16. VATA SANNIYA
This is a devil dancer’s mask used for the cure of rheumatism.
Dimensions:
Height: 9.0” / Width: 5.0” / Depth: 3.5”.
Description:
This is a small and light mask, peculiar in form and shape. The head and forehead are small and narrow, and the almond-shaped eyes are carved boldly. The carved ears are small and the nose is long and broad and big. The cheek bones are prominent. The mouth is portrayed in a fairly atypical way. There are two slits below the eyes and two openings on either side of the mouth. Five long walrus like teeth protrude from upper jaws. There is no chin.
Colours:
A white band separates the head from the forehead; another white band serves as eyebrows. The eyelids are red, bordered with white. The borders of the eyelids are marked in thick blue. The eye is white with a black pupil. Red bands are marked on the white area of the eyes. Two white lines delineate the border of the ear and ear hole. There are a number of red and white bands below the eyes and nostrils, and on the lips. Red and black lines separate the lips. The long narrow teeth are white; the gums are black.
17. PITH SANNIYA
A terrifying mask, its telescopic eyes emphasises the staring gaze. This mask is a devil dancer’s mask used for the cure of a hot fever known as
ginijala sanniya.
Dimensions:
Height: 8.75” / Width: 5.75” / Depth: 3.00”
Description:
This is a small mask with a well-shaped head. The forehead is shown. The eyes are large and almond shaped. Tiny ears are carved; however, they are not proportionate. The nose is large and has open nostrils. A moustache is painted on the face. The lips are thick and broad. Large teeth, six along each jaw, are delineated in the closed but wide mouth. Two tusks issue from the corner of the upper jaw. There are two slits below the eyes and three small openings for tying.
Colours:
The head is painted black. The face is yellow but faded in areas. Yellow and red lines mark the ears. The eyes are white with black eyeballs, and the eyebrows are black. The nostrils are red and the lips are deep red. Black hair covers the upper lip by way of moustache. The teeth and the tusks are white.
18. NAGA SANNIYA (Mask with the appearance of a snake)
Dimensions:
Height: 10.0” (Chin to tip of snake hood)/ Width: 5.0” / Depth: 2.5”
Description:
This has one snake hood over the head, telescopic eyes, a wide mouth, and tusks. Between the hood and the ears is a series of lines. The eyeballs are large, while the ears are small. The nose is large and chubby and the cheek bones are prominent. The mouth, which stretches the full breadth of the face shows thick broad lips. There are seven large teeth along each jaw and two long pointed tusks on upper jaw. There are two slits below the eyes and three holes for tying.
Colours:
The prominent colours are red and black, used mainly in the line decoration. The snake is painted red and white with black mouth. The face is black, as is the nose. The eyes are white with black eyeballs. The lips are red and the teeth and tusks are white.
19. DEMALA SANNIYA
Dimensions:
Height: 9.5” / Width: 7.75” (ear to ear)/ Depth: 4.5”. This is a devil dancer’s mask from the collection of Hugh Nevill 1893.
Description:
This is a medium-sized, well-carved, light mask with rugged features. The forehead is flat, and has five grooves carved on it. The nose is broad and large. The eyes are carved, with semi-circular slits below them. The carved ears are long and narrow. The thick lips are prominent, the mouth is closed, and no teeth are visible. There are two holes for tying the mask.
Colours:
The grooves on the forehead are painted red, and red lines run along the ears. The eyelids have a red line on the border. The eyes are white and marked with a red circle around the black pupil. The entire face, including the forehead, chin, and cheeks are painted a shining green. The lips are red. No moustache or beard is painted.
20. BHUTA SANNIYA
This is a devil dancer’s mask used for the cure of delirious fever.
Dimensions:
Height: 8.5”/ Width: 6.5” / Depth: 4.0”.
Description:
A small and light mask, this oval-shaped mask is carved in a style quite distinct from the rest in the series. The hair is shown by cutting rectangular blocks. The eyes are large and the nose is long and big. No ears are carved. The characteristic feature is the chin. Two openings on either corner of the upper jaw may have been intended for tusks. No lower jaw is visible and no teeth are present. There are two slits below the eyes.
