Surga Divya Rajaya
Item number 3392/10 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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- Data Source
This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.
Description
A watercolour painting which depicts a spiritual being with a crouching, horse-like animal at its feet, against a blue background. The being has yellow skin, and is wearing a brown wrap around skirt that ends just below the knee. The bottom of the skirt has a border made up of white, yellow, blue, and brown horizontal stripes and the skirt edges meet at the front. A blue, striped sash is draped diagonally across the chest. Adornments are worn around the chest, neck, biceps, wrists, and ankles. The being has stretched earlobes which extend to its chin and is wearing a headpiece with a small decoration on top and side panels that extend across the shoulders. At the being's feet, between the legs, is a crouching, horse-like animal in white (unpainted), with a long face and a short mane and tail. The background is all blue, except for an unpainted archway behind the being's head. A rectangular black border surrounds the image.
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.
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.
Item History
- Made in Sri Lanka between 1960 and 1966
- Collected between 1965 and 1966
- Owned by Michael John Egan before 1977
- Owned by Carol Egan before October 2, 2019
- Received from Carol Egan (Donor) on October 2, 2019
What
- Name
- Surga Divya Rajaya
- Identification Number
- 3392/10
- Type of Item
- painting
- Overall
- height 37.3 cm, width 27.4 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Sri Lanka
Who
- Culture
- Sinhalese
- Previous Owner
- Michael John Egan and Carol Egan
- Received from
- Carol Egan (Donor)
When
- Creation Date
- between 1960 and 1966
- Collection Date
- between 1965 and 1966
- Ownership Date
- before 1977 and before October 2, 2019
- Acquisition Date
- on October 2, 2019
Other
- Item Classes
- paintings; works on paper
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3392/0010
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