Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c13.42

c13.42

*Devāles* Dēvāles are usually lacking in carved or painted ornament. The main building consists of an ante-room, having sometimes a *dig-gē* or pillared porch before it; and the *maligava* or sanctum containing an image or the insignia of the deity; entrance to which is generally forbidden to all but the *kapurāla* himself, and he only enters it if free from defilement; very often there is a room over the *maligava*, called *uḍu-mahal-gē* (at Saman dēvāle near Ratnapura, the building is of three stories); there may also be a *gabaḍa-gē* or store-room; and a small *vihāre* connected with the dēvāle, under one roof as at Embekke, or detached as at Alutnuvara (Balaṅgoḍa, Pl. VII.); but smaller dēvāles were subordinate to the vihāras, as at Gaḍalādeṇiya. Other dēvāle buildings are the kitchen (*muluṭen-gē*) generally detached, and the *riṭṭa-gē* always so, being the halting place for the sacred insignia (*abharaṇa*) during processions; for these, particularly the annual *perahera*, there is a wide procession path around the dēvāle. There is always an ornamental palanquin (*ran-doliya*) for the use of the god in the procession; also ceremonial spears (*paṭisthana*) and fans (*sēsat*), besides drums (*davul* and *tammeṭṭam*) and oboes (*horane*), a chank (*hakgeḍiya*), awning cloths (*viyan redi*), and of course the weapons or other insignia (*abharaṇa*) of the god, usually of gold or silver, or at least gilt.