Colours:
The face and the forehead are painted brown, and the hair black. Eyebrows are shown by white lines; the borders of the eyelids are red. The white area of the eye is marked with black bands. The eyeball is black, and there is a white and black band below each eye. The lip is red and has a white band around it. The gums as well as the spaces between the white teeth are black.
21. GINIJAL SANNIYA
This mask, though named for the cure of fever called
ginijala sanniya, is actually for the cure of deafness.
Dimensions:
Height: 13.0” / Width: 17.0” (ear to ear) / Depth: 5.5”.
Description:
This is a fairly large and heavy mask. The carving is poor and the painting is careless. The demonic face, with a wide nose and tusks, has a ferocious look. The saw-edged head-dress resembles that of the demon of death (
maruva).
The crown is in three tiers: the first and second tiers resemble a leaf pattern, while the third is triangular. The trunk is open with the tongue pointing within the space. Two tusks issue from the upper corner of the mouth and curve upwards. The eyebrows are decorated as are the lobe-shaped detachable ears. The face sports a beard and a moustache. Two slits are cut below the eyes. There are no openings to help tie the mask on the face.
Colours:
The paint, clayish in colour, appears to be carelessly applied. The face is yellow and the eyebrows, moustache, beard, and eyeballs are black. The mouth, lips, and tongue are red, while the teeth and the tusks are white. A combination of white and black, with red lines, can be seen on the face, nose, and cheeks.
22. ABHUTA SANNIYA
This devil dancer’s mask is for the cure of a simple fever known as
abhuta sanniya.
Dimensions:
Height : 9.0” / Width: 5.5”/ Depth: 3.0”.
Description:
This is a medium-sized mask, somewhat more expressive than other
sanni masks. The general impression is that of an old person. The large eyes are wide open, staring as if in surprise; the small ears are cut-out but not shaped as in other masks; and the mouth is small with thin lips. Seven small teeth are painted along the lower jaw and also along the upper jaw.
Colours:
The face is painted red, with a few black lines marked on the face to convey an old look. Curved eyebrows are marked in paint, while the lips are red and the gums are black. The chin is delineated.
23. JALA SANNIYA
This is a mask used for the cure of boils.
Dimensions:
Height: 6.5” / Width: 4.5”.
Description:
This is a small mask that appears to be old. The face is flat, with an opening for the mouth. No teeth are shown on the lower jaw; the long teeth are cut on the upper jaw only. The eyes are protruding, and the cheeks are prominent and jut out. There are two openings, one on either side to fix the mask with.
Colours:
The face is painted black, with a black head, nose, and mouth, as well as black eyeballs. The beard is also painted black.
24. VEDI SANNIYA
This is a devil dancer’s mask which is used to represent the Vedda manifeststion or Vedi
Sanniya, one of the traditionally known 18
sannis or disease-causing devils or spirits.
Dimensions:
Height: 8.75” / Width: 4.0” / Depth: 2.0”.
Description:
Small and light like most
sanni masks, this has a three cornered head-wear cut out of the wood itself. A band is shown over the head. Strips of leather are nailed across the forehead and along the chin, sideburns, and beard. Bits of fibre are used for the moustache. The mouth is small, with teeth cut out of the wood, showing along the upper jaw. No ears are indicated. Lips are depicted, but are not very prominent. There are two slits below the eyes and two openings on the sides.
Colours:
The head-dress is painted white and so is a band over the head; the leather bands are brown. The face is black, with the teeth painted white. White paint is also visible over the eyes and the mouth. Much of the face has become scaly due to smoke.
25. VIKARA SANNIYA (Pissu)
This mask is one of the 18 in the
Sanni group and is a devil dancer’s mask.
