Masks are made from the timber of a tree locally known as “kaduru”. This tree grows in marshy lands borderingthe paddy fields. Its stem is covered with a bark which sheds a milky liquid like latex. Its wood is soft and easy to cut. When dried, it is very light and resembles “Balsa”. The English term of this variety is Nux vomica.
Masks are classified as Raksha, Kolam and Sanni. All these three varieties are used for dancing and decorative purposes. Raksha Masks are often seen in processions and festivals. The Kolam Masks are utilized for staging comic plays depicting ancient stories. Sanni Masks are used in devil dancing ceremonies to cure illnesses. Infact, there are about twenty four kinds of rakshas known by different names such as Naga Raksha, Gurulu Raksha, Maru Raksha etc.
RAKSHA
Naga Raksha (Cobra Mask)
Legend has that Sri Lanka was earlier ruled by a race known as Rakshas whose king was Rwana ( of the Rama Rawana Legend). The Rakshas could take various life forms; one being the cobra. When the Rakshas take the form the cobras, they frighten the other inhabitants where they faint form fear. The Cobras then carried away their victims to be their slaves.
Gurulu raksha (Mask Of the Bird)
When the cobra rakshas were terrifying the other innocent inhabitants and taking them as slaves, the victimspleaded the protection of Gurulu Raksha; the powerful enemy of the Cobras or Nagas. The Gurulu Raksha arrives and drives the Nagas away. The Gurulu is a bird like the hawk which preys mainly on snakes particularly on cobras.
Maru Raksha (Mask of the Demon of Death)
It is the Maru Raksha who decides the life of an individual and determines when a person should die. It was believed that by invoking the blessing of this Raksha by performing his dance where death could be delayed.
Legend has that Sri Lanka was earlier ruled by a race known as Rakshas whose king was Rwana ( of the Rama Rawana Legend). The Rakshas could take various life forms; one being the cobra. When the Rakshas take the form the cobras, they frighten the other inhabitants where they faint form fear. The Cobras then carried away their victims to be their slaves.
Gurulu raksha (Mask Of the Bird)
When the cobra rakshas were terrifying the other innocent inhabitants and taking them as slaves, the victimspleaded the protection of Gurulu Raksha; the powerful enemy of the Cobras or Nagas. The Gurulu Raksha arrives and drives the Nagas away. The Gurulu is a bird like the hawk which preys mainly on snakes particularly on cobras.
Maru Raksha (Mask of the Demon of Death)
It is the Maru Raksha who decides the life of an individual and determines when a person should die. It was believed that by invoking the blessing of this Raksha by performing his dance where death could be delayed.
KOLAM
Among the Kolam Masks, the prominence is given to Nochchi akka, Anabera and Jasaya.
SANNI
Maha Kolam Sanni is comprised of 18 different types and each one is useful in curing a particular kind of illnessas listed below.
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