Maha Sona
Description
Giant demon of graveyards with bear head who kills with terror
Origin & Background
Maha Sona was originally a human named Ritigala Jayasena, a powerful warrior who lived during the reign of King Dutugamunu. He insulted a giant named Gotaimbara during a duel while intoxicated and agreed to fight him barehanded. Depending on the version of the story, Gotaimbara either accidentally or with a single kick beheaded Jayasena, and his corpse was thrown into an open grave. A god who witnessed Jayasena's plight took pity on him and attempted to revive him before his body grew cold. In a hurry, the god could not find his head and instead attached the head of a bear to revive him. Due to the urgency, the head was attached upside down.
The Legend
Maha Sona is considered a demon that roams graveyards, believed to kill people or spread disease. It is said that he breaks people's shoulders or causes illnesses that lead to death. His appearance is very grotesque, and those who encounter him are said to be so terrified that they soon fall ill. He resides in large cemeteries and is referred to as 'Maha Sohona' or 'Maha Sohon Yaka'. Additionally, he is the leader of 30,000 demons and can transform into various animal forms.
In Popular Culture
In traditional exorcism rituals, dancers portraying Maha Sona perform to heal patients. In the Galle region, Maha Sona and other demons are sometimes regarded as benevolent beings, as they cause diseases but require healing rituals. Exorcists do not view Maha Sona as evil and spend the night joking with him or playing card games.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Maha Sona" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia
Abilities
- 불명