Dimensions:
Height: 7.0” / Width: 5.0” / Depth: 2.5”
Description:
A piece of skin is pasted and nailed on to the thin head and forehead up to the position where the ears should be (no ears are actually portrayed). Another piece of skin is pasted and nailed from ear to ear (position) covering cheeks and chin. The skin has worn off in places but the nails are still in position. No traces of beard or moustache can be found now. The mouth is wide open, showing pointed triangular shaped irregular teeth on both jaws. The two tusks are long and pointed. The tongue is cut out of wood and juts out of the mouth. Gums and lips are visible. The appearance and expression are those of a demon. The nose and eyes are cut in linear form, quite unlike the natural shape. The openings below the eyes are rectangular. The eyebrows are indicated.
Colours:
The colour of the skin is brown. The face is black and brown in places. The gums and lips are red, as is the tongue, while the teeth are white.
26. WEVLUM SANNIYA
This is a devil dancer’s mask used for the cure of fever or shivering fever. This mask is from the collection of Hugh Nevill, 1898.
Dimensions:
Height: 9.0” / Width: 6.5” / Depth: 4.0”.
Description:
This is a heart-shaped light mask. There is no resemblance of a demoniacal appearance in any of the features. The eyebrows are decorated. The eyes are almond shaped and not protruding. The nose is narrow and short with wide nostrils. The lips are prominently marked. Thick and long walrus-like six teeth are marked on upper jaw. The tongue is jutting out, and the cheek-bones are prominent. No beard or moustache is shown. There are two openings below the eyes; there are no other openings for tying up the mask.
Colours:
The colouring has been done carefully, with a brush. The hair on the head is shown by pointed leaf shapes that are yellow in colour. The eyebrows are decorated in red and yellow. The border of eyelids is red, and the eyes are white with black pupils. The nostrils are red, as are the lips and the mouth. The colour of the face is dark green.
27. MARU SANNIYA
Dimensions:
Height: 6.00” / Width: 4.00” / Depth: 1.50”
Description:
This is a very small and light mask, with two snake hoods over the head, one of which is now broken. The hoods are arranged in a coil over the head. The eyebrows are marked. The staring eyes are round, set in deep sockets; the eyeballs are protruding. There are two openings below the eyes. The nose is short and bony. The moustache and beard are made of hemp, tied to upper and lower lips. The mouth is wide open, showing two sets of pointed teeth. The lips are broad, and no chin is shown. The general appearance is that of a wild man with a stare in the eyes.
Colours:
The face and the forehead are black, as are the snakes and their hoods. The eyes are white, and the eyeballs are black. The colour of the hemp used for the beard and moustache is brown. The teeth are white and the lips are red.
KOLAM MASKS
28. KING
This is not a demon mask and is never used in devil dancing. It is used in
Kolam (folk theatre) to act the part of the King in the story.
Dimensions:
Height : 19.0” / Width: 8.0” (inside) / Depth: 11.0”
Description & Colours:
This mask is well carved and beautifully painted: the colours used are somewhat dull. The face is somewhat green; the hair, moustache, and long whiskers are black. There is very little hair by way of beard.
The crown (8” in height) is beautifully decorated with acanthus leaf in green, blue, yellow, and red. The forehead band has lines of red and yellow. A red line marks the eyes. The ears are clearly portrayed. The mouth is closed, the and the lips are thin and red. The mask has a dignified majestic look, portraying royalty. Two slits are cut below the eyes. All around the face is a stylised leaf decoration.
On either side is the face of a lion’s head, with an open mouth. The teeth are clearly shown. The ears are visible, as is a red tongue. There are green spots on the head.
29. RAJA
This is another ‘royal’ mask that can depict a king or queen.
Dimensions:
Height: 11” (Face only) / Width: 9” (Ear to ear) / Total height: 24” /Depth of face: 3.5”
Description & Colours:
The decoration of this mask is not particularly beautiful. The halo is not particularly high; the
dagaba-like crown is better. It is painted with blue, white, and red lines. The face is painted pale yellow, and has red lines on it. The eyebrows are black and the eyelids are red, with black lines. The eyes are black. The nose is narrow but not prominent. The ears are long with a distended lobe having an opening. Ear ornaments are on the extra flap behind the real ears. The face is flatter and broader, and presents a more masculine appearance. The cheeks are broader.
