1916.9.280
Name and identification of character
A cobra demon, naga raksha/rassaya (Sin.).
Context
In a solo-dance in stage two in a Kolam performance.
Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).
Iconography
The headdress is in the shape of a pandal, torana (Sin.) in two tiers. Each tier is composed by three cobra-hoods. The forehead band is in three thin layers. It is fully ornamented with traditional motifs as in the masks of the Gara category. As a model for ornamenting the eye-brows, ears and cobras, carvers and painters use the decorations of vidi (Sin.), a temporary porch in demon rituals. The bulky goggle eyes and the hump on the nose are other such features.
The mouth is broad. Two eye-teeth and a small tongue are other characteristic features of naga rassa (Sin.) masks. The ears are detachable. Two cobra-hoods rise from each ear.
No dialogue is connected with the dance of this character.
2000 07 27
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka