ID Number

Title

Item Name

Culture

Date Made

Place Made

Date Collected

Date Owned

Date Owned

Owner

Owner

Acquisition Date

Source

Measurements

Item Classes

Condition

Accession Number

Description

A watercolour painting which depicts three spiritual beings. The centre being is the largest, and has ten arms. Two of its arms are black, two are yellow, two are lavender, two are red, and two are dark pink. The upper half of the being's head is green, and the lower half of the head and its chest are both black. The being's legs and feet are yellow, and it is wearing a blue skirt that ends below the knee. The bottom of the skirt has a border made up of white, yellow, blue, and red 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 long piece of fabric hangs down from the waistband, which is decorated with alternating circles and diamonds. Adornments are wrapped around the being's chest and neck, and decorative bands encircle its biceps, wrists, and ankles. The being has large, round eyes, a white nose, and a grinning, fanged mouth. In its mouth are two small, disembodied heads. Three cobras extend upwards from the being's headpiece. Two large discs protrude from the sides of its face. The being is holding an object in each of its arms, including a y-shaped object, an oblong object pointed on one side, a curved, pointed object with a long handle, two bird heads, three animal heads, a straight blade, and a curved blade. At the being's feet is a disembodied head with white skin, black hair, and red makeup. On either side of the centre being are two shorter beings with yellow skin. Each of them is wearing a long piece of red fabric that drapes over their head and shoulders, and loops to cover both sides of their chest. They are wearing additional chest adornments, as well as long skirts that reach to their ankles. The skirts are blue and white, and decorated with red stripes and dots. Decorative armbands encircle their biceps and wrists. Both beings have a small body tucked underneath one arm, with its head hidden behind the draped red fabric. The body on the left is blue, and the one on the right is green. Each of the beings' other arms is raised towards the centre being, and holding aloft a thin object on fire. Both beings have black hair, red makeup, and small discs that protrude from either side of their face. The painting's background is red, and a rectangular black border surrounds the image. There are rounded, unpainted sections behind all three of the beings' heads and shoulders.

History Of Use

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.

Iconographic Meaning

Identified as a Raksha (demon)/Yakka; Kalu Kumaraya (Black Prince) is a demon who seduces unmarried women.

Narrative

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.