30. BISAVA (Queen)
Dimensions:
Height : 29.5” / Width: 13.25” ear to ear / Width: 12”
Description:
The mask is carved in one piece of light wood
sooriya or
rukattana. The face alone is 12” in height and 12” from ear to ear. The expression is solemn, dignified, and regal. The wooden frame behind the ears is continued in one piece to include head-dress and halo. The outer face of the ear is ornamented; the ear lobe has a large opening for big ear scrolls. The
dagaba shaped head-dress is tall and beautiful and it is carved in firm
sittara style. The whole halo has curvilinear panels painted in red and dull blue and ornamented in leaf, flower, line, and check patterns. The crest carved on the forehead has bands of decoration in red, white, and yellow.
Colours:
The eyes are white with the eyeballs having light black and red lines. The lips are thin and red, and the beautiful nose is also painted red. The face is light mustard yellow or deep yellow in colour. It resembles a sculptured work of classical art in clay. There is no gloss or shine but the surface is well-polished though not varnished. There are two slits below the eyes and two holes for tying the mask on to the head.
31. EMATI (Minister)
Dimensions:
Height: 24”/ Width: 12”
Description & Colours:
The crown alone is 17” in height, the face being only 7”. The crown is in 4 tiers, the uppermost is a conical shaped
dagaba. Below is a five-tier area, containing leaf and flower decoration in red and yellow. Then come vertical bands, and the lowest tier has a pattern of leaves and flowers. Geometrical patterns predominate. The crown is painted both in front and at the back. The backs of the leaf decoration below the ears are also painted in yellow, red, and white. The motifs employed, the colour combinations, and the style of execution of the decorative patterns closely resemble temple paintings.
The face is small and well-carved, but the delineation is not natural; rather the appearance is stern and rough. Small ears are marked in paint. The hair is black and falls up to the ears. The rest of the face is painted in light mustard yellow with touches of rouge in places. The lips are closed, thin, and red. The nose is pointed and sharp. The eyebrows are black, the eyes white, and the eyeballs black. A band of black colour runs from the ears up to the chin.
The mask is carved in one piece of hard wood, including the crown, head, and ears. The inside is hollow and smooth. There are no holes for tying the mask to the head.
32. KUMARAYA (Prince)
This is not a devil-dancing mask; it is used instead in folk theatre for portraying characters. This specific mask represents a prince (
kumaraya).
Dimensions:
Height: 17.5” / Width: 11.00” (top to crown)/ Width: 7.5”/Depth: 3.5”
Description:
The crown is beautifully decorated with two acanthus leaves on each side of a tall crest shown by a separate piece of wood. These measure as follows:
- Wooden piece 5.00”
- Crown: 3.5”
- Forehead: 3.0”
- Bridge of nose to bottom of chin: 6.0”
This fairly large mask is cut from one piece of hard wood. The carving itself is simple. A band separates the crown resting on a head of black hair. The face is oval in shape. The almond shaped eyes are long and nicely shaped, and there are two slits below the eyes. The nose is well carved, as are the thin lips. The mouth is closed. The tip of the chin is curving inwards. No ears are carved. The general impression is one of nobility.
Colours:
The crown is beautifully painted with an arrangement of lozenges, diamonds, and circles in the middle. On each side is a series of painted curved lines. The acanthus leaf is painted on each side of the top crest. The entire face is yellow with red streaks in it. Black paint is used to depict the hair on the head and the eyebrows; long, black sideburns extend almost up to chin. The lips are red.
33. BERAKARAYA (Drummer)
This is a
kolam Mask representing the drummer.
Dimensions:
Height: 10.25” / Width: 6.00”/ Depth: 4.00”
Description:
This mask is large but light in weight. The most arresting feature is the fine facial expression of the drummer in action. The head-gear of the drummer consists of a dotted piece of cloth tied round the head: known as the
talappava, this is like a turban, and is carved out of one piece of wood. The short ears are also carved. Grooves mark the unevenness of the rugged structure. The nose is large and well shaped. The pointed and deep chin is uneven and the cheek-bones are prominent. The mouth is open with two long teeth jutting out of the upper jaw. The lips are well marked, and there are two openings, at the corners of the mouth. Large eyeballs are cut into sunken eye sockets. There are two slits below the eyes, over two holes on the sides for tying the mask. The carving imparts an old-looking appearance to the mask.
