Funday Times

Gaveshaka looks at the role of the astrologer in the village
The place of ‘nekath’ in daily life
We have got used to looking for a “good” time to start something new. Traditionally, a ‘nekath rala’ (usually he is addressed as ‘gurunnanse’) - an astrologer - is consulted to get an auspicious time for every important activity. This practice starts from the day a child is born.

As soon as a child is born, the time is noted and an astrologer is consulted to cast a horoscope. He will also indicate what the future stands for the little one according to the horoscope and the parents are warned to take precautionary action during ‘bad’ times like illnesses.

Though the child’s ‘indul katagema’ is done virtually immediately after birth using a few drops of the mother’s milk rubbed on either a gold ring or some other gold ornament, the ‘buth keveema’ or giving a solid meal is done at an auspicious time when the child is about five or six months old.

A little ceremony is arranged for the occasion. A mat covered with a white cloth is spread on the floor with a few traditional sweetmeats, a couple of books and some coins on it. Two clay pots filled with water and two lamps made of a fresh coconut broken into two are kept on top.

As the auspicious time approaches, the child is kept on the mat and if he or she picks up a book, the parents would say the child would do well in studies. Going for cash means he will be a good businessman. They do not pay much attention to the fact that the child would be tempted to pick up something that catches his eye. No prediction is made if he makes a beeline to food.

Reading the first letters is always done at an auspicious hour. The ideal age is around three or four years. That is after the child is able to speak fluently. An auspicious day and time is selected according to the horoscope. The astrologer will also indicate which direction the child should face. Either the child will be taken to the temple and the ‘loku hamuduruwo’ will read the first letters or an elderly person accepted as a learned man would be invited home for the occasion.

It is customary for the child to offer flowers and pay homage to the Buddha before the ceremony. A sheaf of betel would be offered to the monk who will teach the child to read at the auspicious hour.

Some make offerings to God Gana and goddess Saraswathi who are considered to be custodians of knowledge and education. A ‘pooja vattiya’ consisting of sweetmeats, milk rice, bananas and other fruits is offered.

At the auspicious time the child is made to worship the monk or the person reading the letters symbolising a request that he be taught the first letters. After uttering ‘Swasthi Siddham’ (let there be prosperity) the little one would be taught the ‘ayanna’, ‘aayanna’ from the ‘hodi pota’ or the primer. After getting him to identify a few numerals too, he will be made to write a few letters on a slate with the teacher first writing the letter and the child being led to write over it.

If it is at home, a tea party would follow when ‘kiri buth’, and ‘kevum’ would be served.
In case of sickness, particularly if the illness drags on without getting cured in a few days, it is customary to rush to the ‘nekath rala’ with the horoscope and check the position. He would advise what course of action should be taken, in addition to the medicines given.

Invariably there will be the ‘dehi kapeema’ - cutting of lime (seven of them) after a quiet little ceremony to be performed by the ‘gurunnanse’. He will also prepare a thread to be tied round the patient’s neck after spending a whole night chanting stanzas of benediction. Both are done together in the early hours of the morning. He does the chanting all by himself in a room in the patient’s house.

A ‘mal thattuwa’ with flowers (generally of seven colours) is prepared for the purpose. An oil lamp is lit and the lime is kept in the middle. While chanting, he would continuously use incense creating a nice aroma around.

At the time of cutting the lime, each one is taken and kept on an arecanut-cutter ready to be cut in two, and taken from top to toe of the patient while reciting a stanza. The cut lime is dropped into a basin of water. The thread is tied at the end of the lime-cutting ceremony.

If the illness is of a more serious nature, either a ‘thovil’ or ‘bali’ ceremony would be arranged. This is quite an elaborate affair and would involve a lot of planning and preparation.

Incidentally, ‘dehi kapeema’ is not necessarily an act performed for a sick person. If someone feels that he or she is being affected by ‘kata vaha’ (evil mouth) or ‘es vaha’ (evil mouth), the ‘gurunnanse’ would be asked to bless that person by performing ‘dehi kapeema’. He will also be given a talisman to be worn for protection.

The astrologer’s advice is sought in many other matters since there is lot of faith in doing things at auspicious times. The building of a house, start of a business, or even planning a trip will be done on the advice given by the ‘nekath rala’.

There are no fixed charges for his effort. Normally a payment is made by keeping some money wrapped in a betel leaf and either offering it to him with a sheaf of betel or placing it on the table while he does his calculations.

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