes appear to be shaped like the ferrule of an ox. Two eye-teeth are visible. The lapping tongue is normally used to lick the face of the patient, aturaya (Sin.). This is an important aspect of the demon heightening the rapport between the dancer and the patient (Vide Preface). 2000 07 27 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka 1916.09.0278 1916.9.278 Name and identification of character A cobra demon, naga rassaya (Sin.), also named atura yaka (Sin.). Context The mask is used in two contexts: in Kolam and in Tovil (vide Preface). Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography The head-dress is composed of one expanded cobra-hood sheltering four smaller cobra-hoods. The smaller hoods are painted in different colours, yellow, blue, red and green. The ear-discs are separately attached. They are decorated with the regular petal motifs. A cobra also borders each ear with the hoods rising upwards. An interesting feature of the mask is the shape of the mouth and eyes of the cobra in the centre. These are similar to those of a bat. The goggle eyes appear to be shaped like the ferrule of an ox. Two eye-teeth are visible. The lapping tongue is normally used to lick the face of the patient, aturaya (Sin.). This is an important aspect of the demon heightening the rapport between the dancer and the patient (Vide Preface). 2000 07 27 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka 1916.09.0278 Sri Lanka Ceylon