Colours:
The face is coloured in deep red, with black lines painted on it; these black lines are also painted on the eyebrows and around the mouth. The head-gear is dotted with red; each strand of the head gear is separated by a red band and groove. A black dot indicates the ear hole.
34. LIYANA APPU (Clerk)
Dimensions:
Height: 10.0” / Width: 8.0” / Depth: 4.5”
Description:
This is a medium sized mask, well carved, painted, and polished. The ears are long but not shapely, and the nose is chubby. The eyes are almond shaped and well carved; there are two narrow slits below the eye. Two holes are bored on the ear lobes. The lips are clearly defined and shaped. The mouth is closed, with four teeth showing along the upper jaw. A nicely painted moustache is also depicted. The chin is not pointed. The face has a slight look of surprise on it.
Colours:
The painting is quite meticulous. The hair on the head is shown as black, and five black lines are painted on the forehead to indicate wrinkles. The eyebrows are black, as is the moustache. The nostrils and the lips are red, and the teeth are yellow. The entire face is yellow with cheeks roughened.
ANIMAL HEADS
The animal heads found in various collections of masks are not usually used in devil dancing (with the exception of the bear for
mahasona). Most of them are worn in
kolam dancing.
35. NA GURULA
This mask depicts the King of Snakes (
Na gurula). This belongs to the collection of Hugh Nevill 1898 and is a devil dancer’s mask.
Dimensions:
Height of face area: 11.5” / Width: 8.25”/ Depth: 8.00”/ Total height up to tip of snake hood: 25.0”/ Width around snake hoods: 23.5”
Description:
The two features emphasised by the carver in this large-sized mask are the snakes and the demoniacal beaked mouth of the mythical bird (
gurula). Six snake hoods arranged in a row over the head form a special feature. The hood on the extreme left has broken off from the neck. Two of the snakes issue from the corners of the mouth, two from the cheeks, and two along the forehead. All of them are intertwined in a creeper-like design. A small cobra hood is placed between the eyebrows, which are decorated with a petal pattern. The large eyes are almond shaped, with two slits below them.
No ears are shown.
Two square holes on the sides serve to fix the detachable wings or ears. The nose is beautiful and well shaped. The wide, open mouth is the beak shaped with two rows of pointed teeth along the jaws. Space is left between each tooth. There are two holes on the sides for tying the mask and two small openings on the nostrils.
Colours:
The colours of the mask have faded, and the appearance lacks lustre. The face has a yellowish tinge, the red probably having faded. The eyelids are red. The beard and moustache are painted with lines indicating scanty hair. The snakes are painted black; they have white dots on the body as well as white and red bands. The back of the hoods are marked with black dots and hood markings.
36. GARUDA RAKSHA/ NA GURULA
This mask is from the collection of Hugh Nevill 1898 and is the
gurula or
garuda raksha mask. This is a combination of a
gurula bird and snake demon, suggesting the image of a demoniacal-mythical bird called the
na gurula (
na =
naga or snake;
gurula = mythical bird). It is a mask with the same name as the previous one but used in
kolam dancing and
not in devil dancing.
Dimensions:
Height of face portion: 10.25”/ Width of face portion: 7.4”/ Depth of face portion: 9.5” / Height of snake hoods: 12.00”/ Width of snake hoods: 13.5”/ Depth of snake hoods: 7.0”/ Dimension around snake hoods: 38.0”
Description & Colours:
This is a fairly old mask, beautifully carved and painted. No ears are marked. The open mouth has teeth along both jaws. A snake issues from the side of the mouth. Five large snakes with raised hoods encircle the head. The eyebrows are large but well decorated. The telescopic eyes are those of a demon. The face portion is red in colour with red eyes. The eyebrows are black. The snakes are red, white, brown, and black in colour. The
gurula bird, painted red, has faded with the rotting of the wood.
