Mysterious Sri Lanka

G. PUNCHIHEWA

Nestling in the outskirts of Chilaw, there lies a sleepy little hamlet called Haldaduwana. There also one time lived a typical villager - a gamaya - by the name of Dikiri Kege Adissi Appu. In search of greener pastures, he migrated to Uthumankanda lying along the Colombo-Kandy highway, close to Mawanella. This young Dikiri Kege Adissi Appu took to pedalling his jewellery ware kept in a box which he carried on his head. It contained a variety of jewellery curios ranging from necklaces, bangles, earrings, and chains to other enticing curios ornaments for the fair sex and children, as well.

So this pedlar carrying his jewellery box from house to house. Village urchins in merriment ran behind him cheering and clapping all the way in joy as village boys always did. Village belles like the old saying, "What female heart could gold despise, what cat could averse to fish,", were his demanding but glamorous customers. The village maids fair by far would flock around him, holding the fascinating items they chose in their tender hands would bargain and even teased Adissi Appu for reasonable prices. Among those beautiful damsels in Molligoda close to Uthumanakanda), there was a vivacious belle of the highlands. She was Pichohamy. While Adissi Appu was selling his delicate but alluring goods, Pichohamy would always give him her bashful side-long looks of love. Their eyes met. It was love at first sight! And they fell head over heels in love. So they got married and lived thereafter blissfully in Molligoda with her aged father. Pichohamy's mother had died about ten years ago. The popular village gossip about Pichohamy's mother was that she was a concubine of the King of Kandy, Sri Wickremasinghe. But Pichohamy's father dismissed such scandalous gossip and had sworn that Pichohamy was his own legitimate daughter. In their newly wedded bliss, Adissi Appu used to tease her recalling this scurrilous story, but she never got angry over it with her beloved husband whom she trusted and adored. He used to tease her of this wild gossip, saying wryly: "You might be having royal blood"! ...

by L. B. Senaratne

Kohomba Kankariya was first enacted in Sri Lanka during 1415 and 1468, at Jayawardenapura, Kotte. The ritual of God Kohomba, which ought to have been performed at Gannoruwa Ranabima (battlefield) between 1707 and 1739, during the reign of Sri Vira Parakrama Narendrasinghe did not take place at that time but was reported to have been held at Hantanne. The reason has not been adduced so far. Like 'Gam Maduwa' rituals, Kohomba Kankariya ritual is performed to ensure freedom from diseases, invoke blessings and for the people to live in prosperity. The blessings are expected to manifest only in the location that KK is enacted, so that if any others want such blessings, they too are compelled to enact KK in their own areas, thereby ensuring more people would make offerings to please the 'Yakka' (devil) separately for their well-being!

From a different era: According to legend, the origin of this ritual dates back even to King Panduvasudeva's era in which it was born. The king was inflicted with an incurable disease, as a result of his predecessor, King Vijaya not keeping his promise to Princess Kuveni. It was the decision of God Sakra-the King of gods-that he could not be cured except by a person who was born out of a flower-known as the king of a flower. (The name 'Male Rajuroowo' (prince from flowers) in Sinhala is derived form this episode). How could this be achieved? Sakra suggested that the only way the King of the flower could be brought into the island, was by means of Rahu, the Chief of the Asura tribe. He suggested that Rahu should take the form of a Boar, and should lie in wait in the garden to be seen by the King of the Flower. The King would be drawn to go in search of the Boar. Then next, he could be drawn into the Island. This advice was followed and after that he came to Sri Lanka, according to the story laid out in the 'Rajavaliya'. (The place where the Boar swan across and landed in Sri Lanka is named "Uratota", as the folklore suggests). The King was then told of the affliction and then he agreed to cure King Panduvasudeva...

Fortunate are those devotees who prayed to their Lord for long and got their desired boons. Still greater are the devotees who dedicated their whole life selflessly only to have a glimpse of their Lord. Kumbhakarna, the brother of Ravana was such a great devotee. Kumbhakarna was a seemingly ordinary creature of the universe but his appearance posed a grave problem for the creator himself. Pleased by his penance when Brahma arrived to grant him a boon, he got worried even before granting one and began to think: " If this man takes a regular meal, he will devour everything on earth." So Brahma invoked Saraswati to create illusions in Kumbhakarna's mind. Thus in illusion, Kumbhakarna begged Brahma to grant him a boon of a 6 month long sleep and wake up only for a day in these six months of slumber.

Thereafter, Kumbhakarna had nothing to do with sin and charity, religion or atheism, he simply spent his time sleeping in a cave. Having slept for 6 months in a row, he used to wake up only once for a day that was spent in only eating and inquiring about the well being of his near and dear ones. Kumbhakarna had no hand in the misdeeds of Ravana. He was a man of clean, pure heart and had a gigantic body. Because of the purity of Kumbhakarna's heart, Devarishi Narad had himself preached him about the divine knowledge. During the battle in Lanka, when all the valiant fighters of the demon army like Avani, Akampan etc. were slain, every demon of Lanka began to feel insecure. Ravana then ordered the demons to wake up Kumbhakarna up. Those demons could wake him up with great difficulty. When Kumbhakarna came to know about the events, he felt sorry and said to Ravana: " O brother, you have abducted none other than Mother Jagadamba herself. This act of yours could be disastrous for the entire demon clan. Now, why have you disturbed my sleep? It would still be better for you to give up your ego and take refuge at the feet of Shri Rama. He is the ocean of kindness. He will definitely help you in your well being." ...

By: Florence Wickramage The Weekend Express - Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th, July 1999

Amidst the wafting fragrance of the golden-hued Esala flowers, the Esala full moon will once again herald in a season of splendour, unequalled to nay other such season anywhere else in the world. The Esala season which goes into the annals of Sri Lankan history as a period dedicated to festival connected with different deities, is unique, in that the whole nation involves itself in these festive Esala celebrations. Lanka is a land where all the major religions of the world are practised. Therefore it could be surmised that this is a blessed land. According to Buddhist belief Lanka is known as the thrice-blessed land due to the "Tun Saranaya". Associated with the Esala Full Moon, are several Buddhist festivals. However, festivals connected with other religions too coincide during this season. The Esala Full Moon Poya is of special significance to Buddhists, because it was on such a poya day that the Buddha preached his first sermon, 25 centuries ago, according to the reckoning under the Buddhist Era 544 BC.

Dalada: Certain festivals held during this season are dedicated to different Gods such as Skanda, Vishnu, Natha, Paththini and Saman. But the crowning glory of all these festivals is the Sri Dalada Perahera, held in the charming hill capital and culture city Mahanuwara (Kandy). (Incidentally the Colonial rulers called it Kandy for Kanda in Sinhala, meaning a hill). The colourful perahera held annually to pay homage to the Sacreds Tooth Relic dates back to the period of the Sinhala kings. Spreading over two weeks, the perahera begins with the traditional "kap situweema" - and ends with the water cutting ceremony at Gatambe. The Mahanuwara Esala Perahera begins with the festivities inside the Maligawa, which preceeds the actual parading of the streets by the perahera. The center of attraction of the Dalada perahera is the majestic Raja, the Maligawa Tusker, carrying the jewelled casket of the Sacred tooth Relic, walking reverently over the pavada, amidst the beating of drums and kandyan dancing...