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Sanni

18 masks, 18 illnesses – and the master of them all

The 18 masks in this showcase are used in the mask ritual, Sanni Yakuma. They represent 18 different aspects of the demon Maha Kola Sanni. He is present here, in the big mask containing all the smaller ones.

Bildet kan inneholde: kunst, rektangel, skrift, maleri, mønster.
From the Ambalangoda Masks Museum. Photo: Øivind Fuglerud

Sanni Yakuma takes place from dusk to dawn. The ritual is a series of dance, offerings and comic scenes. The masks are only used in certain parts of the ritual.

The experts

The purpose of the demon rituals, tovils, is to heal illness. They are performed by ritual experts, aduras. Illness is believed to the result of an imbalance between the three elements of the body: bile, phlegm, and wind (sannipata). Demons are one possible cause. In order to restore balance, the proper ritual must be directed to the proper demon.

Bildet kan inneholde: sko, produkt, mote, t skjorte, bagasje og vesker.
An adura in Matara with his masks. Photo: Øivind Fuglerud

Certain families belonging to certain castes have traditionally passed this knowledge on from one generation to the next. Among the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, the aduras are primarily from the berava-caste (drummers) and the karava-caste (fishermen). They are highly regarded as healers, but because they deal with demons many people keep their distance. The healing rituals are one of the eight branches of traditional ayurvedic medicine.

Bildet kan inneholde: muskel, munn, øyevipper, menneskelig, nakke.
An Adura in Matara with one of his masks. Photo: Øivind Fuglerud

Several worlds

According to Sinhalese thinking, the world is divided into several levels (lokha). The three main ones are:

  1. the world of the gods (deva lokha),
  2. the world of the humans (manussa lokha), and
  3. the underworld of demons (amanussa lokha).

In the world of demons there are an infinite number of beings, varying in wickedness.

This entire cosmic order is under Buddha’s command. Because Buddha has achieved Nirvana, he is outside and above everyone else, including the gods. When demons attack humans, they cross the boundaries of their domain. Thus their attack is also an attack on the order of the universe. The healing power of the experts comes from Buddha. By co

Maha Kola Sanni – a demon is born

One day King Sankapala had to leave his kingdom. While he was away it became clear that his wife, Queen Asupala, was pregnant. When the king returned he accused the queen of adultery. She is not able to convince him of her innocence and is executed.

Kola Sanniya. Photo: Hege Myrlund Larsen

In the moment of her death the queen gives birth to a boy. The king’s astrologer warns him that the boy will destroy his kingdom if he is allowed to live. Against this advice, the king lets the boy live and lets him be suckled by seven princesses.

The boy grows up and seeks revenge on his father who killed his innocent mother. He leaves the city where he was raised and goes into the jungle. He collects 18 poisonous plants and returns to the city as the demon Maha Kola Sanni. He kills his father, drinks his blood, eats the flesh off his bones and spreads sickness and death in the realm.

The smell of rotting human flesh becomes so strong that even Buddha takes notice. Out of compassion for the humans, Buddha decides to put a end to the carnage. Buddha expels Maha Kola Sanni from the town and cleanses it with a shower of beautiful flowers.

Maha Kola Sanni is allowed to live on the condition that he stops killing. He may only bring illness to people, but must take it back if people bring him proper gifts.

Myths and masks

The Sanni masks shown in this exhibition are part of a ’system’ of masked representations weaving together elements of Buddhism and Hinduism with Sinhalese history and mythology. Sanni Yakuma is one of five different forms of demon rituals – tovils – performed for five powerful demons; Maha Kola, Mahasona, Riri Yaka, Suniyam, and Kalu Kumara. While the origin of Maha Kola is connected to one of the sacred texts in Buddhism (suttas), Mahasona – the graveyard demon – is born from one of king Dutugemunu’s ten warriors.

King Dutugemunu is a character from Sinhalese mythology supposed to have lived in the second century BC. Riri Yaka, the blood demon, originates from princess Kuveni, said to have helped the first Sinhalese in Lanka, prince Vijaya, to conquer the island by betraying her own people, the yakas, who were the original inhabitants. As revenge they tore out her tongue. Riri Yaka is born from the blood from her tongue.

Pandam Paliya. Photo: Hege Myrlund Larsen

Sanni and Pali

The performance of the Sanni demons is prepared by the twelve Paliyas who cleanse the ritual arena. They bring different artifacts to be used for this purpose; Dunu Paliya a bow and arrows to chase away unwanted demons, Kendi Paliya sacred water, Salu Paliya the shawl of Goddess Pattini etc. The first to perform is always Pandam Paliya, bringing torches. The mask of Pandam Paliya is said to represent a lion, an animal with a particular significance in Sinhalese mythology (‘Sinha’ means ‘lion’).

The mythical origin of the Sinhalese, prince Vijaya, was the child of two siblings married to each other, Sinhabahu and Sinhasivali, who themselves were the offspring of princess Suppadevi’s communion with a lion. According to mythology prince Vijaya was expelled from his father’s kingdom in North India because of unruly behavior, and landed in Lanka where he was helped by princess Kuveni in taking control over the island. Later he betrayed her, something that caused ill fortune and suffering for his successors.

The power of words

The ritual experts use offerings and mantras when negotiating with demons. Mantras are magic formulas. During the ritual an igaha, a ritual stick is used to remove illness from the body of the patient. This stick is made potent through mantras. It also protects the expert from the demons.

Bildet kan inneholde: fawn, har, tilpasning, klesdesign, skjønnhet.
Kendi Paliya. Photo: Hege Myrlund Larsen

The power of the mantras is not in the words, but in their sounds. Experts use mantras, flutes and drums to attract the attention of the demons and to control their will. Mantras can be dangerous if they are not pronounced correctly.

Bildet kan inneholde: membranofon, tromme, idiophone, musikk instrument, tekstil.
Sallue Paliya. Photo: Hege Myrlund Larsen

Mantras are linked with yantras, geometric patterns representing the structure of the universe. The experts make and decorate the ceremonial area, the altars and the offering baskets, using yantra patterns.

Bildet kan inneholde: svart, rektangel, organisme, skrift, mønster.
Yantras. From: S.Gunawardena: Palm Leaf Manuscripts of Sri Lanka. Ratmalana, Sri Lanka 1997.
Published Jan. 27, 2021 10:38 AM - Last modified Nov. 24, 2021 5:04 PM

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