Dutthagamini, who reigned over Ceylon between the years 161 and 137 B. C., removed this pillar before laying the foundations of the Maháthupo.* 3. It would seem that the Topes were usually built by forced labour,† for Dutthagámini evidently made an exception in the case of the Maháthupo, for which he did not think it right to exact compulsory or unpaid labour. 4. The foundations were formed of round stones (perhaps boulders), which were trodden down by elephants. Above these were placed courses of fine clay, bricks, cement, kuruwinda stones, iron plates, divine incense (brought by the Srámaneras, from the Hemawanta), phalika stones (steatite), common stone, plates of brass (imbedded in Kapittho gum which had been moistened with the milk of small red cocoa-nuts), and plates of silver (cemented with vermilion mixed in oil of sesamum). I have preserved this extravagant account simply because I think it probable that most of these particulars may be partially true. The plates of silver and brass, and even of iron, were possibly only small discs; and the course of phalika stone only a single slab; each deposited in the centre of the building. 5. The laying of the foundation stone was attended with as much solemnity as now takes place at the same ceremony in England. "Revered ones!" said the Mahárája," To-morrow, I will lay the festival Mahawanso, p. 169. + Mahawanso, pp. 165 and 175. brick of the Great Chaitya; let all the fraternities assemble there:" and further, he proclaimed, "Let all my people attend with offerings for Buddha, and with garlands." The road leading from the city to the site of the Tope was decorated; and on the appointed morning, the moon being full, the king, attended by his ministers, and accompanied by thousands of troops, with dancing and singing women, and bands of musicians, proceeded to the site of the Mahathupo.* On reaching the place he made an offering of one thousand and eight suits of clothing; which were deposited in the middle, and at the four sides, of the intended site. 6. The ceremony was attended by numbers of Bhikshus from the principal monastic establishments in India; from Rájagriha and Vaisáli; from Benares, Srávasti, and Kosambi; from Ujain, and from the wilderness of Vindhya; from Kashmir, and from Alasadda (or Alexandria), the capital of Yona (or Greek country of Kabul).† The king, encircled by the multitude of Bhikshus, entered the holy space, and, bowing with reverence to them, presented an offering of garlands. Then walking thrice round the site, he stationed himself in the centre, and with a pair of highly polished silver compasses pointed with gold, described a circle for the lower course of bricks. He next placed in the centre eight gold and eight silver vases, and encircled them with eight • Mahawanso, p. 170. + Mahawanso, p. 172. gold and eight silver bricks.* Around each brick he deposited one hundred and eight pieces of cloth, and around the whole one hundred and eight new earthen vases. Then taking up the eastern brick the king deposited it again in a fragrant cement formed of the jessamine flowers which had been offered on the holy spot. In the same manner seven ministers of state deposited the other seven bricks. Then the king, bowing down to the assembled Bhikshus, again made offerings on the four sides of the site; and repairing to the north-east point, bowed with reverence to the great Sthavira PRIYADARSI, who at once began to chant the jaya mangala, or hymn of joy," which was uttered by Sákya at the moment of his attaining Buddhahood.† 7. The bricklayers were assembled by beat of drum; and the Rajah inquired from the architect, "In what form dost thou propose to construct the chaitya?" The architect, taking some water in the palm of his hand, dashed it into a golden vessel full of water, and pointing to a hemispherical bubble of air which stood for a moment on the surface, he said, "I will build it in this form."+ 8. The relic-chamber was formed of six clouded slabs of stone (méghawanna). One was placed flat, four were arranged like the sides of a box, and the sixth (which was the lid) was placed to the eastward.§ * Mahawanso, p. 173. + See chap. iv. 7, of this volume for Buddha's hymn. ‡ Mahawanso, p. 175. Mahawanso, p. 179. In the middle of this chamber was deposited a golden bodhi-tree, and round it were placed golden images of Buddha. Various acts in the life of Buddha were depicted on the sides of the chamber, which was illuminated with rows of lamps fed with scented oil. 9. On the evening of the day of full moon the king Dutthagámini, in a chariot drawn by four white horses, carried the golden relic-casket on his head, surmounted by the canopy of dominion, towards the Tope. The procession was headed by the state elephant Kandulo, fully caparisoned; and the chariot was surrounded by men and women bearing vases, baskets of flowers, torches, and flags. Elephants, horses, and chariots, followed in the procession; and the crash of all kinds of vocal and instrumental music was so loud that it seemed as if the earth was being rent asunder.* 10. On reaching the Tope the pious monarch received the relics from the chief sthavira, and deposited them in a golden casket. Then placing the casket on a throne he made his offerings to the relics; and bowing reverentially down, stood with uplifted hands joined in adoration. He now dedicated his canopy of dominion (that is, the royal chatta) to the relics, and exclaimed with joy, "Thrice over do I dedicate my kingdom to the redeemer of the world, the divine teacher, the bearer of the triple canopy, the canopy of the heavenly host, the canopy of mortals, and the canopy of eternal emancipation." • Mahawanso, p. 186. 11. Then placing the relic-casket on his head, the monarch presented more offerings, and, encircled by the Bhikshus, thrice perambulated the Tope; and mounting the eastern side he descended into the relicchamber. On all sides stood the arhatas with uplifted hands joined in adoration, while the king deposited the relic-casket on the golden altar. He next made an offering of all the royal ornaments on his person, and for seven days invested the relics with the sovereignty of Lanka.* The ministers and all the people in attendance likewise made offerings of all the ornaments on their persons. Hymns were chanted throughout the night by the Bhikshus; the lid of the relic-chamber was closed by two srámaneras; and the enshrinement of the relic was completed. 12. After this "thousands of relics" were deposited by the people above the relic-chamber,† and the dome was closed, and crowned by a square capital. At this time, when only the chatta (or canopy) and the plastering remained to be done, the Raja fell sick, and enjoined his younger brother Tisso to finish the Tope. As the Raja was at the point of death Tisso quickly covered the whole Tope with white cloth sewn together, and raised a cloth umbrella with a bambu * Or Ceylon. Mahawanso, p. 190. + Mahawanso, p. 192-"Sahassa dhatunan," thousands of relics. See the relic-casket in the shape of a crystal Tope found in No. 2 Tope, at Bhojpur, Plate XXVI. See also the restoration of the great Sánchi Tope, Plate VIII. |