Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c24.35

c24.35

Very large wide-mouthed earthen vessels called *pātra* are found in most vihāras and are used to hold water or to receive offerings of rice, &c., from worshippers. A very fine painted example is to be seen at Doḍantale Vihāra, but most specimens are plain or with very simple decoration of simple lines or of *bō*-leaves in red. Besides the big *pātras* used in vihāras, smaller earthen alms-bowls are made, though the alms-bowls actually used by priests are usually metal. Some potters (at Keḷaniya) make an alms-bowl for presentation to a priest, with every batch of pots turned out. Earthen incense burners (*dummala kabal*), often of very elegant form and skilful execution, are used in dēvāles and vihāras, the incense (powdered *dummala* resin) is sprinkled on burning charcoal carried on the *dummala kabala*. Two of these incense burners are shown on Pl. XXVI., 4 and 5.