Who the devil is Mahason
In the aftermath of an organised mob attacking Muslim mosques, shops and homes in the Kandy District early this month, a certain Amith Jeevan Weerasinghe was arrested. He stands accused of being the leader of the Mahason Balakaya, a radical group believed to be responsible for the violence in Teldeniya, Digana and other surrounding areas.
They claim to speak and act and do their worst on behalf of the Sinhala race. But what made them choose the name Mahason?
For those not in the know, Mahasona is the most feared devil in the Sinhala brand of voodoo. Legend has it, that he was born a human and went by the name of Ritigala Jayasena, a fierce warrior who lived during the days of Dutugamunu. One day he offended one of Dutugamunu’s ten great warriors, the warrior Gotaimbara. A duel took place and Gotaimbara with a single kick decapitated Jayasena sending his body flying to land in a graveyard. A deity taking pity on Jayasena’s fate, intervened to revive him. But with time fast running out before the body goes cold and revival becomes impossible, the deity finds and fixes a bear’s head on the still warm torso. Jayasena gains a new lease of life. But since his grotesque appearance terrifies anyone who sees him, his movements are restricted to the cemetery and its immediate surrounding areas.
He is supposed to haunt graveyards, rocks, hills, and junctions where three roads meet. In fact, his name itself means ‘great demon of the cemetery’. He is depicted as one who rides a pig, with a pike on his left hand and a buffalo or elephant on his right hand whose blood he squeezes out to drink when thirsty. Well, he is also supposed to be 122 feet in height. He is the most feared yaka in Sinhala folklore and figures prominently in exorcism ceremonies.
Thus, it is clear that those who could conjure up his name to represent the Sinhala Buddhist and appear under that appellation to defend the Sinhala race should undergo psychiatric treatment and get their mindset sorted out. If that fails to do the trick, be subjected to an all night bali thovil ceremony to exorcise the Mahasona in them.