Suniya Devatawa Item Number: 3392/13 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
A watercolour painting which depicts a spiritual being with an animal head seated on a horse-like animal. The being's head is black, and its body is blue. It is wearing a brown skirt that ends below the knee and curls outward at the hip. The bottom of the skirt has a border made up of brown, blue, white, and black horizontal stripes. The main body of the skirt is covered in thinner horizontal stripes, and consists of two pieces which come together in the front. A piece of fabric hangs down from the waistband, which is decorated with a row of rectangular shapes and row or circular shapes. Adornments wrap around the being's chest, and decorative bands encircle its biceps, wrists, and ankles. The being's head is cow-like, with long ears and long, slightly curved horns. There is a darker stripe running down the centre of its face. The being's headpiece is made up of several black and white striped decorations which extend upwards. Similar decorations are draped across its shoulders, wrap around its arms, and protrude upwards from the centre of the skirt's waist to cover its stomach. Both of the being's arms are raised. One of its hands has sharp, yellow claws, and the other is holding a long, thin, and curved blade. One of the being's legs is bent underneath it, and rests on the head and shoulders of a horse-like animal. The other leg is stretched downwards toward the ground. The horse-like animal is light brown, with a long face, and a black mane and tail. Both the being and animal are suspended near the top of the page, as though floating. The painting's background is light green and orange, and a black rectangular border surrounds the image. There is a rounded, unpainted section behind the being's head and shoulders.
The imagery is possibly associated with ritual healing in Sri Lanka. The set of watercolours (3392/3-34) is said to depict spirits that inhabit planets, or deviyo (minor gods) or rakshas and yakkas (evil or mischievous beings). These beings are often depicted in masked dances and exorcisms.
The collector, Dr. Michael Egan, wrote his doctoral thesis on healing rituals in Sri Lanka. His fieldwork was carried out in the south of Sri Lanka, in the village of Kadurupokuna (Hambantota District), between Sept. 1965 and Nov. 1966.
Suniya Devatawa is a god who punishes bad deeds, but is more respectful than a Raksha (demon).