The direct meaning of ‘Paranagama’ is ‘Old Village'. But Paranagama has been a name of an aging person who lived during the days of the Second World War in a village called Morahelakanda in the dry zone.
This hilly village had twelve houses. There was only one large house with a Sinhala tiled roof; the others were tiny ones of thatched roofing. This was the mansion of Bandara Hamuduruvo or Wallawa Hamu Mahataya. He was a landlord who owned over 800 acres of coconut cultivation. The Village was surrounded by paddy fields. There was a brook that twined right round the waist of the village. It radiated tributaries across the paddy fields. The village temple was quite simple and was situated in one acre land overlooking the paddy fields. What this village lacked was a small lake although there was a plan for constructing one by building a dam across two hillocks. As such, the villagers depended on the sky for paddy cultivation. During the droughts they used to walk miles along the Bandara Hamu's land (Navaliya Watta) in search of water, as there were never drying brooks and several wells. 
Paranagama in the 1960s was a remarkable person over the age of 60. He was a bachelor. He was tall and graceful. His pair of silver framed spectacles and silvery broad eyebrows; long curved silver hair over his upper lip were remarkable signifiers that imparted a sense of admiration and reverence.
wHe shaved only the hair over his chin. Whenever he removed the bottle based flat glasses one could see silver rings around the pupils. He had very little hair on his head and these were tied as a small knot behind his head. His cheek bones were prominent and his teeth were quite healthy though red with betel-nut stain.
The villagers honoured him for his elderly disciplined life, his knowledge of Sanskrit, Pali and Sinhala. He also knew some English and could read and interpret a telegram.
During the Second World War he has gone abroad to participate in the war and he used to relate his wartime experiences to each and every one who met him. Under a spreading Tamarind tree, he owned a permanent tiny house of his own with two rooms and a small kitchen. In the front room there was a framed photograph where young Paranagama in wartime uniform was seen holding a triangular brown army flask for carrying water. He was loved, accepted and invited in every house. But he never starved and nobody knew whether he cooked his meals. He was often seen in the Bakabariya hotel: a simple boutique in the village where lavariya, aggala, pusnappa and appa (hoppers) were kept for sale. With a silver five cent coin, one could enjoy a full breakfast inclusive of gulping down a large jug of strong tea. The hoppers were so large that just two would be quite sufficient to curb ones lion hunger. Lunch and dinner with rice and curry too were available there. Often one could see Paranagama smoking a beedi or a Jaffna cigar, playing a game of daan or nerenchi with another villager called Ravul Punchirala (Bearded Punchirala) sometimes humming a poem from Hansa Sandesaya or Gira Sandesaya or Guttilaya.
Incidentally this Bakabaria hotel was owned by a person called Ranga Banda who exhibited a glistening copper tooth when he smiled. He entertained, encouraged and trained children for drama performances. He used to play the drum and the Sarpina and he trained the children to play the roles in Sada Kiduru Jatakaya, Themiya Jatakaya or Kalagola Nadagama or Maname Nadagama. Paranagama too would assist in the training process mostly by keeping the rhythm with the talam pota or by clapping or by tapping a wooden bench. Ranga Banda formed a drama troupe that visited a privileged household, like the native doctor's home or the Bandara mahataya's mansion (Walawwa) for a night performance. Paranagama too joined them. He was the person who arranged and organised these performances. This troupe also performed in the temple on Poya day nights after the Bana preaching and the auction sales (vendesiya) were over. Here too Paranagama spoke to the local rustic audience introducing the play and its significance. I remember one of my friends called Sira played the role of King Brahamadatte's dog (Dadoriya) or the Kiduri (nymph) and another Podiappuhami (Pichoris) as the Kidura in Sadakiduru. Paranagama often played the role of Sakkara atta (the god Sakra). At the end of the performances it was Paranagama who distributed gifts to the performers. The gifts were in cash and kind. Sometimes the village girls offered home spun handkerchiefs to the performers.
Paranagama was essential to the villagers in their matrimonial activities. It was Paranagama who led a team of villagers that visited another village whenever a youth or a grown up girl was to be given or taken in marriage. The first was the preliminary visit of fact finding. The second was the decisive visit taking a framed document printed with the details of the two families and the auspicious date and time of the marriage (Nakat pattare). During these visits one could see Paranagama in full attire-chocolate coloured coat with copper buttons and brown tweed waist cloth held tightly by the seven rounds of his silver havadiya around his waist.
He never wore shoes but the deer marked umbrella with a curved neck and the pointed end was a must whether it rained or not.
It was a grand sight to observe how swiftly he walked leading the team. On the marriage occasion apart from mediating in the poruva ceremonies Paranagama was always invited to speak a few words in the end to counsel the newly married couple. His rhetoric speeches were inimitable, full of meaning and often brought tears to the listeners. His voice was sonorous and clear. Paranagama was not offered money for these matrimonial services as he was not a marriage broker.
He would not refuse kitul or coconut toddy although he shunned arrack.
Paranagama lived up to a grand old age. When he was paralyzed after a stroke Hamu Mahataya took him in his tantu karatthe to the general hospital for treatment purposes; the villagers took turns to nurse him and given medicines and food.
His death was a very sad event and was cremated with due respect.
All the expenses for the cremation were born by Hamu Mahataya, while the whole village actively participated in the funeral activities.
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