Ratayakuma or Ridi Yaga. Episode 2 / [directed by Barrie Machin].

[Place of publication not identified] : Privately Published, 2018.

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At Sethsiri Tangalle; Thursday 10 and Friday 11, February 1983. The fundamental myth. Wirz 1964: 65: Among the assistants of Kalu-kumara are also seven yakkiniyo whose origin is related in the following legend: A long time ago, a fire broke out of the Mahameru-parvataya, one of the Himalayan mountains and many yakku and a queen, named Ridi-bisava, were brought forth with the fire. Together they wandered about the Himalayas. One day, the queen met the god Mahabrahma who happened to be staying on earth at that time. Mahabrahma was pleased with the beautiful woman and intended to take her to wife. In the course of time, she gave birth to seven daughters. But then Mahabrahma forsook her and returned to the Brahmaloka. Left to her own devices, Ridi-Bisava joined the yakku again, and her daughters became servants of Vesamunu-rajjuruvo. They remained with him for several years, but resolved one day to ask him for an order (varama) and for the authority to be able to pursue men like the other yakku and to afflict them with illness. Vesamunu-rajjuruvo granted their request willingly and conceded them a "varama"; they should associate themselves with Kalu-kumara and persecute women and girls. But their power must be limited. The seven yakkiniyo, however, paid no attention to this condition and began to abuse their power. As a result, Vesamunu-rajjuruvo sent for them one day and threw them into his jail, the asura girikota, where he kept them for twelve years and where they suffered great hunger. Released from their confinement, they were deprived of their "varama" and endured great want. They therefore resolved to apply to Dipankara-Buddha and ask for another "varama" to be granted them. To attain their object, they employed a ruse. They decided to present Dipankara-Buddha with a gift. They made a garment out of cotton which they themselves had grown, spun, and women into cloth. With this garment, which they had made themselves, they appeared before Dipankara-Buddha and brought forward their petition. However, Buddha said, "Your intentions are villainous. I shall never give you the power of seeking peoples' lives. but to help you, I will permit you one thing: I will authorize you to make women barren so that they cannot give birth to children. But then you must wait till you are offered a present, which you shall accept and forthwith enable the women, whom you have rendered barren, to bear healthy children." The yakkiniyo promised to observe these conditions and were thus granted a new "varama" by Dipankara-Buddha. Hereupon, they once more joined Kalu-kumara and continued to pursue women, depriving them of the ability of bringing children into the world. Hence, they are called "Vanda-bisavun hat-dena", "the seven queens who make women barren", or "Kiri-ammala-hatdena", i.e. "the seven nurses".

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May 13, 2019