37. RAJA GURULA
This is a
kolam mask, depicting the royal
gurula. The
dagaba crown denotes its royal character. This is a mask belonging to the Christy collection at London.
Dimensions:
Height: 23.0” / Width on top: 15.0”/ Width of face: 8.0”/ Height of upper piece: 13.0”/ Depth of upper piece: 6.00”
Description & Colours:
This is a very large mask carved out of a single block of light wood. The face is that of a
gurula bird with a curved beak. There are no teeth in the mouth. The eyes are telescopic, and protrude a lot. The area between and above the eyes is decorated with horizontal bands of red and black. On the head is a
dagaba, at the base of which is a leaf arrangement coloured black, red, and yellow. This is flanked by a leaf design in red and yellow. The decoration is stylistically similar to temple painting, both in design and colour. The predominant colours are red, yellow, and black. The eyes are black, and the face and beak are red.
Two large circular lotuses serve as ears, each 5.75” in diameter. These are fixed onto the rectangular opening of the mask, with a rectangular tongue 1.5” in length. The roundel is surmounted with a leaf design of yellow, black, and red lines. The petals are clearly shown. The height of the entire detachable piece 10.0”.
38. GONA (Bull)
This is a
kolam mask representing the head of a bull and belongs to the collection of Burton 1893.
Dimensions:
Length of head: 15”/ Vertical length of central horn: 11.5” (actual curved length is 15.0”) / Vertical height of central horn: 11.5” (actual curved length is 15.0”) / Width: 6.0”, narrowing to 3.0” / Depth: 4.0”
Description & Colours:
This is an old (and fairly heavy) mask. The eyes are carved, as are the nostrils. The central horn is painted with red and black bands. The mouth of the horn cavities is painted red. The heart shaped diagram on the forehead is red. The face is white, with red jaws and black pupils. The eyes are red with a black line bordering the eyes.
39. JACKAL
This is a
kolam mask for a jackal from the collection of Hugh Nevill 1898.
Dimensions:
Height: 10.00” / Width: 7.00” / Depth: 4.50”
Description:
The mask is well preserved, finely carved, and carefully painted. The mouth is not carved but delineated in colour. The eyes are almond shaped. The mask conveys the appearance of a timid animal. An opening is cut below the eyes and there are two holes at each end for tying.
Colours:
The face is black and velvet in appearance. The mouth is red and there are red lines on the eyes. The eyelids are also red, and a streak of red is found on the ears. The separation of the upper and lower jaw of the mouth is well brought out by the use of shades of grey. Two red spots are painted on the snout showing nostrils.
40. DOG
This is a mask of a dog’s head worn by
kolam dancers.
Dimensions:
Length: 9.5” / Height: 7.0” (inside) / Width: 5.75” /Depth: 7.0”
Description & Colours:
This is an animal mask made of light but hard wood. The surface is smoothly polished. The features are well conveyed to be identified. There are two small holes on either side used for tying.
The ears are carved out of separate pieces of wood and fitted into square openings which are seen on the head. The oval shaped eyes are indicated with paint. The mouth is wide open showing a set of sharp and pointed teeth. The teeth are separated by a space. There are four canine teeth shown, two on either side of the jaws. The teeth are white and the gums are red. The colour of the face and eyes vary from light to dark brown.
41. TIGER
This is a mask worn in
kolam dancing.
Dimensions:
Height: 6.0” (at neck) / Height: 5.5” (at mouth) / Width: 7.0” (inside) / Length: 8.5”
Description:
This is a well preserved strong mask painted in vivid colours, including red, black, and yellow. The whiskers are depicted as lines of paint arranged along the mouth and the eyes. The background is red on which yellow and black blobs are painted. The mouth is wide open with pointed teeth showing. Prominent are four hunting teeth, two along the upper jaw and two along the lower jaw. The red tongue is protruding. It is carved separately and nailed. Gums are red. The ears are erect pointing upwards.
Note:
All the masks described above are to be found at the British Museum in London; any mask indicated as being part of someone’s original private collection has been subsequently donated to the Museum.