Name and identification of character
A demon character referred to as purnaka, purnaka raksaya/rassaya (Sin.).
Context
Stage two in a Kolam performance.
Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).
Iconography
The mask is characteristic of the demon Purnaka. There is a striking resemblance between the mask of the demon of death, maru rassa (Sin.), and the demon Purnaka. But both masks have distinctive styles and attributes, which allow for identification. For instance, the face in this mask is painted in an ash colour, a colour that plays down the ferocity of the demon. The face of maru rassa is normally painted in cherry red.
Half-open mouth. Spike shaped teeth. Two eye-teeth. An ornamented crown in three tiers. The top tier is in the shape of flower pods painted in green. The middle tier has a panel of suli-väl (Sin.) decorations. The bottom tier comprises dagäba (relic chamber) shaped decorative pieces. These have been executed by the painters, commonly referred to as sittaru (Sin.), who are master painters of temple murals. The ears are in the shape of large discs, adorned with lotus flowers and foliage ornaments.
Comments on the Umlauff Catalogue
The character is incorrectly identified as the demon of death, maru rassa (Sin.).
2001 10 01
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka