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History Of Use

The Kolam is a secular entertainment with considerable elements of social satire. It incorporates narrative, mime, dance, and music. A Kolam performance usually has four episodes the precise content of which may vary. These consist of a prelude, detailing the origin of the drama; the arrival of a royal party and dances by characters mythical, human and animal; enactment of a popular story or stories; and a purifying demon dance. Nagas appear both in the Kolam and in the Sanni rituals.

Iconographic Meaning

Naga Kanya translates as serpent virgin or cobra maiden. Nagas, serpent divinities, are associated with the soma properties of Buddhism. They are vehicles for Nirvana, Buddha's vision of spirituality, serenity and universal void. The Buddhist canonical writings are entrusted to nagas. They are associated with divinity and nobility. Benevolence and calmness are their qualities. The white and pink colours with the perfect regularities of the mask suggest nobility and composed mood. They are associated with the nether kingdoms within the earth and water. The nagas of the Sanni are malevolent demonic serpents inflicting illness associated with bad dreams. The nagas of the Kolam are benevolent divinities who grant rain and stimulate life. The imagery associated with nagas are the lotus, lotus pond, fertility, prosperity, arts and musical instruments. They are associated with past rulers, priests and scribes because they are the guardians of Buddhist writings. Naga Kanya is the symbol of pregnancy wish.

Cultural Context

exorcism

Description

Mask Depicting Naga Kanya (who is the serpent virgin, a semi-human female serpent water spirit) with a pink face and a headdress formed by a large cobra head with its hood extended and three smaller cobra heads at the front and sides of the forehead. The face has thin black eyebrows, downward looking protruding eyes each with a crescent-shaped hole underneath, a pointed nose, elongated ears, and small red lips. The cobras are painted in different shades of grey and the scales are represented by overall cross-hatched black lines. Secondary colours detailing the features are white, red and black.