A Comparative Study of the Use of Atamagala in Suniyam Shanthikarmaya in the Upcountry, Lowcountry and Sabaragamu Traditions
Abstract
Atamagala is an unique cultural aspect related to Sinhala folk practices & applications. Among them, the use of Atamagala is more famous as a decoration of Shanthikarma. Sooniyam Shanthikarmaya, which is conducted with the primary objective of eliminating witchcraft, is unique among the Shanthikarma used in Atamagala. The primary objective was to study the use of Atamagala, which is a decoration included in the Souniyam Shanthikarma, which is held with regional diversity in the Upcountry, Lowcountry and Sabaragamuwa, in a comparative manner and does the use and utility of Atamagala change in aforementioned traditions was the research problem. This research utilizes the human genealogical method, conducted under the qualitative method. Library study and field study were used as data collection methods. The methods of field data collection were the observation of Shanthikarma which uses Atamagala, observation of Atamagala creating method and conducting interviews with the experts in the field. Twelve data contributors were selected under judgmental sampling and snowball sampling and interviewed in this research. Atamagala is a basic arrangement built as a house, which is created by using banana pith and banana leaves and a “Yantraya” with eight corners marked inside and a mat is spread in such a way that the patient can sit on it. The primary objective of Atamagala practice is to remove the dosha of the patient. According to the three traditions, diversity can also be identified in the preparation of Atamagala and related rituals in Sooniyam Shanthikarmaya. Although, the Atamagala is a formal structure in Lowcountry and Sabaragamuwa traditions, it is a primitive structure in Upcountry Sooniyam Shanthikarmaya. It is also an unique custom not to cut Atamagala in Upcountry and Sabaragamu tradition. Accordingly, the research is concluded with the fact that the use and utility of Atamagala in Sooniyam Shanthikarma varies according to the traditions.
