mask (ansiktsmask), Vädi Raja, Vädda king

1916.9.10.A-B.

Name and identification of character
Kolam mask depicting a Vädda king, Vädi Raja (Sin.).

Context
The chief of the Vädda group (forest-dwelling hunters) appear in the story named Maname kathava in Kolam.

Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Nux vomica).

Iconography
The head-dress is in the form of a (detachable) crown. The summit is in the shape of a pinnacle, kota (Sin.), but the tier immediately below it displays the attributes of a demon ritual object referred to as punava (Sin.), with a circle of cobra hoods. The forehead band is ornamented and painted in lemon yellow. The ears are narrow and pendulous and are shaded by imposing side flaps ending at the shoulders, combining with the shoulder blades, karnatapatra (Sin.), which enable the dancer to balance the mask on the shoulders.

Comments on the Umlauff Catalogue
The Umlauff Catalogue identifies the mask as Vikrama Sinha Radja, meaning the monarch Sri Vickrema Raja Sinha, who is recorded in historical works as the last king of Kandy. This is a doubtful identification (vide preface). I would name him as the king of the Väddas, appearing in the Maname kathava in the story portion of Kolam (vide preface).

2000 05 02
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka