Snake Demon Mask
Natima is a form of ritual masked drama popular in rural lowland Sri Lanka. A variant of this drama, kolam natima, was originally centered around pregnancy issues and sought to protect the foetus and relieve cravings, which were viewed as supernatural possession. The same edura, or shaman, who performed the ritual dance also carved the elaborate wooden kolam natima masks in which it was performed and coloured them with natural dyes and resins. The decline of old belief systems stripped the drama of its overt shamanistic elements, and it has evolved into a source of amusement and social satire, a blend of dance, drama and mime depicting stories involving folk heroes, supernatural spirits and fabulous creatures from Hindu mythology. Much of the impact of the kolam natima lies not in its narrative strength but in the pure spectacle of its ritual masks such as this one, which dates to c. 1800-1885. Within the context of the dance they are hypnotizing, and viewed in isolation they are masterpieces of a rich folk art tradition. The Snake Demon (Naga Raksay) is a fierce character representing the evil power of snake poisons that can destroy human and animal life. The figure can be recognized by the presence of the cobras coiling to form a crown around its head, by its coiled snake ears and by the snakes emerging from its nostrils.
- From "30,000 Years of Art"