Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c24.39

c24.39

Other ecclesiastical earthenwares include lamps (meṭi pahan) chiefly the small plain shallow Earthen-dishes for burning cocoanut oil with a cotton wick, and used in great quantities on festive occasions, being placed round the vihāras or dēvāles compound in niches provided for the purpose in the walls. They are also set up on lampstands (pankuḍuva, Pl. XXVI., 9 and 10) or protected from the wind in a lantern or cage (pankuḍuva, Pl. XXVI., 8). Occasionally very handsome and elaborately ornamented pankuḍu are met with, bearing a larger lamp above with notches for three wicks. These tall stands are made in several pieces, fitting one on to the other, the whole tapering slightly towards the top (Pl. XXVI., 11). A meṭi pandama is an earthen cresset used like those of metal as a torch, being filled with tow and oil and carried in processions.