mask

Mask, naga rasse. Sri Lanka Ceylon (Ormdjävul). Ansikte rött, utan uthängande tunga. Ur munnen komma två blåa ormar fram och ur vardera näsborren två gråa och en blå orm. Mittlinjen på den stora kobran, som bildar öronskivan, är röd med gula och gröna band. Det jättelika kobrahuvudet, som höjer sig över pannan, har i gult och rött bandade mittlinjer. Grundfärgen på själva huvudet är blå med vita band. Av de tre ormar, som framspringa ur näsroten, är den mittersta grön, de på sidorna röda. Höjd: 80 cm. Bredd: 75 cm. [ocr] 1916.9.295 Name and identification of character The cobra king called Bhuma na-raja (Sin.). Context A demon character in stage two in a Kolam performance. Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography The mask is huge and heavy with an abundance of cobras in a variety of decorative shapes. A few masks of huge proportions have been used in Kolam dancing as evidenced from the cross-plank, kattuva (Sin.), attached to the mask from the inside. It enables the dancer to balance the tall structure. A demonic face and a headdress composed of a large cobra, with an expanded neck, which shelters three smaller cobras. These are connected to a petal shaped wooden plank indicating a forehead ornament of sacred significance, tilaka (Sin.). The large cobra-hood represents the mythical cobra king called maha kela na raju (Sin.), who is supposed to have sheltered the Buddha from rain. The cobras have been decorated with the usual colour combinations and geometric pattern. These contain small red dots and white and black lines. The mouth is broad and the space between the two rows of teeth is for the dancer to see through. 2000 09 04 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka 1916.09.0295 Mask, naga rasse. 1916.9.295 Name and identification of character The cobra king called Bhuma na-raja (Sin.). Context A demon character in stage two in a Kolam performance. Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography The mask is huge and heavy with an abundance of cobras in a variety of decorative shapes. A few masks of huge proportions have been used in Kolam dancing as evidenced from the cross-plank, kattuva (Sin.), attached to the mask from the inside. It enables the dancer to balance the tall structure. A demonic face and a headdress composed of a large cobra, with an expanded neck, which shelters three smaller cobras. These are connected to a petal shaped wooden plank indicating a forehead ornament of sacred significance, tilaka (Sin.). The large cobra-hood represents the mythical cobra king called maha kela na raju (Sin.), who is supposed to have sheltered the Buddha from rain. The cobras have been decorated with the usual colour combinations and geometric pattern. These contain small red dots and white and black lines. The mouth is broad and the space between the two rows of teeth is for the dancer to see through. 2000 09 04 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka 1916.09.0295 Sri Lanka Ceylon